Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance

IT IS NOT JUST TASMANIA‘S ENVIRONMENT THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

We hear a lot about the Pulp Mill in Tasmania but in Botany Bay we also have dozens of species and communities protected under Commonwealth law.  Various marine species around Bare Island are included – the Weedy Sea Dragon, pipefishes, White’s Sea Horse (see photo) and many more live around the Island and whales and dolphins are regular visitors.

The Energy Australia Botany Bay cable from Kurnell to La Perouse will impact an area near Bare Island.  Because of the possible impacts on Commonwealth Protected Species, Energy Australia was required to write to the Department of Environment and Water Resources(DEWR) for an assessment of their development.  The process is called a ‘referral’ to the EPBC Act.  That referral was written in July 2007.  On December 3, 2007 DEWR ceased to exist and staff and sections within this department were incorporated into the Department of Environment, Heritage and The Arts with our local member, Peter Garrett, as Minister.  On December 4, still calling themselves DEWR, staff of the former department issued a determination on the Energy Australia referral.  The defunct DEWR determined that the Energy Australia development should not be a controlled action.  This effectively means that the Commonwealth is happy to let the State Government, in this case the developer, look after all the environmental impacts.  The referral that was given to DEWR makes no mention of the significance of the Bare Island environment.  Pipefish, seahorses, weedy sea dragons ‘may’ be found in the area the authors say.  Google Bare Island and see photographs taken around Bare Island which testify to the fact that these magnificent creatures are definitely there.  That is why Bare Island is such a popular scuba-diving and snorkeling area.  While sailboarding and swimming were mentioned as pastimes in Yarra Bay the scuba-diving around Bare Island didn’t rate a mention.  As usual the dolphins and whales were down-played.  There are no scientific studies conducted just ad hoc observations from National Parks staff, which have been referred to in previous Environmental  

Assessments of State government ‘inspired’ developments in Botany Bay.

The State Government has demonstrated that it doesn’t value Botany Bay so how do we achieve proper scrutiny of this development from the Commonwealth.  Ask the new Minister.  The following is from an email sent to him 7/12/07.

This decision should be declared INVALID because the Department at the time did not officially exist.   As the Minister, and also as someone who knows and/or has access to constituents who know Botany Bay, you can have a proper assessment done on this referral.  Would you please do this.  Would you please send it back to the new Department.  Would you then assign one of your staff to properly investigate the situation not simply believe what is in a referral document written by someone employed by the developer – the NSW State Government.  As with the other major evelopments facing Botany Bay – Desal and Port expansion – the DEVELOPER IS THE CONSENT AUTHORITY.  The Federal Government is the only body that can provide a proper level of scrutiny.  In the case of the Port Expansion there was another body, it was called a Commission of Inquiry, and when the NSW Government got an answer it didn’t like it overruled the recommendation.  The Commission no longer exists.  Peter, this is as much about honesty and transparency in government as it is about protection of biodiversity in Botany Bay.  The EPBC Act should be more than a rubber stamp.

Letter from the Department sent to BBACA

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 13th, 2007 at 1549 and is filed under Botany Bay. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.