Symposium focuses on region’s water quality

Jun 08, 2007

A two-day symposium on “Water Quality in the Illawarra-South Coast Region” concludes today (8 June) at the University of Wollongong.

Professor John Morrison of UOW’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences said there has been extensive recent discussion and media coverage on water quality issues.

“However, water quality does not often receive much publicity unless a major problem occurs such as algal blooms and fish kills. Poor water quality, nevertheless, has major environmental social and economic impacts,” Professor Morrison said.

The two-day symposium will lead to the publication of information that facilitates better understanding of the issues relating to water quality.

“The availability of this form of information should lead to better environmental decision-making and greater transparency as to the impact of activities that have the potential to change water quality,” he said.

Professor Morrison said that organisers planned to publish peer-reviewed proceedings of the symposium.

The keynote address was presented by Dr Graeme Batley, Director of CSIRO’s Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research Centre, on the topic, “Recent developments in water quality management”.