Dam on hold will not free Mary
25th November, 2008
The Queensland Government’s announcement that Labor’s proposed Traveston Crossing dam is to be delayed for ‘several years’ can only be seen as a cynical trick to buy time in the lead up to the state election, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.“Premier Bligh’s announcement does not revoke the dam plan, it does not guarantee the survival of the Queensland Lungfish, the Mary Valley Cod or the Mary River Turtle and it does not protect the future of the Mary Valley and the farms, townships and communities the State Labor Government has been planning to destroy for the last three years,” Mr Truss said.
“The Labor Government cannot be trusted to stop the dam. They have wanted it for too long and should they be returned at the next election the dam will again be at the top on their agenda.
“This announcement will only prolong the era of uncertainty for the people of the Mary Valley. How many more years will local people have to live under the shadow of this whole dam fiasco threatening their lives?
“Anna Bligh knows the dam is unwanted and unnecessary. Ms Bligh knows the dam is not popular in either the Mary Valley or Brisbane. Ms Bligh knows that pursuing the dam so close to an election will cost her Government seats and possibly the election, so her strategy is now to try and kill it as an election issue to save Labor Party seats.
“Only weeks ago Environment Minister Andrew McNamara was spruiking the benefits of the dam and providing assurances that the dam would not threaten protected or endangered species. Today’s announcement is a remarkable turnaround and shows that the Minister responsible for protecting the environment is not across his brief and that he is prepared to serve up our region’s pristine natural environment to his political masters in Brisbane.
“Mr McNamara must be held accountable for his zeal and enthusiasm for the dam folly, which by the admission of the State’s Coordinator General has now proven to be totally ill-considered and ill-conceived.
“Unfortunately for Ms Bligh and Mr McNamara, voters have long memories and do not like to be treated so cynically.
“People living in the Mary Valley have suffered from the harshest, undemocratic treatment at the hands of this Government and the announcement that the dam is to be deferred will only prolong that agony.
“The people of the Mary Valley want the dam proposal ditched in its entirety. The LNP is the only credible political force in Queensland that is committed to axing the dam.”
