THE government must reject a proposal to expand a Queensland coal port or it'll jeopardise the Great Barrier Reef's World Heritage status, environmentalists say.
Indian group Adani Mining want to expand a coal port at Abbot Point near Bowen in central Queensland.
The port is in the reef's World Heritage area.
This week the firm released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project for the public and government to consider.
The project will not significantly impact the environment, the report says.
If the expansion went ahead an extra 70 million tonnes of coal each year - worth $1.4 billion to $2.8 billion - would go through the port.
Environmentalists say the expansion of the port would have a significant impact on the reef.
As well, dredge spoil would be dumped on Whitsunday Island.
Last year UNESCO released a scathing report on the state of the reef, saying if positive changes weren't made then it would be listed as "in danger".
The report recommended Australia not allow port developments other than those already established.
In response the federal government said no projects with "unacceptable impacts" on the reef would be given the go-ahead, Greenpeace spokeswoman Georgina Woods says.
"Australians are deeply upset at the prospect that the Great Barrier Reef coastline being sacrificed to further coal development," she said.
Great Barrier Reef Campaign Director Felicity Wishart says Abbot Point would become the world's largest coal port if the plan proceeds.
"No one is going to want to come halfway around the world to see the world's biggest coal port," she said.
* The EIS for the Abbot Point expansion can be viewed by visiting the Adani website. Submissions close on April 3.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Govt must reject reef coal port: greenies
Dengan url
http://writerlovery.blogspot.com/2013/02/govt-must-reject-reef-coal-port-greenies.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Govt must reject reef coal port: greenies
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Govt must reject reef coal port: greenies
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar