MEDIA RELEASE: DISGRUNTLED CATARACT GORGE STAKEHOLDERS

A group of high profile individuals involved in issues concerning the Cataract Gorge and Tamar River have combined to draft a strongly worded statement to Hydro Tasmania expressing their mutual dissastisfaction regarding the progress and direction Hydro's Cataract Gorge Environmental Flow Review appears to be taking.
Group Spokesperson Lionel Morrell said today:
"We are concerned about a number of issues regarding the review but are especially concerned as it appears from the recently released Review Update that the final Gorge flow levels may already have been decided. In fact we are now suspicious that the levels may even have been decided prior to commencement of the Review. In the Update Hydro Tasmania indicate they favour an increase of only 1 cubic metre per second from the current 1.5 cubic metres per second to 2.5 cubic metres per second which, we consider, woefully inadequate being significantly below the 6 cubic metres per second level our group is suggesting; even that should be increased to 10 cubic metres per second during times of high rainfall or excessive contamination of the Tamar Basin. "There is also no mention in Hydro's Update of progress towards construction of a mini-hydro scheme at the base of Trevallyn Dam. We see such a utility as the answer to many of the problems associated with degradation of the Cataract Gorge and pollution of the waters immediately downstream of Trevallyn Dam yet Hydro Tasmania seem to have gone very quiet regarding this project. We have informed Hydro Tasmania that we want this project allocated HIGH PRIORITY status."

For further information contact:
Group Spokesperson: Lionel Morrell, Phone: 0428 137 050

Issued by Jim Collier, Phone: 0424 009 598

The groups JOINT RESPONSE to Hydro Tasmania follows below

A JOINT RESPONSE TO HYDRO TASMANIA'S CATARACT GORGE ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW REVIEW

WE, the undersigned Cataract Gorge stakeholders, would like to inform Hydro Tasmania that we are concerned at the direction the above Review appears to be taking.

Our concerns are mainly related to the recently received Review Update, but not exclusively so, as indicated below:
1. TRIAL FLOW RELEASES: Hydro Tasmania say in the Update trial flows released from Trevallyn Dam "...were chosen as they are considered to be the most likely potential flow options from an environmental, social and economic perspective." Hydro then go on to say: "The 2.5 and 3.0 cumecs were chosen as the stakeholder workshop identified most support for base flows in the order of 2.5 cumecs."

WE Stakeholders do NOT accept that 'most support' is for a base flow in the order of 2.5 cumecs, WE are of the opinion that the minimum acceptable base flow should be 6 cubic metres per second

WE also believe that flows should be variable and not be restricted to 6 cumecs but when specific conditions dictate, such as during periods of excessively high pollution/contamination, or when circumstances permit such during periods of high rainfall, flows should be increased to 10 cumecs.

WE suggest such higher flow levels could be restricted to night time.

2. THREATENED PLANT SPECIES: The update states: "...with six species (including one recently considered to be extinct) located between the 1.5 cumecs flow level and the 3 cumecs flow level. An increase in flow would potentially have a negative impact on these six species."
In relation to this we query:
HOW DID THESE SIX SPECIES MANAGE TO SURVIVE PRE TREVALLYN DAM (1955) WHEN THE AVERAGE FLOWS WERE CERTAINLY MUCH HIGHER THAN 3 CUMECS?

3. AQUATIC FAUNA:

• MACRO INVERTEBRATES: NO MENTION is made in the Update of the effects an increased flow would have on macro invertebrates. It was advised in the presentation given on behalf of Dr Peter Davies at the Hydro Tasmania workshop, and as shown in the final workshop report and received from Hydro ('Aquatic fauna of Cataract Gorge'
• PRESENTATIONS: C2, P30, 33, 34) that only 42 per cent of macro invertebrates were observed of what could have been expected in one section of the Gorge, in other words they have diminished by as much as 58 per cent! ... WE consider this to be extremely significant and, in our opinion, is indicative on just how serious environmental degradation is in the Gorge, yet this important report appears to have been quietly forgotten; 'swept under the carpet' as it were! ... WE have received 'very' credible information from a 'very' credible scientific source that low Gorge flows are mainly responsible for this significant reduction among macro invertebrates and consequently this should be given urgent consideration regarding whether an increase in Gorge Flow will enable macro invertebrates return to their original levels.
• EELS: Responding to media questions (The Examiner and ABC Radio) in February and March this year regarding the cause of death of the unusual amount of dead eels to seen floating in the Tamar Basin Professor Nigel Fortheath commented that the cause of death was ... "...likely due to a combination of very poor water quality, a lack of oxygen and also noxious gasses being released from the mud." Professor Fortheath also said: "if there was more water running through the Cataract Gorge there would be more oxygen in the water." and "the eel deaths were worrying because they showed a severe problem with the Tamar's water quality."
  

