23 January 2009 in Media
Joint Media Release
The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change,
Environment and Water
Jamie Briggs MP
Federal Member for Mayo
CYNICAL GARRETT PUTS OUT THE RUBBISH
The construction of the controversial Wellington Weir has moved a step closer with the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett giving the Rann Government approval to upgrade the Pomanda Peninsula causeway.
The causeway would carry trucks to the site of the Wellington Weir which, when completed would allow the South Australian State Government to flood the Lower Lakes with sea water.
The announcement made late on a Friday afternoon of a long weekend is a blatant attempt to hide the next step towards the construction of the weir.
Lake Albert and Lake Alexandrina have been freshwater lakes for thousands of years and flooding sea water in would devastate the environment.
Mr Hunt said, “the Federal Government should increase the pace of infrastructure works and purchase real water for the Lower Lakes”.
“Rather than take the easy option of flooding the lakes with sea water, more should be done to get fresh water into the lakes”, said Mr Briggs
This announcement by Peter Garrett is cynical in the extreme. Yet again the Federal Government has put politics ahead of the environment.