Concern over Queensland’s devastating land clearing rates has been resonating throughout the state since changes to the Vegetation Management Act made by the LNP Newman Government led to new approvals for clearing in Cape York and elsewhere– some in the very last days of the LNP administration.

Before the election win in February this year, the now Palaszczuk government committed to re-tightening the legislation around land clearing, and returning Queensland to the forefront of vegetation preservation. In the three months since, there is rising concern that they have done little more than reassure landowners that they are in no rush to change the legislation.

In 2013 a group of 26 senior scientists expressed their deep concern over proposed amendments to the Vegetation Management Act by Newman’s LNP Government in order to allow for intensive agriculture. They argued that returning to the antiquated practices of mass-scale clearing would result in loss of biodiversity, worsening erosion, salinity and water quality as well as a significant contribution to carbon emissions. They reminded the LNP government that was stricter regulations on land clearing that allowed Australia to meet the Kyoto Protocol.

Their pleas were unheard by the Newman government that swiftly enacted the Vegetation Framework Amendment Act 2013 and consequently stirred a movement of industrial scale land clearing across regional Queensland. It permitted the clearing of high value regrowth on indigenous and freehold land.

Although the actual data of vegetation clearing is not yet publicly available, disturbing figures were leaked showing 275, 000 hectares of native vegetation had been cleared in the last financial year, nearly triple the rates of 2010.

Areas around Cape York and gulf country are of particular concern, with a permit granted by the LNP government to clear 32,000 hectares on a single property. Olive Vale is believed to be of World Heritage value and is home to at least 17 threatened species. Furthermore, broad-scale clearing of the property for “high value agriculture” or grazing, will threaten to increase runoff and pollution into the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. The presence of these threats to both threatened species and the Great Barrier Reef required action on the part of the Federal Government. As a result, the Environment Minister Greg Hunt initiated an urgent review of the case, claiming that the permit was issued without his knowledge.

Despite the Palaszczuk government’s willingness to jump on the bandwagon and condemn the Olive Vale case, there has been little indication of their upholding their pre-election commitment to roll back the 2013 amendments.  Although conservation groups are actively lobbying for the promised changes, this may also have the undesired effect of causing a further spike in land clearing.  Data indicates that when a tightening of regulations has been foreshadowed in the past, agriculturalists tend to panic and subsequently take to their vegetation with great enthusiasm and urgency. In order to prevent this imminent vegetation apocalypse, changes to the legislation must be made swiftly, and the data made publically available.

Article by CAFNEC volunteer Cosima Fauldi published 11/06/2015

Take action:

• Contact the Premier and call for vegetation protection laws to be reinstated immediately.
• Contact Federal Environment Minister Hunt and call on him to put a halt to Olive Vale clearing using the EPBC Act to protect species of national significance.

Read More:

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/05/queensland-government-calls-on-greg-hunt-to-stop-cape-york-land-clearing

http://theconversation.com/land-clearing-in-queensland-triples-after-policy-ping-pong-38279

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-21/alp-reignites-landclearing-debate/6032484

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/environmental-lobby-puts-pressure-on-palaszczuk/6462352

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/05/queensland-bushland-being-destroyed-on-industrial-scale-says-green-group

The post Former Queensland Government legacy revealed with land clearing tripling in Queensland appeared first on CAFNEC.

Auditor General Report confirms that there is a long way to go before reef is out of danger

Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) is today drawing attention to a report by the Queensland Auditor-General ‘Managing water quality in Great Barrier Reef catchments” tabled in Parliament today.

The report questions the effectiveness of Australian efforts to date to address water quality issues and implies that public statements by Minister Greg Hunt and representations to UNESCO regarding reef ‘in danger’ listing may have been misleading.

The report states that ”The water quality and land management improvement targets set in the 2013 Reef Plan are unlikely to be achieved under the current level of practice change. Yet this outcome is not as evident as it should be, because of what is publicly reported and how it is reported.”

In particular CAFNEC is drawing attention to the need to look after the relatively healthy Far North Queensland parts of the reef and to address land clearing and other practices emerging in the North that could see the mistakes made further South repeated up here.

