There is more to the Snowy Hydro than cost overruns and endless delays. It turns out a noxious fish could bring the project to a permanent stop. So what’s the scam?
The scam is that despite Snowy Hydro CEO, Dennis Barnes, declaring that he is “committed to ensuring these critically important projects are transparent,” Snowy Hydro is refusing to release correspondence relating to a biosecurity issue which could bring the project to a permanent stop.
Recall the project is based on pumping water from the low-lying Talbingo Reservoir up to the high set Tantangara Reservoir during off-peak, and letting the water flow back down through power generating turbines during peak.
Image by Snowy Hydro
Scientific experts have warned that operation of the system will spread Redfin Perch, a Class 1 Noxious Pest and a known carrier of the Epizootic Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (EHNV), throughout the alpine river system and downstream, causing catastrophic damage to aquatic environments, commercial fish farms and recreational fishing.
Snowy Hydro Ltd has been unable to come up with any (affordable) viable controls to stop the spread. Accordingly, they have applied for an exemption from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 to allow them to take actions that would spread Redfin Perch into un-infested waterways. In 2020, the relevant NSW Minister told Snowy Hydro 2.0 in no uncertain terms; “No exception granted to Snowy Hydro – they must comply”.
Snowy Hydro 2.0 is still trying to come up with measures to ensure it complies with the law.
On July 24 this year, I sought access to the most recent correspondence between Snowy Hydro Ltd and the Department that related to this Redfin Perch issue.
The NSW Department of Planning and Environment processed my FOI request and intends to provide me access to all four documents that fell within the scope of the request.
However, the scam is contained in the remaining words of the decision advice, where the decision maker says that I can’t have the document for at least a month as Snowy Hydro has objected and may yet appeal against the FOI release.
Environmental protection measures are apparently a matter of extreme sensitivity for our Federal Government owned monopoly hydro-power generator.
Didn’t the CEO say that Snowy Hydro 2.0 was all about transparency now? Well, on the face of it, it appears that statement was untrue. The CEO’s transparency commitment has melted away much faster than winter snowfall in spring.
Snow Job – Snowy Hydro 2.0 in a fathomless crevasse of costs
Rex Patrick is a former Senator for South Australia and earlier a submariner in the armed forces. Best known as an anti-corruption and transparency crusader - www.transparencywarrior.com.au.