E&OE….
Topics: Tamar River Recovery Plan, Renewable Energy Target
ANDREW NIKOLIC:
We’re here to tell the minister exactly what we’ve achieved for his allocation of funding for a healthier Tamar River.
Some two and a bit years ago, the Minister came to Launceston and agreed to provide us with three years of funding for the Tamar, and what I can report to him today is that we’ve made a fundamental difference not just in terms of the tactical things that need to be done for a healthier Tamar River, but also the work that’s going to be done for some of the more strategic effects we need to achieve, things relating to the sewerage infrastructure, trying to make sure that we come up with a critical path that turns our ageing infrastructure into something that’s more first world that protects our river from heavy rain events.
So I’m really pleased that Minister Greg Hunt is here today. He’s been a friend of Launceston, he’s been a champion of the Tamar River and the resources that he’s allocated has enabled us to achieve the effects that we’re going to be showing him today. Without further ado, Minister, thank you very much, and the floor is yours.
GREG HUNT:
All right. Look, thanks very much to Andrew and to Alan. The Tamar is on its way to recovery. It’s faster than we had expected, it’s further than we had expected, and it’s a better outcome than we’d ever hoped. You look at this magnificent basin here in Launceston, you see what’s already occurring, and, I’ve got to say, Alan, to you and to your team and to Andrew, who has sort of driven this, it’s a tremendous outcome so far, but there’s more to be done.
All up, the three million dollars has been allocated, $2.2 million to the raking, the cleaning out of the basin, and there’s an extraordinary outcome so far. Secondly, there’s $300,000 for riverbank stabilisation, for stabilising and reducing the input, dealing with the cause of the problem, and community groups are invited to be part of that, and then there’s the half a million dollars, which is about the long-term future of sewerage works, recovery, reduction of unacceptable inflows into this magnificent part of the world.
So there’s the short, the medium and the long term. It’s, you know, Andrew’s Tamar plan which he put together with the Flood Authority and the council, and what’s great to see is that within a matter of months there’s a physical transformation. The health of this basin, the health of this river, the health of this community is simply better than it was, and it will be better still. So I want to say thank you to everybody involved.
There’s also the scope for two Green Army projects which we announced just down the bank a little bit further a year ago. What we’re going to see is that from the cataract to King’s Bridge and from King’s Bridge up the valley: there will be Green Army teams.
They’ve been approved and allocated almost $200,000, but, most importantly, it’s young people working in the field on the environment, improving the quality of the river, giving themselves training and giving themselves a legacy so that whether they’re eighteen, nineteen or twenty, they make a twenty and thirty-year difference, as well as give themselves an opportunity to work in the environment.
So that’s a pretty good outcome. More to be done. I don’t know if Alan wanted to say anything?
ALAN BIRCHMORE:
Only that I’m thrilled with how we are proceeding and the allocation from the Federal Government is exactly the right amount of money and it came at exactly the right moment.
I mean – and we have a good plan for the sediment and then is able to fund all those things which were larger numbers, and it’s falling into place very well, so we must thank the Federal Government through you, Minister, and also the minister – the Member for Bass, Andrew Nikolic, who gives me no rest.
GREG HUNT:
Yes, I know the feeling. All right. We’re in your hands.
JOURNALIST:
We’d just ask first – obviously Andrew’s hoping that the money extends beyond the three years that it’s been allocated at the moment. What are the chances that it’s going to happen?
GREG HUNT:
Sure. So I guess it starts off as a three year program. We’ll judge how it’s going and what else is required. If more is needed, then we’ll come back and consider it. At this stage, what we’re finding is that for the funds we’ve allocated, we’re getting more out of it than we’d ever hoped.
That’s in large measure due to the work that Alan and his team have done in coming up with a more innovative approach to the raking. I am very hopeful that if more is needed, more will be found.
JOURNALIST:
In regard to the Renewable Energy Target, Mr Hunt, very important for Tasmania.
GREG HUNT:
Sure. Of course.
JOURNALIST:
The Tasmanian Government yesterday asked for four major industries to be exempted. So far only one, Bell Bay Aluminium, I think, has been sort of agreed in the bipartisan negotiations you’ve had.
Where are you up to? Will you consider an exemption for four major industries in Tasmania?
GREG HUNT:
Look, our approach is very clear. We have always been of the view that it’s possible to achieve 20 per cent renewable energy, but to do that in a way which takes the pressure off manufacturing industries and jobs and households. Now, the Labor Party has historically opposed any change. They would have condemned Bell Bay and other industries in Tasmania to higher prices.
The Greens are demanding higher prices. We’ve taken away the carbon tax, now we’re negotiating in good faith with the ALP. I think there is every prospect, if our plan is followed, of achieving the 20 per cent longstanding bipartisan renewable target whilst at the same time taking pressure off the trade exposed sector in general.
JOURNALIST:
So that’s four in Tasmania and any number interstate, is it?
GREG HUNT:
Well, you can understand I won’t pre-empt the negotiations, because at this point in time, the Labor Party has not been giving significant ground. But I am pleased that they have started to come to the table and I want to acknowledge that I think it’s important to do that. So we’ve had a longstanding bipartisan approach to the Renewable Energy Target.
