Restore Pedder

Hydro Tasmania has been undertaking stregthening works on Edgar Dam since January 2025 within the TWWHA. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area faces a critical challenge. Environmental conditions have been breached, threatening delicate ecosystems and unique biodiversity. The legacy of Lake Pedder—a pristine alpine lake drowned for hydroelectric development—reminds us of irreversible damage when environmental concerns are ignored.

Write your own message to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt (use our sample as a suggestion):

Express concerns about environmental breaches within the World Heritage Area
Demand immediate investigation and intervention to protect threatened flora, fauna and biodiveristy
Advocate for stronger environmental protections
Support ecosystem restoration and the restoration of Lake Pedder

Why Write to Murray?

Hold decision-makers accountable: Let Minister Watt know that you are aware of the environmental breaches and expect action to be taken.
Protect our natural heritage: Advocate for stronger environmental protections and responsible management of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Restore Lake Pedder: Support the long-term goal of restoring Lake Pedder to its former glory, a symbol of environmental restoration and a testament to the power of collective action.

Hydro Tasmania has been undertaking stregthening works on Edgar Dam since January 2025 within the TWWHA. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area faces a critical challenge. Environmental conditions have been breached, threatening delicate ecosystems and unique biodiversity. The legacy of Lake Pedder—a pristine alpine lake drowned for hydroelectric development—reminds us of irreversible damage when environmental concerns are ignored.

Write your own message to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt (use our sample as a suggestion):

Express concerns about environmental breaches within the World Heritage Area
Demand immediate investigation and intervention to protect threatened flora, fauna and biodiveristy
Advocate for stronger environmental protections
Support ecosystem restoration and the restoration of Lake Pedder

Why Write to Murray?

Hold decision-makers accountable: Let Minister Watt know that you are aware of the environmental breaches and expect action to be taken.
Protect our natural heritage: Advocate for stronger environmental protections and responsible management of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Restore Lake Pedder: Support the long-term goal of restoring Lake Pedder to its former glory, a symbol of environmental restoration and a testament to the power of collective action.

Email Environment Minister Murray Watt

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Dear Minister Watt,

I am writing to bring to your urgent attention documented evidence of multiple serious breaches of EPBC Act conditions occurring at the Edgar Dam Strengthening Project within Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area,.

The failure of the Commonwealth to  consider decommissioning the Edgar Dam  or require a full Environmental Impact assessment in a World Heritage Area, has serious consequences for the wilderness. Systematic breaches six months into the project demonstrate either compliance monitoring failure or deliberate defiance of federal environmental law. Continuing work while fundamental conditions remain unmet renders the EPBC Act meaningless.

Immediate federal intervention is required to investigate the systematic violations of environmental conditions and documented breaches including:
  
• Contaminated waste dispersal: Washdown water flowing directly into World Heritage Area instead of being contained as required under condition 1c
• Unauthorized quarry use: Evidence suggests unapproved quarry being used, breaching condition 1e(ii)
• Daylight hours violations: Work vehicles operating outside of approved hours within the World Heritage Area, breaching condition 3a
• Missing water monitoring: No evidence of required continuous turbidity monitoring in Edgar Pond per condition 5g
• Endangered species failures: Toe pond drained without documented swamp galaxias salvage; causeway work commenced without required fish surveys
(Reported by Restore Pedder between 28th January and 21st June 2025)
 
Flagship Restoration Opportunity for Australia:

Rather than spending millions of tax-payer dollars on infrastructure requiring environmental law violations to maintain, this crisis presents an opportunity to restore Lake Pedder and the surrounding environments.  Restoring Southwest Tasmania's unique ecosystems would provide exponential biodiversity, climate and socio-economic benefits and is  consistent with the goals of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Immediate Action is Required:

1. Issue an immediate stop-work order for all Edgar Dam construction pending compliance investigation
2. Launch a formal breach investigation under Section 142 of the EPBC Act against Hydro Tasmania
3. Revoke or suspend the environmental approval until full compliance systems are demonstrated
4. Commission an independent assessment of Lake Pedder restoration as a genuine environmental solution and opportunity.
5. Refer potential criminal breaches to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

It is clear Hydro Tasmania is perpetuating its extractive legacy in Tasmania. Your response will define whether federal environmental law protects the values  of Australia's World Heritage Areas, as is required by the World Heritage Convention.

I await your urgent intervention.

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