Pipe fears confirmed

By Kath Gannaway
ENVIRONMENT group Friends of the Earth say a report on the ecological impacts of the North South Pipeline confirms their fears for the Toolangi State Forest and the Goulburn River.
FoE campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker said the controversial pipeline project would have a devastating impact on the environment both now and in the future.
He said the report ‘Out of sight, out of mind? An assessment of the ecological impacts of the North South Pipeline’ outlines the environmental costs associated with the current construction of the pipeline and the potential impact on the Goulburn River after completion.
He said the pipeline, the February bushfires and logging operations in the Toolangi Forest was impacting on the forest and endangered species which live in the area.
He said the 12-kilometre, 30-metre wide corridor through the forest impacted badly on at least Special Protection Zones (SPZ), zones established by the government to protect threatened and sensitive flora and fauna, including the Leadbeater’s Possum.
Mr Walker said the report also looked at the wider implications of the project, including its greenhouse gas impacts and the effect it would have on the Goulburn River system.
The report looks at the government’s plan to take 75 gigalitres of water annually from the Goulburn River system saying the dire condition of the river demands it should get first priority from any water savings.
“Our report also shows the government has not considered the impacts of climate change and the 2009 bushfires on the river’s water supply. Thus there is a chance the water savings expected to be made through the Food Bowl Modernisation Program will actually never materialise or will be greatly reduced.
“Due to the uncertainty of the pipeline’s ability to deliver the promised water and the negative impact it is already having on the environment, this report argues that the construction of the pipeline should be stopped until further environmental assessments have taken place,” Mr Walker said.
The report can be downloaded via www.melbourne.foe.org.au