The report also notes that “The recent relaxation of land clearing rules also increases the risk of adverse consequences from sedimentation run-off, and could work against the achievement of Reef Plan water quality targets.”

Full report: https://www.qao.qld.gov.au/files/file/Reports%20and%20publications/Reports%20to%20Parliament%202014-15/RtP20GreatBarrierReef.pdf

CAFNEC Director Josh Coates said:

“Nobody wants to see our Great Barrier Reef in danger, what this report tells us is that we need more investment from our Government in addressing the problem and less focus on spin designed to make people think that the problems have already been addressed.”

“Minister Hunt and others who are telling us that everything is fine are misrepresenting the facts and this report clearly confirms this.”

“The recent UNESCO decision to defer ‘in danger’ listing for the reef cannot be a cause for complacency, when the Government reports back in 18 months we cannot afford to see ‘in danger’ listing back on the agenda.”

“While we see activities like extensive land clearing at Olive Vale and elsewhere on the cape we would be kidding ourselves to think we are on track to achieve water quality improvement targets.”

“We are calling on the Federal government to immediately put a stop to this land clearing using the EPBC Act, and on the State government to reinstate land clearing regulations relaxed under the former Queensland Government, as they promised to do prior to the election.”

Media contact: Josh Coates, Director, (07) 4032 1586, director [at] cafnec.org.au

Disturbing footage of Olive vale clearing:

The post Auditor General Report confirms that there is a long way to go before reef is out of danger appeared first on CAFNEC.

The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) have today announced the upcoming community forum on Cairns port dredging.

When: 24th September 2014, 6:30 pm start

Where: Cairns Choral Society hall, 31-33 Greenslopes Street, North Cairns.

What: Presentations and panel discussion from tourism and local industry representatives, leading scientists and environmental experts.

Presentations, Q&A, light refreshments provided, free entry.

The forum is an opportunity for the people of Cairns and the Far North to learn more about the risk to the Great Barrier Reef and other potential environmental impacts; the risks for our tourism and fishing industries; the cost to taxpayers; and the potential alternatives.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Col McKenzie, Executive Officer of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators.
• Jon Brodie, Chief Research Scientist, Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research at James Cook University.
• Felicity Wishart, Great Barrier Reef Campaign Director with the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

The event is supported by the CAFNEC Marine Response Team volunteers who are working hard to organise and raise funds to hold the event.

Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) Marine Programs Coordinator Josh Coates said:

“This is a chance for the community to learn more about the proposal to dredge around 7 million tonnes of mud and acid sulphate soil to expand Cairns Port. This proposal is larger than the controversial Abbot Point dredging. At risk are our local dugongs, turtles, fish and seagrass, and the Great Barrier Reef. Tourism and fisheries industries rely on health marine environments and are also at risk.”

“In the lead up to the release of the Environmental Impact Statement there is a lack of awareness in the community of the scale, impacts, costs and rationale for the dredging proposal. “

“We hope to raise community awareness by providing solid information presented by respected scientists, environmental experts and tourism operators.”

“An aware and engaged community is the best way to ensure we get the best outcomes for Cairns, the Far North and the Great Barrier Reef. Spending taxpayers money on a project that could cost our environment, tourism and fishing industry more than it gains would not be an outcome anyone wants to see. “

“This event is free to attend and we encourage people to take the opportunity to learn more about what is proposed.”

Please share the: Facebook event

Media contact: Josh Coates, Marine Programs Coordinator, (07) 4032 1586, marine [at] cafnec . org . au

The post Community forum on Cairns Port Dredging Announced appeared first on CAFNEC.

When: Sunday April 6th 11:30 for 12 Noon

Where: Esplanade Lagoon, Western Events Area, Cairns, Queensland.

What: Live Music, Speakers, March through town.

Dress in blue, bring signs and banners, family friendly, fun, all welcome.

Speakers will include veteran environmentalist Bob Irwin.

Want to volunteer to help? email: marine[at]cafnec.org.au

Stay up to date and show your support by joining the Facebook event page.

