Senate inquiry evidence damns Clarence river dam - 5 June 2007

"Failing to calculate the real costs and failing to take climate change into account blows the whole idea of damming the Clarence and other northern rivers right out of the water," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.

The Senate Rural and Regional Committee hearing into water supply options for southeast Queensland heard yesterday that communities in northern NSW were frustrated they had not been consulted about plans to dam their rivers and pipe water north to meet growing demand across the border.

"Given that this region has such high biodiversity values and there is already evidence that some of these rivers are over-allocated and under stress it is very clear that more dams are not the most sensible option," said Senator Siewert.

A dam on the Clarence River would also have serious impacts on the fisheries downstream and cost the local industry millions of dollars.

"The SMEC study commissioned by Malcolm Turnbull did not take the impacts of climate change into consideration, didn't talk to locals and used meaningless rainfall figures."

"Once the true costs of piping and pumping water over huge distances are put together with the loss of revenue from the regions industries this is clearly the most expensive option to tackling that water crisis," said Senator Siewert.
"This clearly does not make any sense in economical, community or environmental terms."

"The only conclusion we can draw is that this is a political stunt by Malcolm Turnbull to try to embarrass Queensland," she said.

“The mighty Clarence is the lifeblood of the whole community up there. Fishermen, farmers, greenies and tourists all love this river and what it delivers,” said NSW Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“If Minister Turnbull tries to dam this river, conservationists, farmers and professional fishermen will stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the community in opposition to any dam. The whole community will suffer if this goes ahead,” said Mr Cohen.

On the lack of community consultation Ian Cohen said: “If Malcolm Turnbull had taken the time to speak to his own people up north, he’d have realised by now that there is huge, informed and very appropriate opposition to this that cuts across party lines.”