Conservationists claim win

Arthur Gorrie | 2nd January 2009

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THE Australian Conservation Foundation says the announced “postponement” of State Government plans for a Mary River dam at Traveston Crossing is the best sign yet that the dam will never go ahead.

The ACF has billed the dam delay announcement by Premier Anna Bligh as a “win,” despite repeated statements since then by Ms Bligh and her government's dam corporation, Queensland Water Infrastructure Pty Ltd, that the dam will go ahead eventually.

Ms Bligh has said she expects Federal Government approval on schedule early this year, even if it is subject to conditions on environmental issues.

And QWI has issued a “Project Update” pamphlet on the dam saying merely that the “process for delivery of Traveston Crossing dam project has now changed.”

The pamphlet says the only difference is that construction of the dam wall and relocation of roads “etc” will now proceed after completion of “community projects - Kandanga Bowls Club, tracks and trails, Mary Valley Heritage Rail enhancements etc” and “environmental measures - Freshwater Species Conservation Centre, habitat and vegetation rehabilitation, catchment management etc.”

The only difference, according to QWI is that construction was originally planned to take place alongside those measures.

The December pamphlet says the dam will also be subject to “ongoing environmental measures - environmental monitoring, continued catchment management, CSIRO sustainability auditing etc.”

The pamphlet claims the dam “will be delivered to a high environmental standard.

“Previously, following project approval, work would have commenced simultaneously on the construction, environmental measures and community projects.

Now, “when relevant environmental conditions are met, it is expected construction will then commence. QWI will continue to voluntarily purchase land (for) the project.”