ICONIC SNOWY RIVER E-COLLAPSE

Thursday, 20 May 2010 11:58

The Snowy River is at risk of complete ecological collapse due to the NSW Government’s failure to deliver promised environmental flows, the Total Environment Centre warned today.

The NSW Fisheries Scientific Community has proposed that the aquatic ecological community of the Snowy Catchment should be officially declared “endangered”.

"Eight years after the decision to return environmental flows to the Snowy River the health of the river continues to decline,” said TEC Director Jeff Angel. “Unless promised flows are delivered this national icon will become a dead river.”

The NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee has identified the impact of Snowy Hydro Scheme and inadequate flows in the Snowy River as responsible for the decline of the Snowy aquatic ecological community. At risk are at least 60 native fish and other aquatic species including threatened and vulnerable species such as the River Blackfish (Gadopsis marmoratus), Southern Pigmy Perch (Nannoperca australis) and Australian Grayling (Prototroctes mareana). 

“The evidence is clear and the jury has delivered its verdict. It’s time for Premier Kristina Keneally to cut the red tape and save the Snowy River,” Mr Angel said.

TEC has warned the Premier that further inaction will create political backlash in the crucial marginal seat of Monaro.

“Snowy River communities are rightly angered by the failure to deliver promised environmental flows. The government risks facing a severe voter backlash at the March 2011 election unless this situation is remedied,” Mr Angel said.