Oops, Sorry, Too Late - Senate Resolution Opposes Great Barrier Reef Park Dredge Dumping
THE Senate has passed a motion calling for the reversal of a coal port terminal expansion approval allowing dredge dumping in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Greens senator Larissa Waters, a Queenslander, moved the motion on Monday calling on federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt to revoke the government's approval of the Abbot Point coal port extension.
In January, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) approved a proposal from the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation to dump three million cubic metres of dredge spoil in the marine park over several years.
Mr Hunt had earlier given approval to the dredging in Queensland's north, which will turn Abbot Point into one of the world's largest coal terminals. But Senator Waters argued that new documents, obtained by Greenpeace, showed that GBRMPA had initially wanted to reject that plan to dump dredge spoil on a sand bed in the marine park, 25km from the port and 20km from the nearest coral reef.
"The Senate and the community are sending a strong message to the Abbott Government that dumping millions of tonnes of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef is unacceptable," Senator Waters, the Greens' environment spokeswoman, said.
EDIT
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/senate-votes-to-stop-dumping-in-reef-park/story-fn3dxiwe-1226845174657
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