TRUSS: TRAVESTON DAM PUBLIC CONSULTATION PERIOD SHOULD BE EXTENDED
2nd November, 2007
The Queensland Labor Government should extend the deadline for the public comment period on the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam, Federal Member for Wide Bay, Warren Truss said today.Mr Truss said the 1600-page draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), plus supporting documentation, was only released by the Bligh Government on 18 October 2007.
“It is extremely unfair to expect the public to digest the mountains of information and meet the deadline for submissions which is currently 3 December 2007,” Mr Truss said.
“Anna Bligh should immediately call off the hounds and extend the deadline for the public comment period until next year.
“Individuals and communities deserve the basic right to have their say on an issue that has the potential to devastate them socially and economically, and destroy the environment and surrounding ecosystem which is the Mary Valley.
Mr Truss said he continues to have concerns about many of the statements in the draft EIS.
“Some of the statements are preposterous and many questions remain unanswered,” he said.
“The people of the Mary Valley need more time to get to the bottom of the social, economic, environmental and engineering implications of building this dam. The draft EIS requires detailed scrutiny and more time is needed.”
Mr Truss said the people of the Mary Valley can be assured of his continuing support to axe this illogical proposal and to let the Mary River be.
ENDS
