The Australian Marine Conservation Society has welcomed news that a flatback turtle stronghold in Broad Sound has been chosen by the Federal Government.
The Straits Times
Risks to Great Barrier Reef could thwart Australian tycoon s coal plans
In a photo from Oct 25, 2019, assorted reef fish swim above a staghorn coral colony as it grows on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns.PHOTO: REUTERS
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Word Count: 314
The proximity of Central Queensland Coal’s proposed operation to the reef, off the country’s northeastern coast, other key ecological sites and groundwater ecosystems make it unsuitable to proceed, the state government’s department of environment and science said in a statement.
With an estimated operational life of 19 years, the project would “pose a significant risk to the saltmarsh, mangrove, seagrass and coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and to threatened marine migratory species,” the department said.
A final decision on rejecting or approving the company’s plans will now be made by Australia’s Environment Minister Sussan Ley, most likely within the next 30 days. Central Queensland Coal is owned by Clive Palmer, a vocal businessman who’s used his mining sector fortune to make forays into politics and served for a single term in Australia’s lower house after winning a seat in 2013.
Date Time
Win for our Reef as Clive Palmer-owned coal mine deemed ‘not suitable’
The Queensland government has made the right decision for the Great Barrier Reef, the climate and local communities by deeming a proposed Clive Palmer-owned coal mine just 10km from the World Heritage area as ‘not suitable’, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) said.
Their assessment, released today, shows the Department of Environment and Science has listened to advice from expert scientists and the wishes of the community to reject the mine and protect our Reef from dangerous climate change and pollution.
The Department cited “a number of significant risks, due to its location, particularly its proximity to important environmental values, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area” in its assessment that the project should not receive environmental approval.
Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland’s Ellie Smith thanked the department for following the scientific advice. “It was frankly difficult to believe a company could even think such a mine so close to the reef would ever be accepted by the Queensland public,” she said.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society’s great barrier reef campaigner, David Cazzulino, said hundreds had attended rallies in Mackay, Yeppoon and Brisbane to protest the mine.
Building an open-cut coal mine would cause “serious and irreversible damage to a variety of important habitats, including important turtle and dugong strongholds” and was too close to the reef, he said.