The proposal to dredge off the coast of Australia has been approved, but under very strict conditions by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). This project will take place at Abbot Point and will be expanding a port there for higher production, making it a much larger port than others on the coast of Australia. Below are the project proposals, the rejected proposal with the multi-cargo facility and the new, even larger development proposal. In order to accommodate the larger ships and heavier traffic that this will cause, North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBR) will have to dredge a significant portion of the seabed, and plan on transporting and dumping the waste near the Great Barrier Reef. There are many views on this project as it will be affecting many different types of people, and the environment of the coral reef. Obviously, this port will make a huge impact on the Queensland economy because Abbot Point will now be a much larger port, importing and exporting goods more efficiently and frequently. However, it poses problems for many others, just as it has its benefits. This port and the dredging does have the potential to be devastating to the tourism and fishing industries in the area, not to mention the impact that it could have on the coral reef if any toxic material was released during, and after the dredging process. Strict conditions have been put in place by the GBRMPA in order to ensure the safety of the environment and the reef while the dredging process is taking place. They have called for regular testing of the waste material and the waters, management plans (including fishing, tourism, local community, and a WW2 crash site), and follow-up management that will monitor the area for a time after the project is complete. All of this will be funded, managed, and facilitated by the NQBR. This ensures that the local government agencies will not have a financial strain trying to keep up with the monitoring of this project. Included in their conditions, the GBRMPA has required that different groups, including the local community have positions on panels during the project to make sure that these people have a say in what is happening, and their voice can be heard by the big businessmen heading this project. One thing that the GBRMPA has failed to consider, from what I can see, is the lasting impacts of a new, busy shipping port so close to the reef. They’ve stated that the area will be tested and monitored up to 5 years after the project is complete, but this port will bring ongoing issues for the reef including acute disturbances and constant pollution from the cargo ships that will be traveling in the area for many years to come.
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Article: http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-us/consultation/current-proposals-completed-assessment/abbot-point-capital-dredging-project
Featured Image: http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/scientists-halt-abbot-point-coal-port-expansion/
Image: http://precariousclimate.com/2012/05/25/no-setback-for-coal-port-expansion/