Save the Mary River Campaign Greeted by Crowds in Canberra

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.

Photos: Lindsay Titmarsh carrying the torch (top); Lindsay with fellow campaigners Anne Stephens, Glenda Pickersgill and Tanzi Smith.

Chronicle 6/10/08

Mary River myths busted

Myths about the Mary River were passionately 'busted' yesterday by environmental experts at the Hervey Bay Boat Club.

The River, the Bay and the Strait forum was aimed at getting more discussion and debate flowing throughout the Fraser Coast community about the proposed Traveston Crossing dam.

One guest speaker, scientist Steve Burgess, dismissed several myths which suggested the Mary River had plenty of flow and would not be significantly impacted by the proposed $2 billion dam.

"The government completely misses the point when it comes to what the dam would mean for the river downstream," he said.

"The Mary already suffers from low flows and runs into severe ecological problems.

"In dry times most of the land area downstream of the dam site actually takes more water from the river that what it puts back in. Damming the south east corner of the catchment would be catastrophic."

The 80-strong gathering also heard talks on the effects of climate change on river systems, new research on increasing hypersalinity levels in Hervey Bay, as well as the impact the dam could have on the migratory birds, seagrass, dugongs and vulnerable fish and turtle species which depended on the Great Sandy Strait and Mary River to thrive.

Guest speakers urged Fraser Coast residents to take their concerns about the proposed dam to local governments.

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Salinity levels already unacceptable in Bay

The waters of Hervey Bay are already experiencing high salinity levels because of low Mary River runoff, low rainfall and high evaporation, an oceanographer has found.

If the proposed Traveston Dam foes ahead the salinity levels could become even worse.

"High salinity and variable freshwater flows have considerable implications for the marine environment, aquaculture and fisheries production," said Joachim Ribbe, an associate professor from the University of Southern Queensland.

"Obviously, during years of drought less freshwater is entering Hervey Bay and hyper salinity is more severe. This then impacts on marine environmental conditions."

Mr Ribbe said that during his two year investigative study he fould high salinity at Hervey Bay before a storm in June this year.

"After the storm the Mary River run-off was 300,000 mega litres. The rainfall and river runoff combined eroded the near shore high salinity."

'Save Sandy Strait' Knitted River

The Mary River GetUp! Climate Torch Relay culminated in a massive human sign on the beach at Dayman Park on Sunday, September 7.

The 477m knitted scarf created by the people of the Mary Valley, was used to weave together people from the length of the Mary River to create the words. The message aimed to symbolise the connection between the proposed dam and the Great Sandy Strait.

Thanks so much to all who volunteered to help and all who formed part of the sign!

For more images go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/greatermary/SaveSandyStraitKnittedRiver#

Indigenous Affairs Minister Snubs Butchulla Concerns

Representatives of the Butchulla community left the Queensland Government's Community Cabinet Meeting in Hervey Bay on Sunday feeling offended and ignored by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Lindy Nelson-Carr.

A formal delegation of three, including an Owens Clan Elder, met with the Minister to voice their concerns about the Traveston Crossing Dam proposal and the impacts it will have on Butchulla cultural heritage, but the Minister was not willing to discuss the issue.

"She dismissed our meeting, claiming the issue was not part of her portfolio," said Elisabeth Berry of the Greater Mary Association, who took part in the delegation.

"We didn't want to discuss the dam with her as such. We wanted to know why Butchulla people have been excluded from the consultation process, and why the Queensland Government has considered them irrelevant to the cultural heritage of the Mary River. The Butchulla see the Mary as the life-blood of their country, so this exclusion has been a grave insult to them. Even if the Minister could not answer these questions, she could at least have offered to ask them on our behalf.

"She showed no concern that the people she is employed to represent are hurting over this issue, and made no attempt to provide them with assistance. She simply referred us to Minister Craig Wallace because his portfolio covers native title issues."

The response left Owens Clan Elder Joyce Smith, who had earlier been called upon by Premier Anna Bligh to welcome the cabinet to Hervey Bay, feeling ignored. "I felt left out. Not good. It shouldn't have been like that," she said.

The Minister's attitude was not a complete surprise to Butchulla spokesperson Norman Barney, "but it still makes us feel like we're not respected, and that's not a very good thing for a Minister of Indigenous Affairs to do,' he said. "It makes us lose respect for that person. And that is certainly not good."

