No need to doubt Garrett | Gympie News | Local News in Gympie
No need to doubt Garrett
TRIUMPHANT cheers and cries of relief rang out across the Mary Valley yesterday as Peter Garrett lived up to his reputation and scrapped the proposed Traveston Dam.
As the Federal Government’s Environment Minister made his way to the microphone to give his decision at a press conference in Brisbane, Valley residents remained hopeful while they watched and waited for the one word they wanted to hear.
It took just seconds for Mr Garrett to put their minds at ease by announcing a distinct “no” to the dam on environmental and scientific grounds.
Emotions, strung high from three-and-a-half years of fighting the State Government’s dam proposal were let loose on farms and properties and in the main streets of Imbil and Kandanga.
“This is absolutely the best day ever,” Christine Blyton told The Gympie Times.
“Our lives can now carry on and my children don’t have to worry about their home being flooded. They’ll know what it’s like to stick up for themselves in protest and not lose the fight.”
Fay Johnston said she never doubted for one minute that the dam would be rejected.
“I’ve been confident all along; I’ve never lost a night’s sleep,” she said.
“We (Save the Mary River Co-ordinating Group) are only a small group, but it’s not the size of us that counts, it’s the fight and determination of the people.”
And it was people power that prevailed yesterday, a day marked to reflect on those who lost their lives in war will now be remembered by Mary Valley residents as the day they helped shape this nation.
“If the decision had been a yes, (the government) would have left a legacy of shame. The Mary Valley people have been vindicated,” Sally Mackay said.
Residents Victor and Helga Hill were enjoying the noisy celebrations and said many years of hard work had finally paid off.
Mr Hill was the creator of many of the roadside signs that line the Bruce Highway throughout the Mary Valley protesting the controversial dam.
He said he was already thinking of a whole series of new signs to spread word of the victory.
“I’m gonna stick it to those bastards. I’ll be writing some new signs to tell everyone we’ve won,” he said.
“It’s the only decision (Peter Garrett) could have given — a yes would’ve been politically motivated. I’ve written numerous letters to him – this time he will get one congratulating him on what he has done.
“He’s assured himself to get elected at the next election (and) I can now listen to Midnight Oil — he’s my hero.”
Mary Valley pastor Iain Watt said the community had gone through many ups and downs in the past three-and-a-half years.
“It will take a lot to put things back together. This has been a chaotic devastation for our community. The State Government put an awful lot of pressure on people to go,” he said.
“This proves people can change decisions made by the government.”
Mrs Hill said the Bligh Government got the shock of their lives when they encountered the tenacity of the Mary Valley people.
“They thought we were stupid but their lies have enraged the people. There are a lot of heavy duty thinkers in this part of the world. Scientists, engineers and experts of all sorts.”
Among the many expressions of joy, everyone agreed that Mr Garrett lived up to their expectations.
“I’m a fan again now, thanks Peter Garrett,” Mary River turtle expert Gabrielle Latta said.
More Stories
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fox, Pitt top celebrity sex list
| -
Special day to celebrate beards
| -
Ruby Rose launches range on tram
| -
| (10) -
'Gay' kookaburra? Not in our school
| (2) -
-
Powderfinger leave fans spinning
| -
DVDs still a buzz after 15 years
| -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Latest stories from our news sites
-
Today
Mostly sunny
10°C/28°C -
Tomorrow
Possible shower
13°C/27°C
Most Popular
- Southside shop works set to start
- Asbestos scare closes quarry
- Bus driver convicted after crash
- Major projects boost Imbil
- Pool opens for long hot summer
- Claims of Fraser Island 'cover-up'
- No answers to chopper stunt
- Scooter passes through Gympie
- Bligh dodges poll 'responsibility'
- Green light for retirement plan
Special offers
Virgo
24 August - 23 September
You're probably worried about what someone's NOT saying whether it be a personal or professional problem on their part. Perhaps they have a health matter they're... More Horoscopes »
Select your zodiac sign
Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces
Recent Comments
Add a Comment »
Posted by Southsider from Gympie, Queensland
12 November 2009 6:21 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
The next time Gympie suffers extensive damage through floods, I will remember them.
Posted by JimFryar from Gympie, Queensland
12 November 2009 3:33 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
It seems incredible to me that in the long run the destruction of the Mary Valley was only averted due to the presence of some fish, turtles and frogs etc. I am not in any way attempting to denigrate those who led the campaign on these issues, indeed we would all be poorer for the extinction of these species, and these people had the issue that saved the day.
Congratulations on that.
It is shocking though that the enormous economic costs, social disruption, waste of resources, incredible stupidity of the concept, and the crushing psychological burden to the victims of this outrage, counted for nothing in the end.
Incredibly, once the government jumps in any direction, no matter how misguided, there is no real protection for their victims or their property rights. Any reasonable analysis of the plan in the first place would have eliminated the idea as impractical simply on the basis of the impact of such a move on the population, and the destruction of large areas of valuable productive land.
Those who made the decision to carry out this plan as well as those who followed up on its attempted implementation have to be some of the most callous people ever to walk the halls of power and influence since the Nazis. There is no room for this sort of action in a free society.
Posted by shellyt from Eumundi, Queensland
12 November 2009 11:29 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
JimFryar you are right. There are no laws to stop a Government doing all that you listed to their people. We had to rely on the only avenue open to us at this stage - using the EPBC Act to stop the dam. Even if we had convince all of the voters of Bris that the dam was a bad idea - it still would not have forced Bligh to change her mind. .
Posted by JessAngel from Gympie, Queensland
13 November 2009 1:33 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
I'm sorry but i cannot believe he said no to the dam. all that money they just spent gone down the drain now. and so many people will be out of work now. that dam project offered hundreds and i mean literally hundreds of jobs for people in our town. now i bet you they will be complaining because the unemployment rate is going to go through the roof. i understand people lost their houses and land but im sorry give it up for those that need the work to keep gympie alive. is disgusting that he said no and i hope they put this into account when they next winge and bitch about the unemployment rate.
the government is trying to rule our lives a little too much lately and now they are going to take our jobs and hard earned cash away from us.
i personally know someone employed by the "dam" project organisers and if this dam doesnt go through he has to uproot his whole family who have been here for nearly 8 years and love it here with there friends and school to move down south out of QLD because they cant afford it without this job. there isnt enough work as it is here. give us back our jobs!
Posted by jen5353 from Eagleby, Queensland
14 November 2009 4:18 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Thenk you Peter Garrett. I grew up in Kandanga Creek so I know what it,s like to live and go to school in that beautiful part of the country. I now live in Brisbane so I know what that stupid dam would do to this area. There are other options if only the Government would listen to some people in the Imbil area about the Borumbe Dam. I also like many others have so many relatives resting in peace in the Kandanga Cemetary. So how would those people feel that wanted the dam feel if their family members were to be flooded by a stupid dam that should never of got as far as it did or have to resume their bodies. So : REST IN PEACE : our loved ones. Jenny Routledge