Mary River campaigner and 'Mud Marathon' runner Lindsay 'Butch' Titmarsh carried the GetUp Climate Torch the last 1km leg of its national relay to a waiting crowd of hundreds outside Parliament House in Canberra today.
The GetUp Climate Torch visited the Mary River in September this year drawing national attention to the campaign against the proposed Traveston Crossing dam.
Mr. Titmarsh first carried the torch on completion of his 'Double Mud Marathon' an 81kilometre run following the most direct route from the Southern to Northern headland of the Mary River at its mouth near Hervey Bay.
Mr. Titmarsh said that being invited to carry the torch at its grand finale in Canberra was a pretty big deal.
"I represented thousands of people who have been involved in the Climate Torch campaign as the torch made its way around Australia.
"This was the first demonstration I've actually been to. For me to be invited to Canberra, out of all the groups and issues represented by this torch, has been one of the highlights of my life" said Mr. Titmarsh.
Mr. Titmarsh, who's family have lived at 'Tandora' the last downstream property on the Mary River for the last 100 years, is deeply concerned about the impact a dam on the Mary River will have on the health of the Great Sandy Strait and Hervey Bay.
The Mary River estuary, a Ramsar and World Heritage wetland is home to dozens of endangered and threatened species including dugong, dolphins, turtles, migratory birds and whales.
This week, campaigners from the Save the Mary River group and Greater Mary Association will bring new research about the potential downstream impacts of the proposed dam to the attention of the Federal Government. The campaigners claim the Queensland Government is ignoring important research, including that related to lack of fresh water flows and hyper-salinity in Hervey Bay.
A decision is expected later this year by Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, pending his review of the Queensland Government's report and Environmental Impact Statement.
The GetUp Climate Torch visited the Mary River in September this year drawing national attention to the campaign against the proposed Traveston Crossing dam.
Mr. Titmarsh first carried the torch on completion of his 'Double Mud Marathon' an 81kilometre run following the most direct route from the Southern to Northern headland of the Mary River at its mouth near Hervey Bay.
Mr. Titmarsh said that being invited to carry the torch at its grand finale in Canberra was a pretty big deal.
"I represented thousands of people who have been involved in the Climate Torch campaign as the torch made its way around Australia.
"This was the first demonstration I've actually been to. For me to be invited to Canberra, out of all the groups and issues represented by this torch, has been one of the highlights of my life" said Mr. Titmarsh.
Mr. Titmarsh, who's family have lived at 'Tandora' the last downstream property on the Mary River for the last 100 years, is deeply concerned about the impact a dam on the Mary River will have on the health of the Great Sandy Strait and Hervey Bay.
The Mary River estuary, a Ramsar and World Heritage wetland is home to dozens of endangered and threatened species including dugong, dolphins, turtles, migratory birds and whales.
This week, campaigners from the Save the Mary River group and Greater Mary Association will bring new research about the potential downstream impacts of the proposed dam to the attention of the Federal Government. The campaigners claim the Queensland Government is ignoring important research, including that related to lack of fresh water flows and hyper-salinity in Hervey Bay.
A decision is expected later this year by Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, pending his review of the Queensland Government's report and Environmental Impact Statement.
Photos: Lindsay Titmarsh carrying the torch (top); Lindsay with fellow campaigners Anne Stephens, Glenda Pickersgill and Tanzi Smith.
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