Greens condemn Bald Hills Drain go-ahead

08/07/09 10:00 am

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has condemned the decision to go ahead with the Bald Hills Drain near Kingston in the South East.

“This will be devastating news to local landholders who have campaigned for many years to protect local wetlands,” said Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

“The Bald Hills Drain has been actively opposed by the Minister's own Department of Environment & Heritage.

“The Minister must now release the scientific reports on which his decision is based.

“The community has a right to know why the Minister is ignoring the advice of his own Department,” he said.

Opponents of the Bald Hills Drains predict it will severely restrict vital natural freshwater inflows into the Parrakie Wetlands, the highest ‘Biodiversity Significance Index’ rated wetland in the Upper South East. It is the last of a long series of deep drains that have radically affected water flows across the region.

“The Greens genuinely believe there is a way forward that ensures farmers get a better return from their land, without the need for highly engineered solutions.

“Other drains have had a devastating impact on the landscape, yet it seems the Government has not learnt from past mistakes.

“This deep drain is designed to strip valuable water from parched landscapes. When will we learn to work with nature and not fight against it?

“The Government can’t just build this drain and walk away. Deep drains require a huge amount of ongoing maintenance at a significant cost to the community. Now that they have chosen to fight against nature, they must be prepared to pay for their engineered solution for the long haul,” he said.

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