Garrett puts end to dam fight

SAVE the Mary River members breathed a sigh of relief as the final decision on the Traveston Crossing Dam was announced by Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

SAVE the Mary River co-ordinating group president Glenda Pickersgill breathed a sigh of relief with Valley residents yesterday as the final decision on the Traveston Crossing Dam was announced by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

Three weeks after Garrett announced his proposed rejection of the dam he backed that up with a final and resounding ‘no'.

“We are very pleased with Minister Garrett's announcement today and would like to congratulate him for his final decision to reject the Queensland Government's proposal to dam the Mary River and look forward to community involvement in developing a regional threatened species recovery plan for the area,” Ms Pickersgill said.

“Minister Garrett's decision confirms what we have been saying for over three and a half years – the dam would have caused irreversible damage and was not a cost effective means of providing water security.”

“We ask the question how was this process allowed to go on for so long by the Queensland Government when the evidence of the impacts of the proposed dam were apparent long ago?”

Campaigners are calling on the Queensland Government to immediately revise the legislation which was used to justify the proposed dam.

“The community deserves to have a voice in our future vision for the Mary Valley and we urge Ms Bligh to listen and to support us in our way forward,” Ms Pickersgill said.

Mr Garrett determined that the impacts of the proposed dam on threatened species would be too great.

“Throughout the assessment process a range of measures were suggested to better protect the Mary River environment and the threatened species that rely upon it. I believe there are practical measures that should be implemented to protect the species including rehabilitation of riparian corridors, improved cattle fencing around sensitive habitat, and finalisation of a recovery plan for the Australian lungfish. I believe that these are measures that should still be undertaken despite the proposal not proceeding,” he said.

“My department is currently examining the possibility of pursuing a regional recovery plan for the area.

“In making my decision I also carefully considered relevant economic and social matters. Independent analysis of this proposal cast serious doubt over its economic merits.”

The scientific expert reports and the economic analysis commissioned on the proposal can be found on the department's website at www.environment.gov.au.

Mr Garrett's full statement can be found on-line at www.gympietimes.com.au

Originally published as Garrett puts end to dam fight