Wildlife Queensland has put in a detailed submission on the EIS of the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam Wildlife Queensland says the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River fails to take enough account of the impacts of climate change, relies on questionable data and inadequately addresses obligations under federal agreements.
Wildlife Queensland’s submission, delivered before the deadline of 14 January 2008, was one of 16,500 responses received by the Queensland Coordinator-General in relation to the proposal’s EIS, undertaken by Sinclair Knight Merz.
In its detailed submission, Wildlife Queensland drew attention to shortfalls in the statement’s content and process. The submission questioned the implications of the proposal on the Great Sandy Marine Park and endangered species. Wildlife Queensland also made recommendations to improve the EIS.
Endangered species
The proposed project will affect the rare Queensland lungfish and the Mary River turtle. The EIS proposes a Freshwater Species Research Centre on the Mary River that will undertake research on these endangered species.
Wildlife Queensland does not support the centre as means of conserving wildlife.
‘It will be the Mary River that provides a future for the lungfish not some glorified fish tank,’ said Simon Baltais, Vice-President of Wildlife Queensland.
Inadequate content
Wildlife Queensland’s main criticism of the EIS was the lack of attention paid to climate change and the likely impacts on the outcome of the dam; inadequate treatment of endangered species and unscientific assessment of the effectiveness of strategies such as the conservation centre to limit the impact of the dam. There was also too little discussion of the efficiency of the dam compared with alternative methods of increasing water resources, including desalination.
Wildlife Queensland says......
Although the society has opted to be part of the consultation process (see Find out more), Wildlife Queensland remains firmly opposed to the Traveston Crossing Dam proposal because of its likely damage to wildlife and the environmental harm it will cause.
Process failings
Wildlife Queensland expressed concern that there seemed to be a failure in the EIS to adequately address its terms of reference. In addition, the data used, especially the flora and fauna survey data, was limited or deficient.
Another criticism was that the Environmental Management Plan, a key part of the EIS, was presented without confirmed details or costs.
Wildlife Queensland criticised the EIS’s failure to sufficiently address the Queensland Government’s obligations under federal protocols and agreements, including the National Water Initiative and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
Recommendations
- Carry out further vegetation surveys and fauna surveys, including trapping
- Gather better data on the likely success of relocating wildlife
- Re-examine the mapping of regional ecosystems used in the EIS
- Extend the discussion and research presented on the likely impacts on downstream flora and fauna.
Read our submission on the Traveston Dam EIS
Find out more about Wildlife Queensland and the Traveston Crossing Dam
For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email. |
