Both the federal Australian and state Queensland governments have just approved dumping dredge material from the controversial Abbott Point coal port development on to the pristine Caley Valley wetlands.
Previously, both governments had agreed to expand the coal loader port by dumping the spoil into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
However, the outcry from Australia and around the world was so loud that they came up with a new plan: to dump the dredge spoil on the significant Caley Valley wetlands instead to avoid criticism.
However, the plan to dump 1.7 million cubic metres of dredge spoil in the wetlands would destroy this pristine habitat forever.
Caley Valley wetlands provide natural filtration for the Great Barrier Reef, while serving as a fish breeding site and important shorebird habitat. The wetlands act as a nursery ground for juvenile fish and prawns and can host up to 40,000 water birds from 52 species at peak times. The dumped sediment would directly wipe out 114.3 hectares of foraging habitat for birds. Animals such as turtles and dugongs would lose more than 97 hectares of potential seagrass habitat.
The wetlands should not serve as a dump - they need to be protected.
Please sign and share the petition to demand the Caley Valley Wetlands are not turned into a dump for dredge material.
