got the following from Steve Samuels (Pres MAS and significant angling representative for this region):

Supporters

By now you will probably know that Snowy Hydro has released the Feasibility Report on the Pumped Hydro 2.0 Project which stipulates the project is feasible and will go ahead. A full copy of the Report can be found at: www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-scheme/snowy20/snowy-2-0-feasibility-study/

The essence of the project is that water will be released from Tantangara Dam into Talbingo Dam via generators. Water will then be returned to Tantangara Dam from Talbingo Dam to repeat the cycle.

We know that there are redfin perch in Talbingo and none in Tantangara. From a fishing perspective we remain concerned that there exists a real risk that redfin perch will be transported through the system from Talbingo Dam into Tantangara Dam.

Included below is the relevant section from the Feasibility Report for you to study – it is a short but important read.

In the new year I will be asking you all to participate with the MAS in contacting Snowy Hydro to impress upon them the importance of keeping redfin out of Tantangara, but in the meantime please have a good festive season.

Regards

Steve Samuels

President

Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc

Feasibility Report extract on redfin

5.4.4 Transport of undesirable aquatic species One of the key environmental risks for the operation of the Facilities (once the Project is completed) is the potential transfer of Redfin Perch (Perca fluviatilis) through the proposed tunnel from Talbingo Reservoir to Tantangara Reservoir. Redfin are a NSW-listed Class 1 noxious species under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW). Outputs from the NSW Department of Primary Industries ((DPI)) freshwater fisheries database confirm that a large resident Redfin perch population is present in Talbingo Reservoir. The same output has not detected any Redfin in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment upstream of the ACT border, which includes Tantangara Reservoir. Redfin are voracious predators known to prey predominantly on juvenile and adult forms of various fish species. Redfin are also known carriers of the Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis (EHN) Virus. This virus is lethal to Redfin but also to trout and native fish species.The introduction of Redfin to Tantangara could have significant consequences for the Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Brown trout (Salmo trutta) fishery of Tantangara. Members of the fishing community have confirmed this distribution of Redfin and fishing advocacy groups have expressed concerns about the potential for transfer of Redfin as a result of the proposed development and consequent impact on the trout fishery and the impact on the local and regional economy that would arise from that. There are potential options for preventing the entrainment of Redfin into the proposed pipeline. Those with the most promise include physical screens, barrier nets and electrical barriers. The feasibility of © Snowy Hydro Limited 2017 Page 16 of 18 Snowy 2.0 Study Report – Chapter Seventeen – Environment, permits and approvals Commercial-in-Confidence these options will need to be considered in relation to their capability of preventing or minimising the movement of all life stages of Redfin during the EIS stage. Further investigations are planned to confirm the likelihood of Redfin survival through the proposed Project development including experimental studies to test the survival of all age classes of Redfin to the rates of pressure and shear stress that are likely to be generated during operation of the power/pump station. These will commence once the design of the Project has been finalised and the detailed hydraulic modelling of the Project has been completed.