Greens MLC Ian Cohen said today that the Government had been warned about problems at Salty Lagoon and had not done enough about pollution coming from the Evans Head sewerage treatment plant.
“Discharge from the plant has been impacting on the lagoon for too long,” Mr Cohen said.
“I have repeatedly asked the Government to look into the matter but there has been a lack of action. I asked questions in parliament about the about faecal coliform levels at Evans Head earlier this year and as far back as 2003 I have put my concerns in writing to the Minister.
“While the exact reasons for the fish kill are complex it is clear that the nutrients from the effluent discharge are causing algae to grow which further depletes the water of oxygen.
“An investigation from Fisheries staff is not good enough, we need to see real action from the State Government to stop the pollution coming into the lagoon from Evans Head.
“It is obvious that action on this outdated sewerage plant is urgently required.
“Bad planning and pollution is often masqueraded as a natural fish kill event when in fact it is the cumulative impact of a natural event and an already unhealthy ecosystem,”
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