Refuse the Current Fortune Agribusiness Ground Water Licence Application
The issue
Sign this petition to respectfully request The NT Controller of Water Resources to:
1. Refuse the current Fortune Agribusiness Funds Management Pty Ltd (FAFM) ground water licence application.
2. Ensure a comprehensive environmental impact assessment is completed and made available for public consultation prior to assessment of future groundwater extraction licence applications.
3. Dismiss the departmental guidance that 30% of groundwater dependent vegetation may be ‘negatively impacted’ by FAFM or any future groundwater extraction licensees.
BACKGROUND
FAFM plans to develop approximately 3,500 Ha of intensive irrigated horticulture on Singleton Station, a property located in the Western Davenport Region of the NT. To support this project they have applied for a groundwater extraction licence to take and use 40 Billion Litres (40 GL) of groundwater water per year for 30 years.
Taking 40 GL/year of water will lower the water table within the centre of the proposed farm by 40 to 50 metres over the 30-year period. Any vegetation or fauna that relies on shallow groundwater will die.
As 40GL of irrigated water evaporates about 40 000 tonnes of salt will be left on or near the surface. This amounts to 1 200 000 tonnes of salt in 30 years. This salt will pollute the soil and may pollute the aquifer and any caves.
The project will damage and destroy groundwater dependant ecosystems (GDEs) for a projected 50km. This area of impact will continue to expand, even after pumping ceases.
Loss of GDEs has irreparable consequences across the whole environment. GDEs provide a last refuge in drought times and a buffer to climate change.
The NT Controller of Water Resources is deciding on the application prior to the completion of an environmental impact assessment (EIA). The EIA will be carried out by FAFM themselves after the licence is approved.
The NT Department of Environment, Parks and Water Resources has allowed the project to 'negatively impact' 30% of GDEs in the area. This decision is not strongly supported by science or policy and was not communicated during the Western Davenport Water Allocation Plan public submission period.
For references and notes on salinity estimates please refer to our Letters For the Environment Central Australia (LECA) Case Card #2 Fortune Agribusiness Groundwater Licence found in the files tab at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/177541043620859/permalink/499545101420450/
If you do not have access to facebook and would like a copy of the case card please email us at: leca.nt.au@gmail.com
We must continue put public pressure on decision-makers about this licence.
If you wish to take further action, please pick up the phone and make a quick call to the NT Environment Minister’s office and the Water Controller’s office to raise your concerns.
Environment Minister Eva Lawler
(08) 8936 5566
NT Water Controller's office
(08) 8999 4455
The issue
Sign this petition to respectfully request The NT Controller of Water Resources to:
1. Refuse the current Fortune Agribusiness Funds Management Pty Ltd (FAFM) ground water licence application.
2. Ensure a comprehensive environmental impact assessment is completed and made available for public consultation prior to assessment of future groundwater extraction licence applications.
3. Dismiss the departmental guidance that 30% of groundwater dependent vegetation may be ‘negatively impacted’ by FAFM or any future groundwater extraction licensees.
BACKGROUND
FAFM plans to develop approximately 3,500 Ha of intensive irrigated horticulture on Singleton Station, a property located in the Western Davenport Region of the NT. To support this project they have applied for a groundwater extraction licence to take and use 40 Billion Litres (40 GL) of groundwater water per year for 30 years.
Taking 40 GL/year of water will lower the water table within the centre of the proposed farm by 40 to 50 metres over the 30-year period. Any vegetation or fauna that relies on shallow groundwater will die.
As 40GL of irrigated water evaporates about 40 000 tonnes of salt will be left on or near the surface. This amounts to 1 200 000 tonnes of salt in 30 years. This salt will pollute the soil and may pollute the aquifer and any caves.
The project will damage and destroy groundwater dependant ecosystems (GDEs) for a projected 50km. This area of impact will continue to expand, even after pumping ceases.
Loss of GDEs has irreparable consequences across the whole environment. GDEs provide a last refuge in drought times and a buffer to climate change.
The NT Controller of Water Resources is deciding on the application prior to the completion of an environmental impact assessment (EIA). The EIA will be carried out by FAFM themselves after the licence is approved.
The NT Department of Environment, Parks and Water Resources has allowed the project to 'negatively impact' 30% of GDEs in the area. This decision is not strongly supported by science or policy and was not communicated during the Western Davenport Water Allocation Plan public submission period.
For references and notes on salinity estimates please refer to our Letters For the Environment Central Australia (LECA) Case Card #2 Fortune Agribusiness Groundwater Licence found in the files tab at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/177541043620859/permalink/499545101420450/
If you do not have access to facebook and would like a copy of the case card please email us at: leca.nt.au@gmail.com
We must continue put public pressure on decision-makers about this licence.
If you wish to take further action, please pick up the phone and make a quick call to the NT Environment Minister’s office and the Water Controller’s office to raise your concerns.
Environment Minister Eva Lawler
(08) 8936 5566
NT Water Controller's office
(08) 8999 4455
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 9 February 2021