Big tourist future for Mary Valley

Arthur Gorrie | 18th November 2009

Residents took to the river at the weekend to keep up the opposition to a Traveston Dam.

THE Traveston Crossing Dam decision could turn the Mary Valley into an eco-tourism hot spot, just as the Franklin Dam rejection turned the western Tasmanian town of Strahan into a major visitor destination.

That was the view yesterday from Tourism Sunshine Coast CEO Russell Mason, who said he would be taking up the idea with Valley residents and the Queensland Government.

“The Federal Government used its international powers to stop the Franklin-Gordon hydro power scheme and the publicity generated by that controversy has turned Strahan into a big destination,” he said.

He said controversy over the dam had been akin in its effects to erecting a giant flashing billboard with an arrow pointing to the Mary Valley.

“I think the controversy over the dam has drawn international attention to the beauty, environmental values and community values of the area,” he said.

“There is a really important decision that needs to be made to take full advantage of this for the benefit of Queensland.

“It is the first time such a multi-billion-dollar project has been blocked on environmental grounds.

“Students at universities are going to be learning about this for a long time.”

Mr Mason’s views had some messages in common with sentiments expressed by Gympie MP David Gibson, who predicted the Traveston Crossing Dam campaign would be “taught in schools”, with students able to examine the success of a strategically and scientifically intelligent campaign and the failure of a government campaign which never engaged the community.

“I believe very strongly that what we have experienced will be talked about in our universities as a textbook example of how not to undertake major infrastructure projects,” he said.

“What we have seen from this (state) Government and the proponents of the dam, QWI, has been nothing short of disgraceful.”

Mr Gibson praised the strength of the Mary Valley community over its fight which lasted three years, six months and 16 days.

“What the community has gone through and the strength of character they have developed are friendships and experiences born in adversity,” Mr Gibson said.

“And out of the depths of that adversity comes something far greater and more valuable.”

He repeated his call for a “whole of government approach to restoring the Mary Valley and called on all levels of government and the community to work together”.

He said Premier Bligh’s apology to Mary Valley people was a step in the right direction.

Meanwhile, Mary Valley business people and residents will be keen to hear from today’s “Agritourism Field Day” at Borumba Dam, a timely examination of farm tourism opportunities organised by the Tourism Extension Unit of Southern Cross University.