To download the Media Release as a pdf click here

Bass Coast Shire Council, 76 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi, VIC 3995 | www.basscoast.vic.gov.au

21 August 2008
EES ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Bass Coast Shire Council and the Your Water Your Say action group are calling on the community to help respond to the Environment Effects Statement (EES).
The EES was released on 20 August 2008 and submissions must be lodged by 30 September2008.

Bass Coast Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden, confirmed that Council would work closely with Your Water Your Say (YWYS) to prepare their response. “The EES is a massive document of 1,600 pages and over 80 technical reports,” said Mr Bawden. “To undertake a detailed study of the EES is a massive task and we will work closely with the action group to make the best use of available resources.”

Mr Bawden said there was an important role for the community to play in preparing the submission. “Individuals can make their own submissions,” said Mr Bawden. “But we are also hoping that there are people in the community who would be able to help Council and YWYS with their submissions. “People may have a particular area of expertise, such as engineering or the marine environment,” explained Mr Bawden. “For others, it could be their knowledge of the local area that would be invaluable.
“If you are interested in the project and have time available to be part of the working group, we would be very eager to hear from you.”

If you are interested in assisting Council, then please call Ella Godbold on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or email e.godbold@basscoast.vic.gov.au.

A hard copy of the EES is on display at the Bass Coast Civic Centre, 76 McBride Avenue,Wonthaggi.

Hard copies of the EES are also on display at the Desalination Project Office in Wonthaggi.
Office hours at the Project Office have been extended to five days a week during the exhibition period.
Copies are also available on CD and online at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au.
Hard copies can be purchased from the DSE Desalination Project Team by phoning 1800 811 214 or 5671 3900,
or by emailing desalination.project@dse.vic.gov.au.

END

Please download the BCSC Desalination EES Media Release as a pdf

Bass Coast Shire Council, 76 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi, VIC 3995 | www.basscoast.vic.gov.au

20 August 2008
EES UNDER SCRUTINY

The release of the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Victorian Desalination Project has not changed Bass Coast Shire Council’s opposition to the proposed plant. Bass Coast Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden, said it was no surprise that the Government were saying there would be no long-term or irreversible damage to the environment.
“On initial inspection, the findings of the EES certainly do not appear to impede the Government’s decision to build a desalination plant,” said Mr Bawden.
“We will be undertaking a detailed study of the report. The EES is a very large document, over 1,600 pages, and we have had a copy for less than 24 hours.
“Council will be looking closely at the report’s assessment of the impact on the local and marine environment,” continued Mr Bawden.
“The assessment of the social and economic impact on our region is also of great interest to us.”

Mr Bawden said the Bass Coast community were very concerned about these aspects of the project and it was important to ensure the findings are accurate.
“Council intend to make a detailed submission in response to the EES,” confirmed Mr Bawden. “We will be seeking expert advice on the technical reports and making sure that any aspect of the EES that doesn’t adequately address our concerns will be presented at the independent panel hearings that are part of the ongoing EES process.”

Bass Coast Shire Council is calling on the community to get involved in the EES process. “It is very important that community members make submissions,” said Mr Bawden. “We are also calling on members of the community who have expertise in any technical area covered by the EES to meet with Council and assist us with our assessment.”

Council has called on the State Government to roll out a consultation program to assist the community to understand the EES and how to respond to it.

The EES report consists of five key components, as well as 11 volumes of technical reports.
The structure of the report covers:
- Marine structures
- Desalination plant
- Water transfer pipeline
- Power supply
- Whole of project assessment

“We will be looking closely at the report on the plant sizing, including the visual impact and architectural and landscape performance requirements, such as building height, vegetation buffers, lighting etc,” said Mr Bawden. “We will also be closely inspecting the section relating to the power supply for the plant.
“Council has already made it clear that any power supply option must have underground transmission lines for the entire route within Bass Coast.
“It appears that the only power supply option that has been fully assessed by the EES is based around the North to South grid connection, with 200KV overhead transmission lines. “This means it is highly likely to be the option adopted by the company that wins the tender to build the plant, which is a major concern,” said Mr Bawden.

Mr Bawden said Bass Coast’s initial concerns about the scope of the EES still remain. “There were a number of things excluded from investigation which Council and the community still feel need to be addressed,” said Mr Bawden. “The State Government has never provided information to justify why desalination was
chosen as a major part of the Government’s Water plan. There has also been no investigation into alternative sitings or technology for the desalination project.”

A hard copy of the EES is on display at the Bass Coast Civic Centre, 76 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi.

Hard copies of the EES are also on display the Desalination Project Office in Wonthaggi.
Office hours at the Project Office have been extended to five days a week during the exhibition period.
Copies are also available on CD and on line at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au.
Hard copies can be purchased from the DSE Desalination Project Team by phoning 1800 811 214 or 5671 3900,
or by emailing desalination.project@dse.vic.gov.au.

Closing date for written submissions is 5pm on 30 September 2008.

