Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says Lower Lakes communities need more information from the Federal Government about what is being done to avoid a worst case scenario occurring to their treasured environment.

A period of public consultation has commenced, on the option of opening barrages to allow saltwater to flood into South Australia’s freshwater Lake Alexandrina, concluding on February 16 2009.

“The Lower Lakes communities have heard little as to what is being done to avoid that worst case scenario of acidification where saltwater flooding would be needed,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

“While it is encouraging that public consultation has been granted on this decision, the lack of progress in securing freshwater flows, or warding off acidification through bioremediation, suggests that the Federal Government is leaning towards the devastating option of saltwater flooding.

“Likewise, SA Water Minister Karlene Maywald’s comments about saltwater flooding being a last resort sound hollow, considering her Government’s lack of commitment to allocating increased environmental flows.”

Senator Hanson-Young said the $200 million already allocated to rescue the Lower Lakes could be being used now to secure freshwater from upstream and employ local people to activate interim bioremediation programs.

“The Greens encourage concerned South Australians to have their say in the public consultation process before it concludes on February 16, and tell Environment Minister Garrett exactly how disastrous saltwater flooding would prove for the Lakes, and the communities and economies that rely upon them,” she said.

“The Environment Minister must prioritise a visit to the Lakes to see the situation for himself before the month is out.”