The Tasmanian Greens today raised concerns in State Parliament about the dumping of raw human waste into Macquarie Harbour.
Greens Member for Braddon Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP asked the Minister for Environment what action was being taken in response to complaints that the Lady Jane Franklin, run by Federal Hotels, was releasing effluent from up to the equivalent of 40,000 people per year into the harbour.
“If this is happening then it would mean that a private operator that markets the pure wilderness of this magnificent water body is allowing up to 40,000 people per year to use the harbour as a public toilet,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“It is the Greens understanding that the Environment Protection Authority’s response to this complaint was to send a questionnaire to the operator in question, which is clearly not enough.”
“The dumping of raw effluent into the harbour would contravene the State Policy on Water Quality Management, and should require strong investigative action by the EPA.”
“If it’s true, then the Minister needs to investigate whether the EPA’s response was because of insufficient staffing or whether the complaint wasn’t deemed serious enough to warrant a more thorough investigation.”
“If that’s what’s happening then the company should be required to take action such as installing a pump out facility on land, or on board processing of sewage.”
“The State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997 advises under section 41 that raw sewage disposal from ships and boats should be prohibited in waters where protected environmental values include protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish, crustacean and shellfish are harvested and primary recreation.”
“The Minister has committed to provide me with more information in the adjournment debate today and I look forward to his response,” Mr O’Halloran said.
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Member for Braddon Wednesday, 26 September 2012
