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- 6 April 2006
Shellfish Program Funding
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Mr IAN COHEN [5.03 p.m.]: I wish to detail my concerns over unresolved funding for the New South Wales Shellfish Program—a program that oyster farmers are involved in that monitors the effects of human impacts in our coastal estuaries. This program has been delivering real environmental results in our estuaries and I am anxious to hear that the farmers may be asked to pay the entire cost of the program, and therefore are uncertain of their future. The program searches for and then monitors pollution sources such as faecal coliforms and algal biotoxins. These are all impacts of human settlement, including sewage treatment plant leaks and spills, industrial and urban runoff and vessel waste. When sources are located, the farmers in the area work with their council or the relevant State body to remediate problems. The farmers find leaking sewerage infrastructure and contamination in stormwater drains that nobody else would find and act to protect the environment.
The growers in Tilligerry Creek undertake that activity. I have been in communication with an oyster farmer from that area who did the right thing by testing and reporting adverse results of tests. As a result of his actions his business was closed down and he is seeking redress. I have made representations to various Ministers on his behalf, but everyone shifts responsibility to others. In November I wrote to the Minister for Primary Industries about this issue, and received a response in late February shifting blame to the council. I would like to know what the department did, if anything, in the interim 3½ months. Did the department approach the council, or did the department do anything to protect the interests of oyster farmers?
I wrote also to the Minister for the Environment and received a response of blame shifting. I found it amazing that in the Minister's response there was no mention of the Environmental Protection Authority's role in regard to pollution of waterways. It is a terrible shame and indicative of the manner in which the Government operates that a viable industry, worth in the vicinity of $1 million per year and employing 20 people in its immediate area, is facing ruin while departments shift blame. I hope that the Government can stop passing the buck and assist Mark Sheppard and any other oyster farmers in the Tilligerry Creek area who have been affected by septic pollution through no fault of their own.
Approximately 8,000 tests are taken each year in estuaries along the coast. It is estimated to cost $800,000 in sampling and another $800,000 to analyse and respond to the results of those tests—and that amount includes attempts to fix the problems. This is a cheap program by today's standards. Oyster farmers have been long-time advocates for the health of estuaries. The Healthy Rivers Commission agreed that where there is a healthy oyster industry there is a healthy estuary. Although the oyster industry can see the benefits of marine parks, there are fears that it is a band-aid solution if the Government does not support the New South Wales Shellfish Program and the industry's remediation efforts.
The program delivers results in our environment. It is not designed to bolster the profits of oyster farming businesses. Take a look at Wallis Lake—we all remember the hepatitis A outbreak of 1997. In that year oysters could not be taken directly out of the water and eaten for fear of contracting hepatitis A resulting from faecal coliform contamination. Today, after years of joint industry and Government work using the New South Wales Shellfish Program data, the problems have been located, measured and remediated. Today we can eat an oyster straight out of the water in those areas. The State Government contributed $900,000 to the program in 2002-03 and 2003-04; but cut it to $400,000 in 2005-06, and may abolish it completely in 2006-07. The industry seeks $1.5 million for 2006-07 and will be working with New South Wales Treasury to review the funding arrangements.
We need to send a clear message to the oyster farming environmental stewards that we support not just their ability to grow an iconic shellfish species in New South Wales but also their efforts to locate, measure and remediate the impacts of human population on our coast. It is appropriate to remember a gathering of oyster farms from up and down the coast in Parliament House's Strangers Dining Room. I remember that the Minister for Primary Industries attended as did other members of Parliament. They had an opportunity to view in a fantastic array of natural produce. I attended and was impressed by the high quality of the different breeds and types of shellfish that were presented. The New South Wales shellfish sets the New South Wales coast apart from others. It is a crying shame that we allow reckless pollution activity and lack of monitoring to destroy such a successful industry, which is also an environmental icon for the east coast of New South Wales. I urge the Government to do something about this immediately.
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