UPDATE: The closing date for South Esk comment has been extended until the 18 December 18 2009.
The South Esk Draft Management Plan has been released and input from anglers is invited. We urge all anglers and clubs to look at the plan on the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment web site.
Anglers Alliance Tasmania will be making comment but the number of submissions received from anglers will have a direct effect on the future of the plan and so your input is vital.
We suggest that you pay particular attention to:
- Science recommends a no take level of between 100 and 160 megalitres but the plan is reducing this to 40 megalitres — a drop of at least 60 percent against the evidence.
- Ground water considerations are not entailed which may be a significant concern given the monoculture forests in the headwaters of the system.
- The trial period is 10 years!
- The abstraction of water is a very poor balance when water legislation gives the environment a surety level of 2 and irrigation a level of 5 and over.
- Given the amount of abstraction being suggested this would appear to be at severe odds with both the environmental aims and social objectives of the Plan.
We appreciate that such matters are a demand on your time but you will have only a single chance to air your views on the future of this important river system.
According to the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, the concerns of Tasmania’s licensed anglers have been heard and understood in the planning of the Midlands Water Scheme.
“Angling and irrigated agriculture share a long history in Tasmania and both will make a growing contribution to our economy and our unique rural and regional communities,” Mr Llewellyn said.
“I understand that following the Government’s announcement of the preferred option for the Midlands Water Scheme in September last year, significant concern arose among anglers regarding the potential impact of the scheme on Arthurs Lake.
[click to continue…]
Anglers Alliance Tasmania is seeking urgent meetings with stakeholders in the Midlands Irrigation Scheme and “Irrigation Tasmania”.
Chairman Richard Dax is waiting for responses to a request for a meeting with a small delegation from AAT. He expects a mass meeting of members to follow.
Download a copy of his letter to the CEO of the Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board, Department of Primary Industry and Water.
Download the list of questions and concerns attached to the letter.
The Government’s 11 irrigation schemes may place the future of Tasmania’s environment in jeopardy and further alter our world class fishery forever.
These plans are available here and we are sure you will agree that there is a gross lack of detail for such wide reaching proposals.
The first of these schemes for the Midlands is now out for public comment and includes plans to take water from Arthurs Lake as far as Mount Seymour and then on to the East Coast.
[click to continue…]
Loading ...