The Butchulla community is concerned about the impacts a dam on the Mary River would have on the Great Sandy Strait, and how changes in the river would affect their sacred sites and traditional practices. They believe a reduction in river flows would be devastating for both the estuary and Butchulla culture in general.

"That the Butchulla feel their very culture is threatened by the proposed dam is a very serious matter," Ms Berry said. "It means there may be serious ramifications within the Butchulla community, both culturally and socially, if the project goes ahead. Such a level of concern must be addressed by the Government. It must be taken seriously."

We Socked It To 'em Again - in Hervey Bay!

Long-time campaigners against the TCD were overwhelmed by the turn out for the protest outside the ALP Community Cabinet Meeting in Hervey Bay on Sunday - our second rally this month.

Hundreds of people, young and old and from near and far, gathered outside the building at Wide Bay TAFE where Premier Bligh and her Ministers later met with deputations from the Fraser Coast community on a wide variety of issues. Ms Bligh and Andrew MacNamara (Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change and Hervey Bay MP) were escorted inside the venue by several uniformed and plainclothed police as the crowd vented their rage, screaming anti-dam sentiments at them. They also demanded Bligh "Sack Any Mac" (MacNamara) because he has failed so diabolically to represent his electorate on this issue.

Above: Bligh arriving.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas didn't have it any easier. Someone stuck a 'NO DAM' sticker on his folder and he was quick to screw it up and throw it to the ground. (During the deputations Lucas was caught saying that water flowing out to sea is "wasted") But more on that in a future blog entry!!

Gold Coast Rally a Huge Success

Hundreds of people turned out for the protest rally outside the ALP Conference on the Gold Coast this weekend - and there is no doubt the politicians knew we were there! At one point we could hear our chanted words "NO DAM" echoing off the building. Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan even got a personal serenade as he walked into the convention building.

After the official speeches where we were joined by national media, the crowd gathered in front of a balcony where delegates were having lunch and we helped them to see we are serious about stopping this dam!

Go to the link below for photographs of the protest:

http://picasaweb.google.com/greatermary/RallyQldALPGoldCoastConvention21June08

There are also photos available at:

http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x51/wwwwatch/CascadesRally/?albumview=grid.

The Rally has been mentioned in the West Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times - proof that this issue is truly national. For a short cut to these stories go to http://www.travestonswamp.info/forum/viewforum.php?f=12.

Next Sunday at the Community Cabinet we have an opportunity to put further pressure on Anna Bligh and her Government! The Bligh Government must be feeling the pressure at the moment with the gap between the ALP and the coalition reducing from about 20 points to 4 points on a two-party preferred basis. We need to have a massive turn out next Sunday to increase this pressure! Protest begins at 12:30pm at Wide Bay TAFE Uraween Rd.

Dok’ku Event a Stunning Success!!

Despite having had to compete with the World's Greatest Pub Crawl in Maryborough, brass band competitions and the threat of strong winds and rain, a crowd of determined supporters gathered at Tandora Homestead this weekend to celebrate the Mary River. They sent a loud and clear message to the world, on behalf of all lovers of river and sea, that the Mary must never be dammed! (For background on this event please read the blog entry below)

In the late afternoon a shower which had been threatening to fall all day, finally travelled across the strait from Fraser Island way, momentarily interrupting speeches, but soon the cloud passed, the sun came out, and miraculously there was a drop in the wind and well over a hundred people began scattering across the Dok’ku site to start lighting the slightly dampened candles.

The ceremony was swift and effective. Just before sunset a helicopter began filming the display, circling the area as the sun went down and the giant image of the Mary River Cod and the word ‘DOK’KU’ began to glow brighter and brighter in the growing darkness.

On the hill overlooking the site proud participants raised ‘Mary River Forever’ signs to bring home the message to all who would view the footage being taken: that they care about the fragile ecosystems of the Mary River and Great Sandy Strait, and that it is vital both be protected for future generations of both land and sea.

It was a very moving experience for all involved. On behalf of the campaign, we offer a big thank you to Jorge and Erica and Art for Earth, the sponsors and participating environment groups, and all the volunteers who worked so very hard to make this event such a resounding success!