The Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) is the largest freshwater invertebrate in the world. The species is only found in Northern Tasmania, and is listed as a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and over fishing. I have personally observed this species in its natural environment, in the headwaters of the St Patricks River. Quite a significant find really, considering this was fairly juvenille which tends to indicate they are breeding. Also, I have often read that they appear to be more common in the North West.

I for one, don’t wish to see every river in Tasmania dammed in order to create a ‘food bowl’ of exotic, water-hungry crops. Remember also that the ‘holy grail’ of fish in Tasmania, The native Estuary Perch, requires a certain a mix of fresh and salt water to successfully spawn, as do our Bream (Which are known to be some of the biggest in Australia). While many years ago the Estuary Perch was quite common in several Northern estuaries and rivers, it’s now only known to be caught fairly intermittently in one system. I ask the question – How will reducing natural river flows impact our native fish and invertabrate species?

It seems that those in power have more focus on money, jobs and production than keeping Tasmania’s most iconic and revenue-generating assets in their natural state.

Damned if we do, Dammed if we don’t.

I am not sure of what the proposed destination for the water from the proposed scheme is, but assume it may be for irrigating pasture (for dairies) and perhaps vegie growing in the Scottsdale area, given that all the streams around Scottsdale/Ringarooma have been “over allocated”, and also suffer from significant stealing of water by some of the landholders.