We are very pleased to report that nearly 300 people signed our 'paper' petition at the Fraser Coast Show on Friday (Sign our online petition here!). There is a great deal of anger and disbelief in the community about the dam, and it was encouraging for the campaign to be reminded that it has so much support behind it.
Discussion during the day with politicians was both sobering and inspiring. It was reaffirmed that, despite all the efforts being made to show the disasterous environmental, social and cultural impacts of the dam, none of it will give the Federal Environment Minister the power to interfere with the State Government's plans unless an exact infringement of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBCA) can be proven. This means the Minister will only act if, one: an 'endangered' species (not threatened) is going to be impacted (try this list for starters! ... http://econews.org.au/threatened.jpg), or two: if it can be proven that the Ramsar listed wetland of the Great Sandy Strait will be affected.
Well we have plenty of ammunition on both counts. (For those of you who haven't read about it at ourgreatsandy.com, much of the Strait has been listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International/National Significance since 1999, and this means, under the EPBC Act, any action that has, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on its ecological character cannot proceed without approval from the Federal Environment Minister. To obtain approval, the action must undergo a rigorous environmental assessment and approval process.)
Pictured: Supporters signing the petition at the show (EB seated).
