Tuesday 12 February 2008

Passing the buck at high speed

From: Rob Williams [mailto:dixiejazz@westnet.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 February 2008 10:08 AM
To: Environmental Defenders Office; Customer Service Centre; Lyn Wallace; Steve Wettenhall; The Hon. Ms.Desley Boyle
Subject: Barron River
Importance: High

Dear Sirs and Ms.

I live on the Barron River and it has been running blood red for several days.

It has settled down to a steady chocolate colour now. I am concerned for the health of the River, its Fish Habitat and the Great Barrier Reef.

I believe this silt colouration is the direct result of earth works in the region from Mareeba to Kuranda.

It would be appreciated if you could investigate where all this top soil is coming from and take immediate steps to remedy the situation or make whoever is responsible pay for damages.

Yours faithfully,
Rob Williams j.p.(Qual.)
28 Lake Placid Road
Caravonica 4878 Qld
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----- Original Message -----
From:
Cairns Electorate Office
To:
Rob Williams
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:44 AM
Subject: RE: Barron River


Rob, your email will be brought to Desley's attention.

However, as this is directly an issue for EDO, EPA and Member for Barron River who you have also contacted we will leave it to them to follow up your concerns.

Lyn Gane

Electorate Officer for Desley Boyle MP
Member for Cairns

Ph 4051-2868 / Fax 4051-6760


----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Buckingham
To: dixiejazz@westnet.com.au
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 11:33 AM
Subject: FW: Barron River

Hi Rob

Thank you for your call. The EPA is concerned if there are releases of sediment that may cause environmental harm.

To enable us to investigate we do require more information about the potential sources of this sediment release.

Are you able to provide more details.

cheers
Chris Buckingham
Principal Environmental Officer
Environmental Operations
Northern Region
Environmental Protection Agency
5B Sheridan Street
CAIRNS QLD 4870
ph 07 4046 6736

=====================================
From: Customer Service Centre
Sent: Tuesday, 12 February 2008 10:48 AM
To: Chris Buckingham
Subject: FW: Barron River
Importance: High

Dear Chris, Could you please respond to the attached customer email enquiry?

If you are aware of a more appropriate person within the agency to respond, please let me know and I will pursue the matter directly with them.

If you are able respond to the customer, may we ask that you cc a copy of your response to us at csc@epa.qld.gov.au so that we may close the enquiry?

Thank you for your assistance.

Regards
Nigel Jacobs
Customer Service Consultant
EPA Customer Service Centre
Environmental Protection Agency
Ground Floor 160 Ann Street, Brisbane
Ph: (07) 3227 8185 Fax: (07) 3227 8749
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----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Williams
To:
Chris Buckingham
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 5:50 PM
Subject: Fw: Barron River
Thanks Chris,

I am merely an observer and someone concerned that my pristine environment is being
F@#g screwed up.

All I can tell you is that the sediment is so thick you could stir it with a spoon.

Apart from that its coming from up stream, flowing past my place at Caravonica and into the sea where it is no doubt precipitating and killing everything.

It is definitely coming from a place higher than the Barron Falls.

I thought you people got paid to find it and stop it.

However, if you want to pay my expenses, I will hire a Helicopter and go and find the source for you.

Regards,


Rob Williams
Caravonica.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tomatis Creek was also running blood red, and we also wondered which development site it was coming from. To be fair to EPA, while it is their job to investigate, they don't have numbers on the ground here in Cairns. Perhaps Sid from Myola could shed some light on it.

Anonymous said...

The tableland rivers have always run red during the wet season. I used to swim the Granite Creek and Barron Rivers in Mareeba in the 1960s when they were like tomato soup. (Good fun!!)

Anonymous said...

You just lost any respect I had for your community minded efforts Mr Williams.

To investigate such a vague complaint with sufficient detail to verify enforcement action is an enormous undertaking which, as judej pointed out, is beyond the available resources of most government agencies. An investigator, on making inquiries at specific locations in such a situation is inevitably hit with a barrage of personal abuse and threats, allegations of all sorts about victimisation and generally placed in a no win situation at cost to the tax-payer. Pretty much what you have just done to poor Mr Buckingham.

You have just shown yourself to be a whinging idiot Rob Williams.