Hurry Save The Murray!

Happy New Year for Clayton Bay

The River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc (RLCAG) congratulates Minister Peter Garrett on his decision that the “Regulator” at Clayton Bay requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) if it is to remain after its “use-by” date of May 2011. Thus reads the notification of Environment Minster, Mr Peter Garrett (EPBC 2009/5227).

“This is the most wonderful way to start the new year,” said Professor Diane Bell of the River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc (RLCAG). “We weren’t expecting the decision until early January but it appears the decision was made December 18, 2009 and has only just been posted on the website.”

The RLCAG has kept up a steady and scholarly critique of the construction of the “regulators” at Clayton Bay and Currency Creek and the one proposed for the Finniss River. We staffed the Fresh Water Embassy at Clayton Bay for the duration of the construction and provided valuable education to visitors. We have maintained all along that the impact of the construction should be understood as extending beyond the confines of the dam wall and as threatening a site of international significance. Read RLCAG submission re EPBC 2009/5227 here.

Just before Christmas we were dismayed to see the plantings on the dam wall and the sealing of the road across the regulator. We asked – how could this be considered a ‘temporary’ construction?

We were unhappy that we had to spend much of the festive season preparing submissions in response to the EPBC Referral, but we made the deadlines. We presented the arguments and evidence and we are encouraged that our hard work has had some impact.

Now we will have the opportunity to lay out all the research findings and pursue aspects of the development that we believe have been over-looked. We have the local knowledge of the area and we have the work of independent ecologists on our side.