END

Download the Shire Council’s Media Release as a pdf

Bass Coast Shire Council,
76 McBride Avenue,
Wonthaggi, VIC 3995
www.basscoast.vic.gov.au

Media Release page 1 of 1
10 July 2008

ROAD CLOSURE AT DESAL SITE

On Wednesday 9 July, The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) announced the temporary closure of the local road between Lower Powlett Road and Mouth of Powlett
Road.
The closure was in response to a number of incidents involving protestors on or near the road. The biggest implication of the closure is that protestors and the YourWaterYourSay Action Group caravan will be removed from the area.

Bass Coast Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden, said that Council was only informed of the closure as the media release was sent out by DSE.
“Council shares the Government’s concern for the safety of the local community and contractors,” said Mr Bawden. “However it is disappointing that once again, the Government failed to notify Council or the community of its intentions.
“This failure lies at the heart of Council’s concerns with the State Government and their handling of the desalination project. “We are also concerned that this is a way of blocking a legitimate avenue of protest for our local community,” continued Mr Bawden. “Many residents are very frustrated at the lack of engagement by the Government over the
proposed desalination plant, and the peaceful protests near the site were one way of voicing their concerns.”

Mr Bawden said that the closure affected the fire access track between the Mouth of Powlett Road and Lower Powlett Road.
“Since 2006, this road has only been available to horse riders, cyclists, pedestrians and emergency services,” explained Mr Bawden.
“However, we have been informed by DSE that the road will still be available to emergency services and nearby landowners in the case of an emergency and flooding of Mouth of Powlett Road if required.”

Mr Bawden stressed that normal public access along Mouth of Powlett Road and Lower Powlett Road had not been affected.

END

This is the DSE’s Media Release

Download the Bass Coast Shire Council’s media release

19 June 2008

FIRM STAND AGAINST DESAL

Bass Coast Shire Council has voted to formally oppose the State Government’s proposed desalination plant.

On the first anniversary of the announcement of plans to build a plant near Wonthaggi, Council passed a motion calling on the State Government to abandon the decision to construct a plant. The motion also asked for a comprehensive, open and transparent inquiry into options for Victoria’s water supply.

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Danny Luna, said that to date, the Government had never explained why desalination has to play such a large part in the State’s water policy. “Council has consistently requested more information, better community consultation and open dialogue with the State Government,” said Mr Luna. “The motion is an indication of Council’s frustration at the way the State Government has handled the desalination project.”
“A number of recent developments have brought this to a head.”

Mr Luna said there was a lot of anxiety and concern about the State and Federal Governments decision to pursue the Your Water Your Say action group for the costs of the Federal Court case.
“This case has implications well beyond Bass Coast and the proposed desalination project,” said Mr Luna.
“It seems unjust that in order to question a government decision, one of the few direct options open to a small community group is a legal process that could see them potentially bear the almost unlimited costs of a government legal defence team.”

The announcement of the proposed electricity transmission lines for the desalination plant has also angered many local landowners.
“The Government continues to show a lack of respect for the local community,” said Mr Luna.
“The overhead transmission lines will cut through some of Victoria’s best farm land.”
“This will have a significant environmental and visual impact. In some cases it would have a direct impact on the landowners’ ability to continue to farm their property.”
Mr Luna said parts of the potential route are protected by a Significant Landscape Overlay in the Bass Coast Planning Scheme.
“The Council and community are extremely concerned that the State Government will override our local planning policies, as happened with the proposed location of the desalination plant,” said Mr Luna.

“Council has consistently asked the State Government to justify their decisions and to engage in an open dialogue with our community.
“To date, that has not been forthcoming, despite our best efforts to actively engage in this process,” Mr Luna concluded.

END

Download the Bass Coast Shire Council’s media release

We are very pleased to pass on some good news! It doesn’t happen often so we all need to enjoy the moment. It has been exactly 12 months since the State Government announced the building of the largest desalination plant in the country on the Bass Coast and on Wednesday the 18th of June 2008 the Bass Coast Shire Council voted in favour of the following motion to commit the Council to opposing the desalination plant. The motion was put forward by our strong supporter Gareth Barlow.

Motion:

Council also resolves to indicate its strong support for the community as embodied in the Your Water Your Say Action Group and its legitimate and lawful campaign.

Click on here to download the Bass Coast Shire Council’s media release from 19th June 2008

Please check the Council’s website
BASS COAST SHIRE COUNCIL
from tomorrow Friday 20 June 2008 afternoon for the official wording in the meeting’s minutes.
“Minutes of Council meetings are available on the Internet within four working days after the meeting date. Public inspection copies of Council minutes are available at all Customer Service Centres. Full copies of the minutes are available for viewing, by appointment, at the Bass Coast Shire Council Civic Centre, 76 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi.”

Please click on here to read the Transcript of Friday’s (20 June 08) ABC Stateline Victoria - Victorian Government accused of stifling dissent over desalination plant - Kathy Bowlen is interviewing Councilor Gareth Barlow

Download - Media Release Bass Coast Shire Council - Bass Coast walks from Desal