| Dear NEVILLE,
You’re going to love this email: you know the Caley Valley wetlands? That beautiful stretch of land that acts as the filter to our Great Barrier Reef?
They look like this:
They’re the wetlands you, and thousands of others campaigned to protect last year, when we all asked government not to let dredge spoil be dumped on them. In fact – 79,000 of us got together and said: “not on our watch”:
You know the ones – home to the endangered painted snipe – and thousands of other plants and animals. A spectacular but delicate habitat right alongside our Reef.
Well guess what; we’ve just heard that today, thanks to the incredible efforts of you, NEVILLE and thousands of others, working together to demand action: the proposal to dump dredge spoil on the Caley Valley wetlands has been withdrawn!
Click here to share this great news on facebook:
This is a great first step in implementing the Queensland Government’s ‘Saving the Reef’ election policy. Now, we can look forward to further action on other promises such as a ban on dumping of dredge spoil in the whole World Heritage Area.
You can read the details of the Government’s announcement – including the new plan to dump the dredge spoil on land by clicking here.
There’s still a long way to go. The dredging operation itself will have serious impacts, like destroying seagrass beds, regardless of where the spoil is dumped. That new plan will have to go through a thorough Environmental Impact process, and given the downturn in the coal industry, I think it’s time to genuinely review whether the port expansion is really necessary at all.
But make no mistake: today is a day to celebrate. Thanks so much for being with us on this, it’s made a huge difference.
Louise Matthiesson
Great Barrier Reef Campaigner
WWF-Australia
P.S. If you want to read more about the decision you can see WWF’s press release here |
