Dear Dr Gabriel Bittar
As ratepayers of Kangaroo Island we send you this letter for posting on the community website because the community has had enough of our present council not providing us with details of their preferred CWMS Scheme which, after five years, and scant information the Council prevents us from seeing the plans for our consideration.
The Council wants to keep the plans confidential. Given that the community are important stakeholders we believe the Council has been negligent in showing respect to all residents on Kangaroo Island. The least we should have is an independent enquiry into all processes to date such as the evidence for embarking on this project.
No testing was carried out for the health requirements. Our population growth according to the latest census is all but stagnant and there are superior environmentally friendly self-management alternatives available. It will also be a burden on our deficit ridden financial situation together with a community price tag of at least $600.00 pa.
We now have as, per the map included in this [post], an enormous earth dam capacity of 35 ML, the size of a football oval to be constructed on elevated land, too close to the township and the threat of damage to the 20m earth wall. It could potentially wipe out all of the beach dwellings and possible loss of life due to the velocity of the overflow.
Within the last five weeks we have had two earthquake events in close proximity to Penneshaw and Kingscote. Any seepage causing cracks in the wall may potentially be the cause of failure. Why should we take these risks? If we do not make it known to our politicians the Council will go ahead with this reckless project.
It is fortunate to have two experienced engineers [councillors Ken Liu and Graham Walkom] as elected members who are keeping us informed by asking questions but they have been totally ignored when debating these risks. Now is the time for a termination of this present project before irrevocable decisions are made for Penneshaw. Please take these concerns seriously and write or email our politicians to ask what they can do to prevent this project from going ahead.
We cannot afford to wait for our opportunity to vote out the current majority on Council.
Yours sincerely
Shirley Knight
Penneshaw
See also:
Council’s plans for a sewerage in Penneshaw: Now is the time for the people of Penneshaw to be let into the council’s secret — Knight, Shirley, UPDATE2 2012.07.25
What is the controversial sewerage plan for Penneshaw about? — Shirley Knight answers Charlie Canning’s questions, 2012.06.24
Addresses/email to appropriate Politicians and administration
1. Deputy Premier Hon John Rau Minister for Planning agd@agd.sa.gov.au
2. Hon Gail Gago Minister for State and Government Relations minister.gago@sa.gov.au
3. Chairman CWMS Management Committee and Programme Manager richard.gayler@lga.sa.gov.au
4. Hon Tony Burke Federal Parliament and Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities PCBC Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au>
5. Member for Finnis Hon Michael Pengilly finniss.ki@sa.gov.au