Pipeline safe, says Madden

PLANNING Minister Justin Madden has ruled that the Wonthaggi desalination plant’s transfer pipeline would not significantly impact the region’s flora and fauna.
Although there was concern that the installation of the pipeline would put endangered species such as the southern brown bandicoot and growling grass frog at risk, Mr Madden reported that this would not be the case if “appropriate procedures and practices were applied”.
The investigation corridor for the transfer pipeline generally follows the Bass Highway and traverses the ridge to Woolamai, follows the South Gippsland Rail Trail and rejoins the Bass Highway at the Gurdies, continues up to Monomeith and north to Ballarto Road, and then on to the connection point near Soldiers Road, Berwick. The corridor traverses 100 waterways including rivers, streams and drains.
Mr Madden, taking account of the Environmental Effects Statement investigation and an inquiry into the project, said the preferred route or an alternative alignment in the same corridor would have little effect on native vegetation or threatened flora and fauna species.
But in his report, released last Friday, he recommended that adjustments to the pipeline alignment be made where practicable to minimise impacts on natural riverbank vegetation and reduce risks to aquatic ecological assets.