We are very close to securing a bipartisan approach going forward which, to us, has two major components. Firstly, there’s a renewed commitment to 20 per cent. That’s where we have been always and never deviated from 20 per cent.
And secondly, that there is a recognition that we can do this in a way which reduces pressure on manufacturing in Tasmania and elsewhere around Australia, particularly the trade exposed sectors and on households.
JOURNALIST:
Minister Hunt, you mentioned that you can see physical improvements in the river health. Can you tell me what some of those are that you can see?
GREG HUNT:
Sure, sure. We’ve got the diagrams and the pictures that Alan has, but when I’ve been here in the past, what you see is the built up, exposed mudflats. You’ve seen the impact in terms of water quality and the ability to have boating in the area. Those three things stand out just to a layperson.
The mudflats have been significantly reduced, the water quality has been significantly improved and then the ability for recreational and tourism activities has increased. To the best of my knowledge, we didn’t arrange for the tourist boat to go past, although I wouldn’t put it beyond Andrew. But I think that was a great symbol that this river, this basin, is now open to the people again.
JOURNALIST:
Andrew is also asking for some more funding in regards to modernising our sewerage system so that it doesn’t get into the river. Is that something the Federal Government will be considering?
GREG HUNT:
Well, in fact, we’ve allocated half a million dollars to do the scoping study, any remediation works which could be possible within that. But this is a multi-year plan. We always said there would be short, medium and deep, strategic long term.
That funding is part of the deep, strategic long term. We’re addressing this problem right now with great results and we’re looking to the 10 and 20 year future with the funding for the sewerage strategy.
JOURNALIST:
When is it likely decisions will be made on that?
GREG HUNT:
Look, I think Alan may be better placed to talk about the timing for the strategy and then once we’ve got that, we’ll be in a position to discuss things without over promising with the Tasmanian Government.
ALAN BIRCHMORE:
Well, we are meeting all the time. So there’s the LFA, the Launceston City Council, NRM North and TasWater are meeting on a regular basis. And as soon as we have tangible recommendations, Andrew Nikolic will be the first one to know.
And so we’ll – we wouldn’t put a date on it at this stage only to say that all four organisations are meeting with total goodwill and total cooperation and it’s very pleasing to see.
JOURNALIST:
And at what stage is the scoping study at?
ALAN BIRCHMORE:
Well, it’s – the first thing is to recognise what the threat is. And, you know, the threat is that – I mean, we’re looking at the Margaret Street outfall there. Now, that’s a very big plant which actually pumps its product out to Tea Tree Bend so that when there is a big rainfall it’s too much and so it has to discharge what’s in the holding tanks which a lot of is just raw sewerage.
Now, that is totally unacceptable as one would expect. So there are some things that could be done immediately at low cost, such as putting streams in and we’re hopeful that we can increase the size of the holding basins so that there’s not such an urgent need to pump up – or to let go, rather, instead of pumping up. So that’s roughly where we are, after only about six to eight weeks.
GREG HUNT:
I would put it this way. We have got a 19th century sewerage system for the 21st century and Launceston deserves a 21st century sewerage system and we have started that process.
JOURNALIST:
Just so I understand with the scoping study, does that mean we’re sort of determining the terms of reference prior to starting the annual study?
ALAN BIRCHMORE:
Look, I think you would simply it by just saying to work out what needs to be and what can be done with reasonable value for money. So it’s as simple as that. Andrew?
ANDREW NIKOLIC:
And can I add to that, Laura, there’s two components to it. One is quick wins. During heavy rain events, sewerage goes into the river so we think we can do some quick wins with some of that $500,000 and the Minister has been briefed on what some of those might be. Retaining ponds around the Tea Tree Bend is one of them.
The second thing is to work out the critical path to go from what we have now, which is seven archaic sewerage treatment plants, into something that is more first world. Whether that’s one or two will depend on, you know, what the report eventually tells us. That is something that will transcend political cycles.
It’s – the next two years will be about working out what that plan is, sitting down with the stakeholders – LFA, the council, TasWater, the State Government – and determining how we might move from where we are now to that more ideal infrastructure that we’re talking about across the next three or four political cycles.
GREG HUNT:
Let’s put it this way. As you would all know, Andrew was a brigadier with, you know, roles in some of the heaviest Middle Eastern operations. He refers to this as Operation Tamar and we refer to him as Mr Tamar. All right. Thank you very much.
JOURNALIST:
Could I just check one thing? I just – well, I was going to ask. I think Alan you’ve obviously commented on this before but just looking at the health of the river, one perhaps more dragged suggestion that has come forward has been to actually place a barrage further up river and to turn it into a lake. Is that something that the government would ever sort of consider or something …
ALAN BIRCHMORE:
Very expensive. I wouldn’t doubt it as a concept but there is – one of – some of the actions that we’re using – that we’re taking with this Federal money is to do a 3D model of the Tamar and I think that will indicate what sort of other options may be open but it is a lot of money. But you can certainly look …
ANDREW NIKOLIC:
I think that falls into the strategic ambit the Minister was talking about. The tactical things are the silt, trying to stop the sewerage problem and then in the longer term when the river is healthier and cleaner some of those longer term strategies can be explored.
GREG HUNT:
Okay. Thank you very much.
(ENDS)