Mond

Friday, 4 August 2006

LATHAM’S SNIPE BRACKS

The Bracks Government’s controversial plan to decommission Lake Mokoan (for water savings for the environment) in North East Victoria is at risk of being scuttled by the Latham’s Snipe.

A Government funded flora and fauna study has identified that 17 endangered species call the current Lake Mokoan and associated wetlands home. In particular, the Latham’s Snipe has been identified for further consideration under the Federal Government’s Environment and Bio diversity Conservation Act 1999.

This is the Act that enabled the Red Belly Parrot to stop wind farms in Gippsland.

There are an estimated 300-600 Latham’s Snipe at Lake Mokoan and the report states “…….the standard Ramsar criterion for site significance, ie. that the site regularly supports 1% or greater of the estimated population, is likely to be met at Lake Mokoan.”

So, all of the claims about the Bracks Government creating a world class wetlands by draining Lake Mokoan misses the point that the current wetlands probably already qualifies as a world class Ramsar wetlands.

Long live the Latham’s Snipe!

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989