The rare boggomoss snail Adclarkia
dawsonensis -
its future is certainly uncertain?
Photo © Robert Standish White

So will the proposed construction of the Nathan Dam proceed or not?

Wildlife Queensland has been informed that Sun Water is keen to proceed. On the other hand we have been advised from senior state government sources that Nathan Dam is off the agenda. Allegedly funds allocated by state treasury to the project have been withdrawn. Wildlife Queensland is perplexed by the apparent confusion within government.

Wildlife Queensland has been informed that over 18000 boggomoss snails have been located by consultants in areas that will not be inundated if construction of the dam proceeds. Rumours abound. However direct from a spokeswoman of the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts this is the status from their perspective:

• The proposal to build and operate the Nathan Dam and the proposal for a translocation trial of the boggomoss snail are both still active proposals with the department.
• It's up to the proponent to refer proposals to the department that could have a significant impact on nationally protected matters. Similarly, it's the proponent’s choice to withdraw a proposal. However, if during the assessment process, the department feels there is insufficient information to make a decision on a proposal, it can seek further information.
• The Nathan Dam proposal will be assessed for its potential to impact on:
  • World Heritage properties
  • National Heritage places
  • wetlands of international importance
  • listed threatened species and communities
  • listed migratory species, and
  • commonwealth marine areas'
• The Nathan Dam project will be assessed by Environmental Impact Statement.
• The terms of reference for the EIS were published in February this year.
• The proponent must now draft its EIS in line with these terms of reference.

While the concerns about the future of the boggomoss snails have allegedly disappeared according to one source, the riverine plant communities are still at risk if the dam proceeds. It will be a major challenge to find offsets. According to informed sources they simply do not exist. Clients for the stored waters are also a mystery as the Wandoan Coal project has withdrawn its interest. Economic advice indicates that agricultural interests will not be able to meet the predicted cost of waters.

Wildlife Queensland will continue to attempt to unravel the confusion and keep you informed. Of course it is not the first time that the construction of this dam is off the agenda, the honour goes back to 1920s. Hopefully the Government will finally realise that dams and the environmental damage they cause are not the answer to water security in the twenty-first century.

Wildlife Queensland trusts the Nathan dam will be despatched to the same scrap heap as the Traveston Crossing dam. 

More articles on the Boggomoss Snail:

Speed Urged On Boggomoss Snail Plan

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