4. CONTAMINATION/POLLUTION: WE would like to remind Hydro Tasmania that in April 2008 Hydro Tasmania increased the flow through the Cataract Gorge to 6 cumecs for just a few hours to flush out the appallingly high levels of bacteria in the Tamar Basin.
Bacteria levels were so much above recreational guidelines organisers of the impending state school sailing championships about to be held in the Basin felt they would have to cancel the event ... The 'flush' was successful and the championships went ahead.

Remember that flush was 6, yes, 6 cumecs, twice the highest flow rate the Hydro even appear to be thinking about so even if the flow rate is increased to 3 cumecs WE are of the opinion it will be of no benefit whatsoever.

Contamination of waters immediately downstream of Trevallyn Dam and the Cataract Gorge was reported in the 2008 'State of the Tamar Estuary' report which stated 'recreational primary contact' guidelines were exceeded on a significant number of occasions (20-45%)!

The situation has not improved since with the recent (July 2010) release of NRM North's Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers testing programme confirming the situation is as bad today as it was in 2008.

WE believe that a minimum flow of 6cumecs is required to restore the health of the Cataract Gorge and the waters immediately downstream of Trevallyn Dam.

5. MINI-HYDRO SCHEME: WE are 'extremely' concerned that no mention has been made regarding construction of a mini-hydro utility at the base of Trevallyn Dam.
We are of the opinion that, providing it has a significant flow, a mini-hydro scheme will provide an answer to most of the problems associated with the current, and totally unacceptable, low Gorge flows by, once constructed, generating good clean power while at the same time providing a 'healthy' water flow through the Cataract Gorge and flushing out the Tamar Basin immediately downstream.
Consequently WE allocate this project a HIGH PRIORITY not only because of the significant advantages previously described but because WE understand that with the advantages of improved technology it will enable greater flexibility and control of the water flow emanating from Trevallyn Dam.

6. WE note, with considerable disquiet, that in the Workshop Final Report the median flow post dam is shown as 'approximately 15 cumecs' directly contradicting that shown in Hydro Tasmania's:
'Environmental Review South Esk - Great Lake Hydro Catchment of November 1999'
page 31, Section 4.5 Alterations to Natural Flows Downstream of Hydro Infrastructure which clearly states:

'post dam, however, median flows have decreased from 50 cumecs to approximately 2 cumecs and 5 cumecs flows are exceeded for only 20% of the time.'
While not accusing Hydro Tasmania of deceitful tactics any apparent possible manipulation/fudging of statistics/figures can only bring into question the credibility and integrity of the current review.

7. TOURISM: While acknowledging that tourism is outside Hydro Tasmania's remit there is no doubt that the City of Launceston would receive considerable economic benefits from a significant increase in water flow through the Cataract Gorge, as proved by the enormous amount of spectators, locals and tourists, gathered in the Gorge during periods of high water flows.

Joint Response to Hydro Tasmania's Cataract Gorge Environmental Flow Review Update from Stakeholders:

• Lionel Morrell: President, Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Inc., Launceston City Council Cataract Gorge Advisory Committee Member
• Ian Routley: Former Launceston City Alderman and Tamar Estuary Working Group Member,
• Barry Larter : Proprietor Cataract Gorge Chairlift
• Joanne Saunders: President, Cataract Gorge Protection Association Inc.
• Christopher (Gus) Green OAM
• Jim Collier: Cataract Gorge Protection Association Inc. Member, River Campaigner