This will be a peaceful assembly of community concerned about proposals to dredge Queensland ports adjoining the Great Barrier Reef, including plans to expand Cairns Port (Trinity Inlet). There will be information on what has happened in the past at Gladstone Port, what is happening at Abbot Point and what is proposed for Cairns, Townsville and other Ports. PLEASE SHARE AND INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBOURS, WORKMATES, EVERYBODY!

Sign the petition online or download and print a paper version: petition final for web (please return completed petitions to CAFNEC)

DOWNLOAD THE POSTER or double sided flyers (4 to a page) to print and share

Poster: SAVETHEREEF_PROTECTOURINLET_POSTER

Flyers: CairnsFlyerlo

Thank you to:  The CAFNEC Marine Response Team who have done the organising and hard yards, Cairns Regional Council for help with venue hire, Cairns Police for their help and cooperation, Caroline Emms who has provided our budget, Sarah Goldfinch for graphic design, Gavin Singleton of the Dawul Wuru Indigenous Corporation for our welcome to Country, our speakers Bob Irwin, June Norman and Paris, our bands – Velvet Serviettes, Timber and Wood and The Walker Brothers and most of all to the Cairns and Far North Community who care so much about our natural environment.

Local issues of concern include:

• Direct impacts on marine life such as fish, dugongs and turtles.
• The impact of environmental damage from dredging on the tourism industry, recreational fishing and commercial fishing including the release of potentially contaminated sediment into the greater Trinity environment and it’s impact on both human and wildlife health.
• Impacts on critical habitat including seagrass beds and coral reef.
• The cumulative impact of this proposal in the context of the broader Great Barrier Reef environment, other dredging activities, shipping activity, and the massive increase in maintenance dredging that would be required.
• The environmental and amenity damage of increased (possibly toxic) mud washing up on our Northern beaches and elsewhere.

More Information:

The proposed Cairns Shipping (Trinity Inlet) Development Project would mean digging up an estimated over 5 million m3 of dredge spoil. Dredge spoil, the mud and other sediment removed from the sea floor, often cont

ains heavy metals and other contaminants from industrial land uses and shipping. Options for dredge spoil disposal include dumping in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park or onshore dumping options, both of which pose risks to marine life by increasing sediment and nutrient loads and introducing contaminants. Onshore dumping poses risks to terrestrial habitats as well as marine environments. The proposal also would require a doubling of the annual maintenance dredging program, with the ongoing impacts this would entail.

The costs of this proposal would be significant with cost estimates of up to or over $120 million of taxpayer money. We don’t need new capital dredging in Trinity inlet, it will cost the environment and the tax payer, will hurt small business and fishers that rely on coastal and reef health, and could put the broader reputation of the GBR at risk by contributing to it being listed as by UNESCO as ‘world heritage in danger’… the list goes on. The economic benefit is questionable and can be achieved by bringing passengers ashore at Yorkeys Knob where a major upgrade is planned for this purpose.

A recent survey of 843 cairns and Far North residents demonstrated a high level of concern regarding the Trinity Inlet dredging proposal. When survey participants were asked how concerned they were about the proposal over 95% of respondents indicated they were concerned and 75% stated they were ‘very concerned’. Less than 5% said they were not concerned or ‘don’t know’.

The many approved or proposed dredging operations along the Queensland coast have contributed to major concerns for our international icon the Great Barrier Reef. It is time to say ‘enough is enough’ – we do not want damaging new dredging in Cairns Port.

Read more:

https://cafnec.org.au/what-we-do/marine-conservation/trinity-inlet/

https://cafnec.org.au/2013/12/cairns-port-expansion-threatens-undermine-bay-2/

https://cafnec.org.au/2014/02/future-reef-community-survey-results-released/

https://cafnec.org.au/2013/09/seagrass-beds-at-record-low-could-the-port-expansion-push-them-over-the-edge/

The post This Sunday! Save The Reef – Protect Our Inlet. Cairns community gathering and march. appeared first on CAFNEC.

