Archived page, Media Release - Swimming in crap - Water Corporation says raw sewerage in Swan River not priority.

Recfishwest today expressed its disgust that the water 'Dialogue' demonstrated that the water managers believe that they are above the law.

Chief Executive Officer of the Water Corporation, Sue Murphy, said that reducing sewerage spills in the Swan River was not a priority.

Ms Murphy wanted all water supply dams to remain locked up, as pristine water was demanded by their engineers. But it was okay for the people of Perth to be regularly exposed to raw sewerage because it was less than 1% of nutrients.

In response to a direct question on the release of poor quality water from Wellington Dam, Director General of the Department of Water, Kim Taylor said that the irrigators wouldn't like it so it wouldn't be considered.

The Executive Director of Recfishwest was aghast at the ongoing hypocrisy of government instrumentalities.

"As long as the Water Corporation can lock up its own water supplies, it doesn't seem to matter how much crap escapes into the Swan River. If an ordinary citizen dumped tonnes of raw sewerage into the Swan River they would expect action to be taken, but when it is the Water Corporation, hiding behind irrelevant statistics, no action is taken at all!" Mr Prokop proclaimed.

"The Department of Water has yet again demonstrated that they are incapable of fairly managing the water resources of this state."

"They continue to ignore the release of raw sewerage into the Swan River yet insist that a fly fisherman fishing in Samson Dam next to Alcoa's mining operations would destroy life as we know it."

"As long as the irrigators are happy about the Collie River being used as a drain, with its subsequent impact on the people of Bunbury, it is acceptable to the Department of Water."

"There is still a lack of understanding that water is a common property resource and that the community wants to help with fair and objective management."

Mr Prokop commended the Minister for his objective review of recreation in water supply dams. However it is clear that the water managers still have a very long way to go to recognise wider community interests.

ENDS

Media Contacts

Frank Prokop, Executive Director - Recfishwest ph. 9246 3366 or 0419 949 118


                 



This page prepared on 5 November 2009.