Mangrove expert condemns Mackay Port Access development plan

The proposed clearing of 20 hectares of fish habitat to make way for a major mining access road has raised alarm among researchers but it could be too late. DETAILS.

North Queensland Bulk Ports operates the Port of Mackay. Picture: Facebook

Marine experts say they are “baffled” by the proposed clearing of protected fish habitats in Mackay as public consultation closes for a key mining road development.

Up to 20 hectares of protected mangrove estuaries could be cleared to make way for the Mackay Port Access Road linking miners to port operators in a bid to reduce heavy vehicle congestion in the city centre.

An additional 42 hectares of declared Fish Habitat Areas will be added around the Pioneer River, though Senior Researcher and Mangrove Ecologist at JCU sees the development as “really irresponsible”.

“There’s been an offer of twice the area of mangroves somewhere else, but that’s not providing any benefit really because the net amount of mangroves is still going down,” he said.

“I’m baffled by the idea that sounds like a trade that you’re going to get some benefit from.

“What’s the point of the status?”

All of the designated FHA habitats lie under Management B areas meaning they are less restrictive and allow for the approval of some forms of low impact development.

The road will connect miners with a quicker and less congested route to the Port of Mackay. Picture: Phil Reece

The project would deliver a new 9.5km two-lane road connecting the Port of Mackay with the Mackay Ring Road, which connects to the Peak Downs Highway and the coal-rich Bowen Basin.

The $350 million taxpayer funded road will be split 80:20 between the Federal and Queensland Governments.

The Federal government first announced its $280 million in funding in 2020, though Emma Barrett from the Mackay Conservation group said she was concerned that it wasn’t until her group made a post to Facebook on Thursday that people were hearing about it.

“We’re a huge fishing community and this is a declared fishing habitat,” she said.

“We’ve since had so many people say ‘absolutely not’.”

A month-long online consultation program on the removal of the FHA habitats ends today as the Department of Transport and Main Roads announces the final planning stages to be set.

Aerial plan of Stage 2 of the Mackay Ring Road outlining the planned land clearing in yellow and the additional habitat areas in Green

A map shows the proposed new two-lane access road from the Bruce Highway at Glenella to Mackay-Slade Point Road which will improve access to the Port of Mackay.

Mr Duke has been studying mangroves for over 40 years and has written a number of books including Australia’s Mangroves and New Caledonian Mangroves.

He says that what made the Mackay mangrove population of species so special was their tolerance to cold water and that with rising sea levels, they carried extra significance.

“These are the places that as conditions warm, they’re the sources of seed stock,” he said.

“In some places they are considered as guardians of the shoreline, but that relies on your guardian being established and hanging on over time.”

While the official public consultation process is over, Ms Barrett said the job wasn’t done yet.

“We don’t want to leave people with the impression that this is over, this is just the first stage,” she said.

“Now that we know about it, we have to take action.”

The Minister for Transport and Main Roads was contacted for comment but did not respond before the deadline.

Originally published as Mangrove expert condemns Mackay Port Access development plan