Fight to save Mary from Anna Bligh not over yet
14th September, 2009
The decision by the Bligh Labor Government to go ahead with the proposed Traveston Crossing dam project proves that Queensland Labor has zero environmental credibility, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.“This is an appalling and offensive decision that shows Labor’s contempt for the people of the Mary valley and the views of the people of South East Queensland,” Mr Truss said.
“Anna Bligh is playing Queenslanders as fools. On 25 November 2008 before the election, the Premier told the Queensland Parliament that the Traveston Crossing dam would be delayed for ‘at least several years’. It is impossible to believe that the environmental concerns she cited as being so important just 10 months ago have now been addressed.
“The State Government’s announcement exposes Anna Bligh’s pre-election stunt to defer the dam’s construction as con to fool Brisbane voters and secure a preference deal with The Greens,” Mr Truss said.
When the delay was announced, Deputy Premier Paul Lucas blamed farmers in the Mary Valley for the loss of natural habitat.
“His comments demonstrate the Labor Government’s contempt for farmers. But the impact of farming is infinitesimal compared to the drowning of the Mary Valley once the landscape is flooded by a dam that is unwanted, unnecessary and which will result in the environmental devastation of threatened and endangered species,” Mr Truss said.
“The environment is a politically expedient commodity for the Bligh Labor Government.
“The State Government cited the need to protect the habitats of vulnerable native species including the black breasted button quail, the wallum froglet, the beach stone curlew, and red goshawk bird as the reason for blocking Stage Two of the Rainbow Shores project.
“Yet the environmental grounds for rejecting the proposed Traveston Crossing dam are much more compelling and well documented, but this callous and intransigent Premier does not care.
“Labor showing contempt for all Mary River communities. Anna Bligh did not have the courage to announce this decision where its impacts will be felt. She would rather entertain the Sunday press than deal constructively with Brisbane’s water problems which are entirely of Labor’s making.
In a further assault on the Mary Valley, Ms Bligh says she now intends to take another 2000 hectares for the dam to patch up its environmental impact. In addition she intends to fence the dam area, locking out the tourists who she said would provide compensating income for the region.
The test will now be for Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett.
“The test is for Mr Garrett to show that he cares about the environment and has the courage to stand up to the Labor Party machine,” Mr Truss said.
The Queensland Labor Government has already spent more than $600 million on the dam and the Federal Labor Government has already turned the first sod to build a $600 million road around the dam.
“All of this expenditure has occurred before the environmental impact assessment has even been provided to the Federal Government,” Mr Truss said.
“We are now asked to believe that Mr Garrett will make a fair and independent assessment of the environmental issues and decide on whether the project is able to proceed.
“If he does that, he can only reach one conclusion and that is to reject the dam.”
