Expert slams Tillegra Dam as ecological disaster

Media release
The Wilderness Society Newcastle Inc
10 June 2010 

A new report released today by the University of New South Wales and the Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre presents powerful new evidence for the NSW and Australian Governments to reject the proposed Tillegra Dam.

The report, ‘The impact of the Tillegra Dam’ demonstrates that the reduced flows to the Hunter Estuary and its Ramsar listed wetland, Kooragang Island, are likely to lead to the ecological collapse of the Williams River system.

It observes that this would be the largest dam built in Australia for 20 years, constructed on the Williams River which is the Hunter catchment’s most intact and ecologically important river.

“This is a devastating report that unveils the real consequences for the future of the Williams River and the Hunter Estuary Wetlands from the construction of Tillegra Dam,” said Belinda Fairbrother, Campaign Coordinator at The Wilderness Society. “We strongly urge Premier Keneally and the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to immediately demand a response to the serious flaws in Hunter Water’s Environmental Assessment of the Tillegra Dam highlighted in the UNSW report.”

Hunter Water’s assessment relied on annual flow figures and concluded that water flow would only be reduced by 0.3%. Professor Kingsford’s assessment is based on daily flow and concludes flows could be reduced by as much as 40% in some months. He is concerned that the Hunter’ catchment cannot withstand that reduction in flow.

“Professor Kingsford’s report rings alarm bells that Kristina Keneally and Peter Garrett need to heed,” said Ms Fairbrother. “While the NSW and Federal Governments are assessing Hunter Water’s flawed environmental assessment, independent experts at UNSW are warning of ecological collapse.”

“Hunter Water’s environmental assessment has no credibility and must be immediately rejected by Premier Keneally.”