Commonwealth urged to intervene in Snowy environmental damage
Snowy Hydro is failing to meet environmental standards critical to the $5.9bn mega pumped hydro project’s conditions of approval, according to a new report.
Snowy Hydro is failing to meet environmental standards critical to the $5.9bn mega pumped hydro project’s conditions of approval, according to a new report, sparking calls for Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to take action to protect Kosciuszko National Park.
National Parks Association NSW is calling for harsher penalties to be applied to the project following damning findings of an independent audit by the environmental regulator, repeated environmental breaches and a failure to complete mandatory management plans with some running up to three years late.
The report argues Snowy 2.0 has breached its conditions of approval after it was hit with 10 compliance actions by the NSW Environment Protection Authority for a series of damaging activities including discharge of sediment-laden water, failure to remove spoil, pollution incidents and inadequate management of rock and debris.
The pumped hydro project also has an “abysmal” track record on conducting management plans within the required time frame, with only 44 per cent of the plans completed on time.
According to the peak body, 38 per cent of the project’s plans – required for the proper management of the project, assessing issues including waste, biodiversity and biosecurity risks – are yet to be completed, with some up to three years late.
“In NPA’s view the continuing delays in completing these plans represent a serious threat to the conservation values of Kosciuszko National Park,” the report said.
Announcing fines for two pollution incidents in April last year, the NSW Environment Protection Authority said “these incidents simply should not have occurred. Every industry has a role to play in reducing their impact, but your role is even more critical when you’re based in one of our state’s most pristine environments”.
National Parks Association executive officer Gary Dunnett said it was now clear small fines from the regulator “aren’t going to cut it” following repeated pollution incidents in the park, and he called on authorities to “escalate their actions to the courts” in order to force Snowy Hydro to improve its behaviour.
“The community was assured that the massive Snowy 2.0 project would be subject to strict environmental conditions of approval, and that government agencies would tightly scrutinise Snowy Hydro’s performance,” Mr Dunnett said.
“Yet over the last two years the Department of Planning and the Environmental Protection Authority have issued more than a dozen warnings, enforceable undertakings, cautions and fines to Snowy Hydro and its contractors. Even worse, there is no indication that the pattern of noncompliance is under control.
“NPA notes that minister Plibersek approved the project conditions of approval along with the NSW minister for planning, and given the repeated incidents her department should be scrutinising whether there has been any breaches of commonwealth law.”
CEO Dennis Barnes said Snowy Hydro took “its environmental management obligations very seriously and we are absolutely committed to ensuring the construction and operation of Snowy 2.0 is carried out in a manner … compliant with all applicable laws and project approvals”.
Mr Barnes said the project had six management plans that were yet to be approved but that progress on the plans was “well advanced”.
The report comes after Snowy Hydro and its contractor, WeBuild, were hit with a $30,000 fine by the NSW Environment Protection Authority following two alleged pollution incidents in Kosciuszko National Park.
The multibillion-dollar project has been beset by delays, including the collapse of one of its main contractors, Clough, and the abrupt exit of chief executive Paul Broad.
The Australian has been told Snowy Hydro, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the NSW EPA have been briefed on the report.
More Coverage
Economists urge RBA to follow US and spare the rates cut knife
After the US Federal Reserve kept rates on hold for the first time since July, JudoBank chief economic adviser Warren Hogan said it was ‘very much a cautionary tale for the RBA’.
PM defends silence around caravan plot detail amid Dutton criticism
Peter Dutton has renewed attacks on the government's anti-Semitism response as the PM rejects calls to reveal when he was briefed about the caravan plot that had potential to be 'the most catastrophic terrorist attack'.