Mary River group members celebrate the news.
Photo © Arkin Mackay

The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland has welcomed the Queensland government's decision to delay the Traveston Crossing Dam for environmental reasons.

'At last the state government has paid attention to the community's concerns about the huge and irreparable environmental damage that this unnecessary project would cause,' said Simon Baltais, President of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (Wildlife Queensland) today.

'It was always going to be contemptible behaviour to go ahead with the dam in the face of the public consultation outcomes and environmental impact assessment.

'The endangered Mary River turtle and the Mary River lungfish have been given a reprieve but are not safe from a certain demise if the dam is ever built,' Mr Baltais said. 'The entire project should be declared dead in the water.'

Mr Baltais added that the government must carefully consider the plan to add recycled water to the State's drinking water supply.

'If all that exists between contaminated water and potable water is technology then they will need to convince people that this technology will never fail 100% of the time. That's a big ask in anyone's book!' said Mr Baltais.

Wildlife Queensland was the only wildlife conservation organisation to present evidence to the 2007 Senate inquiry into the Traveston Crossing Dam.

The Mary River is regarded as one of the best sites for the restoration and protection of the lungfish – regarded as a species of global significance because of its extraordinary ancient genetic lineage.

The lungfish also plays a cultural significant role for the local Indigenous peoples.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.