One of the misconceptions going around about the dredging at Abbot Point is that it will do untold damage to the Great Barrier Reef. This is totally untrue. There is no scientific evidence that dredging can or ever will cause damage to the reef. Yes, there will be short term impacts, mainly from turbidity of the water while the sediments settle. Most impacts will not go any further than 10 kilometres from the dredged site. A lot of scaremongering from Green groups have stated that the effects will be felt for up to 80 kilometres away. This is simply not true and is just one of the many myths that are circulating.
The Great Barrier Reef has lost half its coral cover in the last 27 years. The loss was due to storm damage (48%), crown of thorns starfish (42%), and bleaching (10%) according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences today by researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville and the University of Wollongong.
No mention anywhere on the AIMS website stating that dredging has ever caused any damage to the reef. Isn't it amazing how the green groups have spread lies saying just that!!
http://www.aims.gov.au/latest-news/-/asset_publisher/MlU7/content/2-october-2012-the-great-barrier-reef-has-lost-half-of-its-coral-in-the-last-27-years
Environmental advocates believe the enormous scale of the dredging could put the Reef's health at risk. (It is only 3 million cubic metres)
The state-owned North Queensland Bulk Ports is confident they are wrong. It led a similar project in 2006 to expand the Hay Point terminal south of Mackay.
It shifted 8.6million cubic metres of seabed into the marine park, and NQBP chief executive Brad Fish said it was done with scarcely a peep from green groups.
"We received very little, if any, response from the various environmental groups," Mr Fish said.
At Abbot Point, the sandy material will be taken from the coastline then moved to a "like-for-like" area. From start to finish, it will remain at least 40km from the nearest reef.
Mr Fish said there would be impacts from the operation, but these would be short-term. Mainly from cloudiness of the water, caused by the movement of sand.
Mr Fish said those fighting hardest against the dredging were not trying to protect the environment; they wanted to destroy the coal industry. "It's much easier to put your energy into stopping a coal port, which might then stop five mines, than by fighting five mines individually," he said.
Despite half a century of reef “experts” chanting a continuous litany of imminent threats to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) none has proved to be other than trivial or temporary. The threat de jour is dredging in connection with port developments for the gas and mining industries. Is this one any more real than the previous non-events, or is it just another grab for public attention and funding by the reef salvation industry?
Environmentalists and the Australian Greens Party are waging a massive campaign, opposing the expansion of Queensland's "Abbot Point" coal-terminal. In so doing they have created a lot of hysteria in the media. The Greens propaganda is always full of dire predictions and catastrophic events.
Their opening statements always start with "the reef is under threat". They falsely claim; the proposed dredging and port expansion will produce an unprecedented amount of spoils, kill all marine life, destroy the coral reef and ruin the Queensland economy in the process: I can assure you, this is not the case.
The Greens and their army of fanatics, have no concept of scale. The nearest coral reef to the dredge site is 40 kilometres away; a fast boat ride would take more than an hour. Imagine trying to swim that distance.
Consistently ignored in most reactions to the federal approval of a modest dredging program at the Abbot Point coal terminal in north Queensland is a landmark raising of the environmental protection bar for the Great Barrier Reef.
The prestigious status of the reef was recognised from the outset by the project proponents, who voluntarily commissioned Australia's most comprehensive Cumulative Impact Assessment process.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/great-barrier-reef-dredging-is-demonised-by-activists-20131220-2zqpc.html#ixzz31Nxy159p
“Save the reef” has become a popular catch-cry among many environment groups, with Greenpeace’s Great Barrier Reef website
shared more than 125,000 times on social media to date. It and many
similar campaigns have focused heavily on “massive dredging, dumping and
shipping” for coal and gas ports, particularly the recent Abbot Point dredging decision.
Frequently asked questions:
Is the Great Barrier Reef being dredged for shipping??
No
Is dredge sediment being dumped on reef or seagrass??
No
How far is Abbot Point Coal terminal from the reef??
40 kilometres
What is dredging??
Dredging is an excavation activity to deepen and widen harbours and
waterway channels. Safe and navigable waterways are essential for modern
and economically competitive ports for the import and export of goods.
Dredge material is thoroughly screened for contamination before being
approved for carefully considered placement, usually in the marine
environment.
Why do we need to dredge??
We need dredging to:
 | maintain safe depths in channels, berths and swinging basin within a harbour to allow efficient shipping to occur (maintenance dredging). This is because natural processes such as river discharges, waves and currents transport sediments into the channels and berths | |
|
create new areas of a harbour to facilitate import and export needs of Australia’s growing population. | |
What are the most serious threats to the reef??
Dredged material relocation is highly regulated and requires extensive
analysis of alternatives in accordance with international protocols and
Commonwealth legislation. Material for ocean placement is tested under
rigorous requirements set out by the National Australian Guidelines for
Dredging, using accredited laboratories for the analysis of the
material.
Under these and other strict environmental standards, dredging has been conducted successfully in the GBR for decades with minimal impact on the marine environment.
Under these and other strict environmental standards, dredging has been conducted successfully in the GBR for decades with minimal impact on the marine environment.
Is there any need to dredge on or near the reef??
There is no need to dredge in or near the outer reef and lagoon areas of
the GBR Marine Park and World Heritage Area. In the designated shipping
areas the water depths and natural channels are sufficient to enable
shipping to occur without the need for dredging.
Why are Queensland's ports important??
Almost all Australia's goods are imported or exported via ship, which
make us heavily reliant on efficient ports to send our agricultural and
mineral commodities to the world and import food, vehicles and fuel.
Exports through ports alongside the Great Barrier Reef were worth $40
billion in 2011-12, representing 78 percent of Queensland’s total export
volume.
Can Queensland ports and the Great Barrier Reef co-exist??
Yes. Commercial shipping has been occurring in the GBR area for around
100 years, with shipping safety standards that are among the best in the
world. All port activities, developments and shipping within the Great
Barrier Reef World Heritage Area are monitored and managed in accordance
with Queensland and federal government laws.
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