Wednesday 29 October 2014

Environment Minister fast-tracks coal expansion on Great Barrier Reef

Environment Minister fast-tracks coal expansion on Great Barrier Reef

Environment Minister fast-tracks coal expansion on Great Barrier Reef







Brisbane, 29 October 2014: Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has
fast-tracked the approval of the world’s biggest coal port in the heart
of the Great Barrier Reef today, ignoring impacts on the Reef and the
adjacent internationally significant Caley Valley wetlands at Abbot
Point, said Greenpeace.
Under the proposal, millions of tonnes of seabed would be dredged
from the World Heritage Area and dumped on the Caley Valley wetlands –
home to over 40,000 water birds.


“At the behest of a coal company, the Queensland Government has
created a proposal to dredge the Reef and dump it in the Caley Valley
wetlands in order to fast-track the controversial expansion of Abbot
Point coal terminal,” said Greenpeace Reef campaigner Shani Tager.


“A colander has fewer holes than this dredging proposal,” said Ms
Tager. “There has been no assessment on the impacts of dumping this acid
sulphate dredge spoil on vulnerable species such as the Australian
painted snipe, or endangered turtle breeding habitat.


“Adani, the Indian coal company behind the new Abbot Point coal
terminal, has been holding the Queensland and Federal Governments to
ransom over this development, threatening to pull out unless their
demands are met. Greg Hunt has rolled over, again failing to stand up to
Adani and its Reef wrecking agenda.”


Minister Hunt’s decision comes amidst financial uncertainty over the
future of the new Abbot Point coal terminal. This week, some of the
world’s largest investment banks ruled out financing the development.


“Despite all of the concerns by UNESCO, scientists and the Australian
community, dredging for Adani’s proposed new mega coal port in the
Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area will not even require a full
environmental impact assessment. It’s an outrage,” Ms Tager said.


“Millions of Australians want to protect the Great Barrier Reef from
coal developments. We need to let them know we will not take this lying
down.”


Greenpeace’s submission to Environment Minister Greg Hunt on the revised dumping and dredging plans at Abbot Point is available here.
Queensland Government dredging and dumping proposal is available here
Queensland Government wetland proposal is available here

For comment, please call: Shani Tager, 0432 050 809
Photographs
of the Caley Valley wetlands and Abbot Point available at:
http://www.greenpeacemedia.org/main.php?g2_itemId=19146 Username: photos
Password: green


For interviews or more information, contact: Elsa Evers 0438 204 041


Categories

No comments:

Post a Comment