Esk residents fight pollution threat

BRISBANE — A group of residents at Esk in the Brisbane valley, 80 km west of the city, are fighting to prevent the establishment of large-scale poultry farms in the area. Several farms are already operational, having been approved by local councils, and four further farms are either proposed, at the objection stage or under appeal in the courts.

As the farms are located close to creeks and watercourses that flow directly into Lake Wivenhoe and the Lockyer Creek (two of the primary sources of water for Brisbane), the residents are concerned that the quality of the city's water supply is threatened by contamination with farm chemicals and poisons. These pollutants include nitrates, phosphates and ammonia.

David White

From Green Left Weekly, July 20, 2005.

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From GLW issue 634