Come clean on dirty dredging – politicians must make their position clear
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) has called on all political candidates to make clear their position on Cairns dredging and dredge spoil dumping in the lead up to the State election.
CAFNEC Marine Programs Coordinator Josh Coates said:
A tourism boat motors through sediment suspended during dredging operations in Cairns.
“The holding back of release of the environmental impact statement for the Cairns dredging proposal is a cynical move designed to stifle real debate on the issue until after the election. We are calling on all political candidates to make their position clear on a number of aspects of the proposal.
“Candidates must come clean on whether they support the use of taxpayers money to expand the port given the environmental impacts and the fact that there is no need to expand to the port for larger cruise ships, which continue to visit Cairns transporting passengers to shore at Yorkeys Knob.”
“There is talk that the LNP has ruled out new dumping of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park but we are yet to hear that commitment from a local candidate in direct reference to the Cairns proposal.”
“Neither local LNP or Labor candidates have yet made clear statements in regard to the reportedly preferred option of dumping dredge spoil on the sensitive wetlands and Indigenous Protected Area of East Trinity.”
“Voters have a right to know what, if any, dredge spoil disposal options candidates support with both offshore dumping and the dumping of potentially acid sulphate contaminated soils on Cairns wetlands still on the table as options.”
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- Topics: Planning/Development
