The minister’s decision came after Member for Port Stephens Craig Baumann, Great Lakes Councillor Len Roberts and members of the Myall River Action Group met her at Parliament House in Sydney last week.

“This is a significant step forward because it shows the Government is finally listening and admitting there are serious problems in the Myall River,” Mr Baumann said.

“We have long been concerned the Minister was only being told half the story – and today’s meeting gave us the chance to tell her the other side of the story from people who live on and work on that river every day.

“Instead of being told facts and figures from bureaucrats, she was told passionate stories and shown dramatic photos of how serious the environmental degradation of the Myall River is.” Presenting the minister with photographs cataloging the river’s demise, closure of the mouth, ulcerated fish and dingoes on Corrie Island, members of the Myall River Action Group Gordon Grainger, Peter Pritchard and Dave Glynn weren’t surprised by her response.

“It was pretty obvious they had not received a full report on what was going on, only part of it,” Gordon Grainger said.

“The photos were very graphic, clearly showing the decline of the river and they were visibly shocked. Their main focus was that no studies have been done to establish the pooling of outgoing waters in the Pindimar area, which leads to pollution.”

The minister was told that 13 oyster farms in the area have been inoperable for the past two years and as a result have closed, despite owners still paying annual leases of $1000.

In another meeting, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Duncan Gay, reassured the group he would fight for government lease fees to be removed for out-of-work farmers.

“The problems in the Myall River are not just environmental – they are social and economical,” Mr Baumann said. “This is an unacceptable and heartless financial impost on these local families and the Government must give them a fair go.”

Before studies can begin research will be conducted into the tidal flows of the Western Navigation Channel of the river and at Pindimar Bay.