The Australian Marine Conservation Society writes:
In the 1960s we campaigned to save the Great Barrier Reef from mining. The campaign was successful and led to the creation of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
We never thought we’d have to defend this natural wonder of the world from mining development again, but we were wrong.
Right now, the biggest dredging operation ever attempted inshore from this globally-renowned paradise is underway in Gladstone Harbour. It’s one of at least six major industrial developments underway or planned along the Great Barrier Reef coast to accommodate the rapidly expanding coal seam gas and coal export industries.
Inconceivably, the government has approved 46 million cubic metres of seabed to be dredged from Gladstone Harbour. An area that is important habitat for already threatened dugongs, turtles and rare snubfin dolphins. And unbelievably, the dredging is occurring right through seagrass meadows in a Dugong Protection Area.
The approval of these massive industrial developments is a ‘gas at all costs’ approach that risks the future of the Great Barrier Reef’s marine life and local tourism and fishing industries. And to add salt to the wound, the Government breached Whorld Heritage guidelines and embarrassed Australia on the international stage.
Please urgently sign our petition to tell Prime Minister Julia Gillard that this is unacceptable and we need to
honour our international duty to protect the Great Barrier Reef and its wealth of marine life.
www.marineconservation.org.au Note: overseas friends can sign too.