Bob Irwin, veteran environmental warrior and father of the late Steve Irwin, has been confirmed as a key speaker at the upcoming major community event at Cairns Lagoon on April 6th.

Bob Irwin said:

“The Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, but our governments seem to have forgotten that fact. The Reef belongs to all of us, not to big industry to use as a dredge dumping ground and shipping superhighway. The Australian people are the only ones who can make a difference to protecting the Reef. It’s your Reef, but you’re going to have to fight for it.”

“I urge everyone in the Far North to get along to the event in Cairns on April the 6^th,I’d just like to take this opportunity to ask every single Australian, every man, woman and child in this beautiful country of ours to actually give us a hand and come and help save the GBR. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. If we don’t make a move now chances are that we may lose it so please come on board and give us all the help you can. Thank you.”

CAFNEC Marine Programs Coordinator Josh Coates said:

“This major community event will give the people of Cairns and Far North Queensland a chance to learn more about what is proposed and an opportunity to express their concern.”

“The Cairns proposal could see over 5 million mᶾ of fine mud dumped just offshore damaging our seagrass and coral reef environments and impacting tourism and fisheries.”

“We know from the results of our community survey that people are worried with over 95% of respondents indicating they were concerned about the proposed dredging in Cairns Port. The community is right to be concerned as the proposal puts our seagrass, corals, wildlife, fisheries, tourism industry and Northern Beaches at risk.”

MORE INFORMATION: on the event page or on the facebook event

There will be a major event in Cairns April 6th 2014. Click on the poster for more details.

The Save Our Reef – Protect Our Inlet event is organised byThe Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) in association with community members and groups who care about the future of our marine environment.

When: Sunday April 6th 11:30 for 12 Noon

Where: Esplanade Lagoon, Western Events Area, Cairns, Queensland.

What: Live Music, Speakers, March through town.

Dress in blue, bring signs and banners, family friendly, fun, all welcome.

This will be a peaceful assembly of community concerned about proposals to dredge Queensland ports adjoining the Great Barrier Reef, including plans to expand Cairns Port (Trinity Inlet). There will be information on what has happened in the past at Gladstone Port, what is happening at Abbot Point and what is proposed for Cairns, Townsville and other Ports.

More information: https://cafnec.org.au/2014/02/save-reef-protect-inlet-community-gathering-march/

The post Bob Irwin confirmed for Cairns Save The Reef – Protect Our Inlet community rally appeared first on CAFNEC.

Read survey result highlights and download the full survey results.

The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre have released the results of the ‘What is the future of our reef’ community survey. The extensive survey was taken by 843 community members from Cairns and surrounding areas at stalls in Cairns Central at markets and via the CAFNEC website.

When announcing the survey results Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) Marine Programs Coordinator Josh Coates said:

“The people of Cairns and the Far North care deeply about our reef and people were happy to take the detailed survey.”

“Overall the survey results paint a picture of a community very concerned by the current state of the reef and for it’s future, with over 75% of respondents considering that the reef is in worse condition than 10 years ago.”

“One of the stand out results of the survey was the high level of community concern regarding the Cairns dredging proposal. The public outcry regarding the recent decision on Abbot Point dredging and dumping foreshadows public protest and community opposition to the larger scale dredging proposed in the Cairns Shipping Development Project.”

“The local community is right to be concerned about Trinity Inlet dredging and other impacts on our reef and coastline. If we lose our healthy environment we lose our tourism industry, fisheries and ultimately our own health and wellbeing, there is a lot at stake here.”

“We urge Cairns and Far North residents to inform themselves and CAFNEC is providing a range of information on our website and organising activities to involve the community in protecting our environment.”

“Now that the survey is completed we will use the results to highlight important issues, follow up to inform concerned community members on the conservation priorities for our region and forward people’s concerns to politicians.”

Read survey result highlights and download the full survey results.

The post What is the future of our reef? – Community survey results released appeared first on CAFNEC.

Far-North Queensland Community Survey

We have launched our new survey designed to assess your opinions regarding the current and future environmental health of the Great Barrier Reef.

