RICHMOND COUNCIL SHOULD BE PROSECUTED OVER DYING LAKE

Friday, 23 April 2004 10:00

A dying lake in the Broadwater National Park has resulted in calls on the NSW Government to prosecute Richmond Council for causing the problem and then failing to take any steps to solve it.

"Salty Lagoon in Broadwater National Park has been so badly impacted by years of being treated as a sewage dump that it has now reached the point of not being able to cope anymore," said Total Environment Centre coastal campaigner Fran Kelly said.

"In the last two years in particular the lake has had almost permanent algal growth over much of its surface and extensive stretches of dead vegetation around its shores as a result of the huge amount of nutrients and pollutants that enter its system from the Evans Head sewage treatment plant (STP). The regulatory authorities must act to the full extent of the law, " said Ms Kelly. 

"Richmond Council should be urgently taking steps to reverse the situation caused in part by its secondary treatment STP being unable to cope with the load it receives. Instead the Council is denying there is anything wrong while producing and promoting yet more plans for extensive growth," said Ms Kelly.

'To make matters worse, the council is again promoting the development of the Iron Gates site at Evans Head that suffered badly at the hands of a developer before being stopped by the courts a few years ago. It seems to have no concern at all for the natural environment or even the long term survival of its own villages" said Ms Kelly.

"It is time that councils like Richmond implemented good planning practices based on environmental sustainability rather than thinking in terms of what developers want, growth for growth sake and what can be monetarily gained in the here and now," said Ms Kelly.

TEC have asked the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources - the Hon Craig Knowles, and the Minister for Environment - the Hon Bob Debus, to take action to ensure the lake's health is given priority and that their Departments ensure Richmond Council's water and sewerage problems are solved before it gives any more thought to further urban expansion.

"We have also asked that the Iron Gates site be taken out of the Council's hands. We are hoping that ultimately an opportunity for the government to buy the site for addition to the national park will arise and be taken up," said Ms Kelly.

For further information contact Fran Kelly or Jeff Angel on 9299 5599/5680
 

For further information

Contact
:
Fran Kelly - Coastal Campaigner
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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:
http://www.tec.org.au/