Call to sever ties
The Precautionary Principle, a scientific term, generally defines actions on issues considered to be uncertain or unresolved.
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Put simply:"when an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken, even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established on a scientific basis".
Coliban Water in a public statement said "it had engaged GHD's services for about 4 years due to a need for professional, high quality advice to ensure our services continue to be delivered in an effective and cost efficient manner."
GHD, on the other hand, has not denied that it is working for Adani, or promised that it will not work for the company in the future. "We will assess any future opportunities to work with Adani's Australian businesses which includes renewable energy projects."
Given their past performances, and that both companies have "squeaky clean" policies on the environment, the chances are they will work together in the future; and GHD will continue to work for Adani.
We all know that Adani's principle project in Australia is not in renewable energy; it is the mega mine in the Galilee Basin.
So Coliban Water, please take note of the Precautionary Principle above; sever your ties with this company and do not work for them again until they promise never to help build any more coal mines in this country.
Trevor Scott, Castlemaine
Duty of care
In April this year Coliban Water made a commitment not to release contaminated water into the Campaspe and yet it still did. Starting June 6, the EPA closed down the river from Kyneton to Lake Eppalock for 39 days due to the dangers. The river was not safe even for livestock. And what about the public entering into the beautiful tourism areas to play or fish in the waterways?
Coliban Water has a duty of care to everyone endangered by their chronic underinvestment in treatment technology. This Class C wastewater, from Coliban Water's industrial stream, comes mostly from the large abattoir but receives no treatment beyond lagooning. It carries very high burdens of the indicator pathogen E.coli ~ a measure that other disease organisms are likely. We request that the hazard be included on the Vic Emergency App. Coliban Water are on record as having released diminished quality water into local waterways 12 times since 2007 and without notifying even downstream users. Without a commitment to a full upgrade of failing 1940s treatment technology to minimum Class B, it is a matter of when, not if, it will happen again.
Sallyanne Craig, Kyneton
Inadequate sentence
Just a short note to support and voice my concerns in regard to the inadequate prison term this man received. A life was taken once again but as always, the law appears to forget the seriousness of this matter. Laws must change or these circumstances won't change . Violence against women must stop or at under some form of control and safety for every woman.
Catherine Docherty, Coburg
READ MORE: Where's the justice?
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