Protection up to marina developer

Carly Morrissey | 10th February 2010

EVEN though she has experienced feeding the Tin Can Bay dolphins herself, Premier Anna Bligh has declined to intervene personally with a proposed marina at Norman Point in order to protect them.

The marina proposal goes before council's general meeting today after it was approved in last week's Planning and Development Committee meeting.

Fishing and conservation advocate Joe McLeod called on the Premier last week to protect the dolphins, saying dolphin feeding at Tin Can Bay would be no more if the marina went ahead.

But a Department of Environment and Resource Management spokesperson said if the development was approved by council, the developer would be required to protect the dolphins.

“The developer will be required to put forward a plan which minimises disturbance to marine wildlife from the construction and on-going operation of the facility, including indo pacific humpback dolphins that frequent the harbour,” the spokesperson said.

“The plan must be prepared by a qualified marine wildlife expert. DERM must approve the plan.”

Ms Bligh told Mr McLeod when he met her at the Bundaberg Community Cabinet meeting that she fed the dolphins and it was a wonderful experience and he hoped her personal connection might inspire her to take action to preserve the bay attraction.

Mr McLeod said the current dolphin feeding area would be covered by the marina's structure and dolphins would not swim under the marina, even to reach humans with food.

He also said the only other area available was near the boat ramp, where the Department of Transport previously advised the dolphins couldn't be fed, due to safety concerns.

Council's planning and development committee chair Cr Ian Petersen has in the past said council had no choice but to approve the marina, because all council could make their decision over was a rock wall and piece of boardwalk.