Ports have been operating in Australia for over 200 years and
dredging has been a vital part of ensuring safe and efficient ports.
Dredging involves removing sediment from the seafloor for a variety
of purposes, whether to deepen or maintain existing berth pockets and
passageways or to create additional berths in harbours.
NQBP is port
authority for three ports operating within the Great Barrier Reef World
Heritage Area which have been subject to strict environmental controls
for many decades.
Throughout the past year there has been a concerted campaign of
misinformation about dredging operations proposed at the Port of Abbot
Point. The misinformation generally claims that dredging will result in
damage to the Great Barrier Reef.
NQBP has an impeccable track record with regards to dredging
activities. In accordance with Commonwealth and State legislative
requirements, all NQBP dredging projects undergo rigorous environmental
assessment of potential impacts.
While the science is extensive and detailed – the facts are simple:
- All coral reefs are protected from dredging;
- No toxic material is disposed at sea;
- Suitable relocation sites are selected carefully under strict regulation;
- All environmental sensitive areas are protected; and
- Australia needs ports and ports require dredging.
Since 2002, NQBP has successfully undertaken 22 dredging campaigns
and we have employed world class environmental management and monitoring
programs for each campaign. These serve as a far better guide to what
can be expected than the deliberately misleading and wildly inaccurate
claims.
Options to manage Dredged Material
Ports are vital to our economy
A question often asked. How many people outside the ports and
shipping industry actually give any thought as to how their food,
clothes, fuel and other items find their way across the world to appear
on the shop shelves or at a petrol station??
Without safe access to ports and harbours, ships cannot deliver their goods. Also, the same goes for goods being shipped from our country, as in agriculture products, seafood, live cattle and so on.
Without dredging - ports cannot operate. If the Green organizations get their way and stop all dredging and dumping within the Great Barrier Reef Marine park waters. What will become of all our ports along the east coast of Queensland?? It is FACT, they have to dredge from time to time. For maintenance, expansion and so on.
The Green organizations have really backed themselves into a corner by wanting to halt all DREDGING and DUMPING. Before they were just saying they wanted dumping stopped. Now, everywhere that they are posting , whether it is on social media or via television networks and newspaper articles, they are saying DREDGING and DUMPING to be halted.
They need to realize that this simply cannot happen. Ports need to dredge. What do they suggest the ports do if they cannot dredge?? They have no answers ofcourse, because , we all know that originally it was all about the coal industry and they are hell bent on stopping coal exports at all costs. They clearly just don't get what they are proposing. By stopping coal exports they will stop all exports and imports into and out of Queensland.
It is time that the Green groups and their followers take off the blinders and instead of trying to kill the coal industry put their money to good use (instead of ridiculous court proceedings) and help the Great Barrier Reef with donations to fund more research!!
The reef is worth saving. Funding to scientists should be for finding out how to stop the Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreak. How to manage ports and dredging so that the Qld economy can keep ticking over. It is time for the anti coal green scientists to step up to the plate and put up their hands to do more research on the effects of dredging. Instead of trying to stop it and kill our economy which in the long run will not help the reef. Our strong economy is where money will come for the funding of appropriate research.
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A new organization has just started called Reef CSI. Run by Scientists who care about the Reef and who will not be guided my misinformation or hysteria.
Reef CSI – People saving the Great Barrier Reef.
Outraged by what you’re hearing about the Great Barrier Reef?
Confused by the mixed messages?
Want to help save the Reef?
ReefCSI is an independent not-for-profit with only one agenda – finding and doing what’s right for the Great Barrier Reef. This means we tackle the hard but important questions. It also means we’re willing to step on toes… of industry, regulators, conservationists, researchers, governments and the media – anyone who is off-base over what is needed to put the Reef in its best position for coping with human impacts.
Outraged by what you’re hearing about the Great Barrier Reef?
Confused by the mixed messages?
Want to help save the Reef?
ReefCSI is an independent not-for-profit with only one agenda – finding and doing what’s right for the Great Barrier Reef. This means we tackle the hard but important questions. It also means we’re willing to step on toes… of industry, regulators, conservationists, researchers, governments and the media – anyone who is off-base over what is needed to put the Reef in its best position for coping with human impacts.
Reef CSI Facebook Page
Reef CSI Website
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