Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Corpratising the Snowy Mountains Scheme: hijacking environmental concerns for commercial gain

By Lance Endersbee - posted Thursday, 15 March 2001


The inquiry was conducted by the NSW Government, and was made to appear like a royal commission. That was part of a cynical and elaborate deception. The report of the Inquiry is essentially a political report, giving credibility to quite weird and unsubstantiated claims. But the objective was clear from the start, and that was to reduce the electrical output of the Snowy, even if that meant taking water away from farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin. In the meantime, the Victorian Government was planning for a Bass Strait cable, which would have a similar function on the grid as the Snowy, and negotiating with private sector interests as if the reduction of Snowy output was already an accomplished fact.

The response to the NSW "Inquiry" by the Australian Government, in the Draft EIS on Snowy corporatisation, simply shows that Commonwealth had been successfully intimidated and had swallowed the bait. This whole issue is vitally important to the national economy and the future of the nation. It is not about the environment, but all about competitive development at state level versus national responsibility for national development.

Australia has long reached the end of state-based development. The future lies in national development, directed to expanded production and competition in a global economy, not competition of state against state, or states against the nation.

Advertisement

The Snowy Scheme, with its great water diversion tunnels and water storages, can be regarded as eternal. It was planned and built for the nation. It should be owned and operated by the nation. There are many outstanding examples around the world of similar national water development projects.

It is quite inappropriate to consider that the management and future development of the great dams and tunnels of the Snowy Scheme should be placed in the hands of the private sector. The Snowy Scheme is not like ephemeral investment activities such as telecommunications or thermal power stations, which have a limited life and suit private investment.

The Australian Government should now introduce legislation to formally place the ownership, management and future operation of the Snowy Scheme firmly in the hands of the Australian Government only, that is without any participation by the private sector or state governments.

The States of NSW and Victoria may be tempted to challenge the Australian Government on this issue, but I believe they would find that the weight of public opinion would be strongly in favour of the Australian Government retaining full ownership and control of the Snowy Scheme.

If there is any challenge in the High Court, which I doubt, it would provide the opportunity for the Australian Government to correct some constitutional impediments to national development, and to introduce some new interpretations better suited to a modern nation in a global economy.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Emeritus Professor Endersbee AO FTSE is a civil engineer of long experience in water resources development. His early professional career included service with the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority, the Hydro-Electric Commission of Tasmania and the United Nations in South-East Asia as an expert on dam design and hydro power development. In 1976 he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University. In 1988-89 he was Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University.

His fields of specialisation include the management of planning and design of major economic development projects, water resources, energy engineering and transport engineering. He has been associated with the design and construction of several large dams and underground power station projects and other major works in civil engineering and mining in Australia, Canada, Asia and Africa. He was President of the Institution of Engineers, Australia in 1980-81.

In 2005 he published, A Voyage of Discovery, a history of ideas about the earth, with a new understanding of the global resources of water and petroleum, and the problems of climate change.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Lance Endersbee
Related Links
Snowy Mountains Scheme website
Photo of Lance Endersbee
Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy