Queensland Voters Dudded On Dredging
But, it seems that neither Queensland Labor nor Campbell Newman’s opposition care too much about the health of our waters or our international environmental reputation. Anna Bligh has refused to take on board evidence that dredging Gladstone Harbour is damaging reef marine life and Campbell Newman is more interested in promising new dredging projects than considering environmental impacts.
On Friday the LNP’s candidate for Queensland premier, Campbell Newman, committed $30 million to dredge the Gold Coast Broadwater. The Brisbane Times reported Newman as saying there will be no environmental impact study done before the dredging commences. The Broadwater pledge is in addition to the $40 million already allocated by the LNP for the dredging of Trinity Inlet in Cairns to accommodate larger cruise ships. There will be no environmental feasibility study for that project either.
"I’m not into studies and plans," Newman said when he announced the Broadwater dredging.
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Newman’s nonchalant attitude to environmental impact studies is particularly worrisome given Gladstone Harbour is already being dredged to accommodate the Queensland resources boom. Approved by the Labor government, this project is in breach of World Heritage guidelines as it threatens the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
http://newmatilda.com/2012/03/16/queensland-voters-dudded-dredging
The Great Barrier Reef might be in Queensland, but forgive me for thinking it belongs to all Australians. Bligh is little better than Newman on this issue. This cavalier attitude makes me angry and disgusted. I'm so tired of seeing our country sold out by governments.
Only Queenslanders can stop Newman, but we can all take action - to sign a petition to try to save the Reef, go here:
https://www.greenpeace.org.au/secure/petition/climate_gbr/index.php?cid=20&src=GP5