We plan to use the results to identify community and business priorities, and help facilitate action to protect our world heritage icon.

1st Prize: Two nights accommodation and breakfast at a gorgeous resort for Two

2nd Prize: Family Day trip to the Outer Barrier Reef

3rd Prize: Dinner for Two at a gorgeous local seafood restaurant

4th Prize: HAMPER worth over $150

5th Prize: Cash Cheque for $100

Proudly sponsored by concerned local Businesses (To be published)

Draw Date 28th January, 2014 at CAFNEC

Please take the time to have your say and encourage others to do the same:

• Fill out the survey online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FG2HH3Z
• Or fill out the survey right here at the bottom of this page!

and,

• Please share the above link via social media and email.

or,

• Download a copy of the survey and print it out and follow the instructions on the survey to return it: reef future survey for web

The team behind this survey care about our environment and small and medium size businesses that rely on the health of our world class environmental asset – The Great Barrier Reef.

This questionnaire is about sending a collective message to our political representatives, corporate business owners and relevant organisations regarding our concerns.

Thank you for your time!

The post What is the future of the Great Barrier Reef – community survey appeared first on CAFNEC.

However the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is yet to issue a permit to allow the dumping to occur in the Marine Park. They have said they will make a decision within ten days.

The following is our Open Letter to GBRMPA re Abbot Point dredge spoil asking that this permit not be issued.

Attn: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

C/O Russell Reichelt

Townsville head office

2-68 Flinders Street, PO Box 1379

Townsville QLD 4810, AUSTRALIA

info@nullgbrmpa.gov.au

Re: Open Letter regarding Dredge Spoil Dumping Permit for Abbot Point expansion project

The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) is the peak environment organisation for Far North Queensland region. CAFNEC is a non-profit, community organisation that has been operating for over 30 years with the aim of encouraging the community to value, protect and restore the natural environment.

While Abbot Point is outside of our usual geographic area of interest we write to formally raise our significant concerns with the recently approved dumping of dredge spoil from the Abbot Point expansion. We understand that Minister Hunt has granted permission for ocean dumping of dredge spoil, even though the specific location in which dumping can occur remains open to further investigation.

We understand that GBRMPA is about to make a decision on whether or not to grant a permit to dump spoil into marine park waters.

As the Authority would be aware there are a range of negative environmental impacts associated with suspension of sediment, nutrients and toxins associated with dredging and dumping of spoil, including impacts on habitats and species of concern such as seagrass and coral reef and dugong and turtle. The existing and future cumulative impacts of the maintenance dredging, shipping and other impacts on the reef should be considered when deciding if approval for this capital dredging program spoil dump in GBRMP waters should be allowed. It is time to set a precedent that no new capital dredge spoil dumping should be allowed in or adjacent to GBR waters.

GBRMPA has worked for so many years to protect the Great Barrier Reef for future generations. We strongly urge GBRMPA, as the body charged with protecting our reef for all, to reject this permit.

Sincerely,

Josh Coates,

Marine Programs Officer

Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC)

The post Open Letter to GBRMPA regarding Dredge Spoil Dumping Permit for Abbot Point expansion project appeared first on CAFNEC.

Dredging in progress

When Townsville’s port was established back in 1864, it catered for small ships that plied largely up and down the east coast.  It was in a large but well-sheltered bay, with a large river supplying water for the town growing up around the port and a rich marine life to help feed the growing population. It even had a beautiful coral-garlanded island just offshore to act as a holiday retreat for locals. For a long time, it worked well.

But the area that was fine for a port of the 1860s is not fine when it comes to the nature and number of ships travelling the globe these days. Largely because of the shallowness of the bay (which contributes to it being a biodiversity hotspot) and the sediment input from the Ross and Burdekin Rivers, huge regular maintenance dredging programs are required just to keep the port open. During the period 16 July 2000 to 10 September 2012 a total of 1.88 million m³ of spoil was dredged from Townsville port, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA). In comparison no such maintenance dredging was required in Bowen, Gladstone or Hay Point.

