NEVILLE,

Finally, some good news for the Great Barrier Reef! The decision on whether to allow 3 million cubic metres of toxic dredge spoil to be dumped in Reef waters has been delayed.

After an incredible campaigning effort from GetUp members and many others, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has refused to issue a permit for the dumping of 3 million cubic metres of toxic dredge spoil inside the Reef’s World Heritage Area. Instead, they have given themselves more time to assess the damage the project may cause. The delay is a sure sign that decision-makers are feeling the pressure from the community to do the right thing for our Reef.

Now, we have until January 31st to convince the Reef Authority to stand up to the mining industry and save our Reef from industrialisation.

Click here to thank the Reef Authority for delaying the decision, and urge them to reject the proposal for good:

http://www.getup.org.au/safe-for-the-moment

More than 280,000 GetUp members like you have worked together to make the campaign to protect the Great Barrier Reef incredible. Together, we’ve grown a massive petition, helped fund TV ads, billboards and strategic postering campaigns. We’ve filled out thousands of postcards and marched together through the streets of Brisbane at Rally for the Reef.

Just this week, 2,710 GetUp members chipped in to fund a last minute full-page ad in the Courier Mail urging the authority to reject the dumping, alongside another 9,601 who emailed or called them directly. The effort has been extraordinary.

This means our Reef is safe for the moment, and gives us another 40 days to deliver some of our best campaigning yet.

The Reef Authority’s fundamental role is to protect the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area, and this delay is a great sign that they’re giving adequate time to assess the dangerous proposal .

Click here to thank the Reef Authority, and let them know we’re watching:

http://www.getup.org.au/safe-for-the-moment

We’ll be in touch soon with the next phase of the campaign. In the meantime, congratulations on being a part of this important development, and get ready to take the fight to a new level in the new year!

Thanks for everything –

the GetUp team.

PS – After Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the dredging project at Abbot Point, GetUp members in his electorate of Flinders decided to personally deliver him a special Christmas gift. Here they are, led by Lauren, just after meeting Minister Hunt to discuss protecting the Reef, and delivering him what he wants most for Christmas – stockings full of coal:

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