22/01/2009 00:00
22/01/2009 11:34
WHAT: A peaceful community action against the construction of the north-south pipeline. A group of people will occupy a section of the pipeline route that is currently being logged and will stop work on the project for the day.
WHO: Friends of the Earth and local residents affected by the pipeline construction.
WHERE: The group will meet at the corner of the Melba Highway and Castella Rd at 9am (Melways Key Map, Page 10, Q11). This is about 2 km north of the major junction of the Kinglake and Toolangi roads and the Melba Highway as you head towards Yea. Allow at least 90 minutes to drive from inner Melbourne.
WHEN: Thursday 22 January, 2009, from 9.00am.
WHY: The action aims to highlight the ecological impacts of the pipe, offer support and solidarity to rural communities, and call for wiser water policies which will secure our future needs without destroying coasts or damaging inland river systems.
Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth spokesperson, said there was growing awareness of the impacts of the pipeline on the river systems that flow into the Murray, and the impacts on rural communities along the pipe route, but that little was understood about the major ecological footprint of the pipeline project.
“The route for the north-south pipeline is being cut through the Toolangi state forest at present,” he said.
“Clear felling of forests, including old growth and some listed as Special Protection Zones (SPZ), is happening at an incredible rate along the pipe route. Commercial loggers would not be allowed to trash a SPZ - which are created because of their special ecological values – yet these areas are being devastated for the pipeline.
“The short-sighted pipeline project will pump 75 billion litres of water a year from the Goulburn River, the major Victorian tributary of the Murray, to supply Melbourne. Friends of the Earth recognise that Melbourne needs new sources of water, but we believe that there are many better options than the pipeline or the extremely expensive desalination plant.”
Friends of the Earth believe the following areas will be affected by the pipeline:
- The Goulburn River and surrounding wetlands, where the water will be pumped into the pipe
- At Devlins Bridge on the Yea River where threatened indigenous fish species are expected to be badly hit by sediment from the pipe construction
- In the Toolangi State Forest, where a 12 kilometre long, 30 metre wide corridor of mountain forests will be cleared to make way for pipeline construction.
Extra details on water alternatives available at:
http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au/?q=water/options
Interviews and further information: Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth, on 0419 338 047