Arthur Bay, Magnetic Island

Figures provided by Senator Stephen Conroy (in response to a question on notice by Senator Larissa Waters on 24 August last year) show that dredging and dumping in the GBRWHA and in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) is massive (see Table 1).

Table 1 – Dredging and Dumping in the GBRWHA and GBRMP

• Excludes Shute Harbour, part of Gladstone, Balaclava Is, Great Keppel Is, Port Alma, Princess Charlotte Bay, part of Abbot Pt.

As I write this, the dredge ‘Brisbane’ is coming to the end of its 56-day program of regular maintenance dredging for the Port of Townsville. The program will see more than 400,000 m³ of spoil dredged and dumped in the ‘Dredge Material Placement Area’ (DMPA), in the World Heritage Area and about halfway between Cape Cleveland and the northeast tip of Magnetic Island.

Despite this, the Queensland government has identified Townsville as a ‘Priority Port Development Area’ (along with the ports of Brisbane, Gladstone, Hay Point/Mackay and Abbot Point), and a proposal to increase the size of Townsville port from 23 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 56 Mtpa is currently being assessed. This proposed increase makes no sense when it is noted that in 2012/11 the port used less than 50% of its capacity, and that no need for the expansion has been identified by the Port of Townsville Ltd, a government-owned corporation.

The proposed expansion would see 9.9 million m³ of spoilbeing dredged, with 5.6 million m³ of this being dumped in the DMPA. No figures are available for maintenance dredging into the future should the expansion go ahead.

It is this proposal that has Magnetic Islanders up in arms. Islanders are concerned that the impact of such a massive capital and ongoing maintenance dredging program, with spoil being dumped within 6 km of the Island, would be the death knell for the island’s water-based tourism industry, to say nothing of the lifestyle of residents.

But the Port of Townsville is only one of the existing and proposed ports up and down the east coast of Queensland, where the problems are similar:

• The development debacle at Gladstone has seen the port become internationally known for its water quality problems. And the recent announcement by Federal Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt that he will no longer allow dredge spoil from that port to be dumped in the sea, may well be too late to save the ocean around Gladstone.
• The size of the problem up and down the coast can best be summarized by looking at some of the numbers.
• Gladstone has seen over 47 million m³ of dredging take place in the last 13 years.
• At Hay Point/Mackay, the figure is over 15 million m³
• Abbot Point, near Bowen, is slated to become Australia’s largest coal export port, with massive infrastructure, dredging and dumping of 3 million m³ of spoil, and devastation of the adjacent Caley Vally wetlands.
• In Cairns, since the beginning of 2000, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has approved the disposal of 10.7 million m³ of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park – the result of dredging just to keep the port operational.

With the Great Barrier Reef on the point of collapse, this type and level of abuse is nothing short of scandalous.

The post Enough is enough – The common threat of port expansion appeared first on CAFNEC.

With the ‘Cairns shipping development proposal’ environmental impact statement (EIS) set for release in March or April of 2014 now is a good time to examine the threat the proposed port expansion poses to our marine environment.

Diseased Barramundi after dredging in Gladstone Harbour, insets dead dugong and turtle from after Gladstone dredging. Source ABC, credits, Gladstone fish market, ABC TV, Tony Falzon.

What is proposed?

Ports North proposes to widen the existing outer channel (11.2km long) from 90m to 140m wide and increase depth of the outer and inner harbour channel from 8.3m to 9.4m.This would mean the removal and disposal of well over 5 million m3 of dredge spoil from the channel and inlet. Estimated annual maintenance dredging quantity for the proposed channel is 580,000 m3 (an increase of 260,000 m3/year from the current annual average).

To give you a feel for just how much this is – Governments have spent over $200 million over 4 years on reef rescue projects to improve agricultural practices and revegetate stream banks reduce in order to reduce sediment and nutrients from running off into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). These worthy projects have resulted in an estimated prevention of 92,000 m3 of sediment runoff. Compare this to the proposed dumping of over 5 million m3 in one year from Cairns port alone.

What are the threats?

