By John Van Klaveren
ANGLESEA River has suffered “collateral damage” from a renewed 50-year lease on Alcoa’s power station mine, according to a community campaigner.
Anglesea River Action Group chairperson Gary Bonner questioned the timing of the lease announcement two days after the release of a report on the river’s health.
“The public has not even been allowed proper analysis of the report on the Anglesea River before the announcement of the new lease agreement,” he said.
“This raises concerns as to the commitment given by State Government to address the problems facing the Anglesea River.
“For Anglesea and its river to end up as just so much collateral damage under this new lease agreement is unacceptable.”
Mr Bonner said the report “raised more questions than it answered”.
The report admitted that Alcoa’s licensed discharge of boron into the river grossly exceeded accepted limits.
“Alone this can have possible substantial detrimental effects on differing aquatic species within the river system. ”
State Government’s agreement allows Alcoa to expand its mine site from 419 to 665 hectares but included increased environmental controls.