Ocean Sentry
A national conservation lobby group says Australia”s only native species of dolphin is at risk of extinction if plans for a north Queensland ocean terminal go ahead.
The Townsville Ocean Terminal and luxury canal estate project was sold this week to an international marina development company. The manager of the Australian Marine Wildlife Guardians, Blanche Danastas, says the project threatens 80 rare snub-fin dolphins residing in the area and the State Government should be ashamed for supporting it.
“We’ve got [Premier] Anna Bligh blindly pushing this development at all costs,” she said.
“This is not about an ocean terminal, this is about a land grab for a yuppie development that will make the developer a quick buck, that will get the State Government an ocean terminal that’s too small to be useful, at the expense of Australia’s only native dolphin.”
The Minister Assisting the Premier in north Queensland says the Government is committed to the ocean terminal because it will greatly benefit the region.
Thuringowa MP Craig Wallace says an environmental impact study (EIS) will be completed before the project gets final approval.
He says the proposed facility will create significant opportunities for north Queensland residents.
Mr Wallace says there is no evidence the ocean terminal and luxury canal estate project will threaten any animal species.
He says conservation lobby groups should wait for the study’s findings before writing the development off as environmentally irresponsible.
“There have been unfortunately some groups and some people in the city who have tended to jump on this particular project without looking at the EIS. I say they should take a cold shower, wait til the EIS comes down and take a look at those findings,” he said.