Dredge spoil dumping increases water turbidity (muddyness) which smothers and cuts off light to corals and seagrasses. Our seagrass is in its worst state in recorded history and has not recovered from cyclone Yasi as it should have (see article in September Ecotone for details). The recently released draft strategic assessment for the GBR has identified most of the reef as being in poor health and sediment and nutrient load as a major threat to reef health.

Dredge spoil dumped in our region impacts on offshore reefs and would muddy our Northern beaches.

The mud to be dredged is almost certainly contaminated and resuspending this sediment into the greater Trinity environment can lead to wildlife, and perhaps even human, health impacts. We only need to look at the outcomes of dredging in Gladstone harbour which was associated with fish disease outbreaks and devastated the recreational and commercial fishing industries. Recently cover ups and misinformation regarding Gladstone’s’ world famous water quality problems have come to light and Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt announced that the Federal Government will no longer allow offshore spoil dumping in the area. We need to prevent the same thing happening locally before the impacts, not after.

What is the broader context?

This proposal must also be considered in the context of other dredging proposals along the Queensland coast. The state of reef health and these proposals (including the Cairns proposal) has lead UNESCO to consider listing the GBR as ‘world heritage in danger’ – an outcome which has the potential to devastate the tourism industry. The Governments responses in the form of the strategic assessment and the draft Queensland Ports Strategy fall short of addressing the problems. The Ports Strategy calls for prohibition on “capital dredging… outside of PPDAs* for the next ten years. However “This restriction also does not apply to … proposals which are currently the subject of an active environmental impact statement (EIS) process or proposals currently designated as a major project by the Queensland Government” – what a joke!

The Draft shipping management strategy was open for public comment until 13^th December and the Strategic assessment until  31^st January. Read our comments on the Strategic Assessment here.

Do the benefits outweigh the negatives?

This proposal is being pushed on the premise of the expansion allowing larger cruise ships into the Port. Promises regarding financial benefits are not backed up with any data or indication of how they have been calculated. Just how much do cruise passengers actually spend in a brief visit onshore? Cruise operations plan for most meals, all accommodation and most entertainment to happen on the ship. Is it worth more than the tourism that brings people to Cairns to stay for many nights while they enjoy the inner and outer reef and coastal environment that is under threat?

This development has a State Government election promise of $40 milllion dollars in funding. There are few estimates of the real cost that come out at under $80 million. Could this taxpayer money be better spent on other programs to support local business that protect the reef and inshore environments that are the basis of our tourism and fishing industries? We think so.

Are there alternatives?

The EIS terms of reference call for the examination of alternative dumping options to placing dredge spoil on our doorstep in the GBR marine park. It will be interesting to see what this examination comes up with but early indications are that other options are fraught with their own environmental problems such as exposure of acid sulphate soils, or are uneconomic. Other alternatives may include offshore loading facilities linked by an extended jetty, though these are likely to be expensive and cyclone prone options.

In reality the alternative is staring us in the face. The announcement in the Cairns Post (Nov 16) of the new passenger facility upgrade at Yorkeys Knob where passengers from larger cruise ships currently come ashore may be a step in the right direction. Transferring cruise passengers onshore by tender is not uncommon e.g. the port of Saint-Tropez, and does not need to be a disincentive for tourists to visit.

We don’t need new capital dredging in Trinity inlet, it will cost the taxpayer and the environment, will hurt small business and recreational fishers that rely on coastal and reef health, will muddy our beaches, potentially be the final straw for our seagrass beds and the dugongs and turtles that rely on them, could put the broader reputation of the GBR at risk by contributing to it being listed as ‘world heritage in danger’… the list goes on. All at great expense to the taxpayer and for questionable economic benefit, most of which we would get anyway by bringing passengers ashore at Yorkeys Knob and investing in better options to support local industries that don’t destroy the environment.

*PPDAs = Priority Port Development Areas – the ports of Brisbane, Gladstone, Hay Point/Mackay, Abbot Point and Townsville

The post Cairns port expansion threatens to undermine our bay. appeared first on CAFNEC.