Climate Torch Relay at the Williams River

Local resident of the Williams River, Platypus Bill makes his way down the river with the climate torch. Photo: Vanessa Culliford

For six weeks during August and September, the GetUp Climate Torch Relay will tour right across Australia – through rural towns and capital cities in every state and territory – on its way to Parliament House, Canberra on September 21. Along the route local communities are hosting legs of the relay, which calls on our leaders to halve Australia’s greenhouse pollution by 2020.

The creation of a massive dam will in no way help to achieve this vision. Quite the opposite – it would be adding to our greenhouse pollution dramatically. Scientific studies indicate that dams and reservoirs are globally significant sources of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and, in particular, methane. The latest estimate published in a peer-review journal is that dams and reservoirs are responsible for almost a quarter of all human-caused methane emissions. This 104 million tonnes of dam methane equals 4-5% of all human-caused warming.

The Relay came to the Williams River on August 24th where The Wilderness Society, along with members of the local community organised a leg of the relay, acting as torch-bearers. We also had a visit from Platypus Bill, a 6ft platypus paddling a wave ski delivering climate torch to concerned community members then ran in relay across the Tillegra Bridge - The site of the proposed Tillegra dam wall.

Wilderness Society Newcastle campaign team (from left) Sam East, Jack Thieme, Platypus Bill, Vanessa Culliford. Photo: The Wilderness Society Collection

How can you help save this river and stop another dam?

A community outreach campaign has just been launched, encouraging members of the community to sign a campaign postcard and/or write a letter urging our state government not to go ahead with their proposal.

Writing a letter to your local MP or the Premier is a great way to help protect the Williams River.
- You do not need to be an expert; you simply need to care about protecting our environment and keeping the cost of living in the Hunter from rising further. The Wilderness Society have made writing a letter easy - by creating a special letter writing kit for you to download. It takes just 5 minutes of your time will help protect the Williams River

• Download your letter writing kit here
  

To find out more about how you can get involved in this campaign please contact Vanessa Culliford at The Wilderness Society in Newcastle on 4929 4395

Or email: Vanessa.culliford@wilderness.org.au