Tourism operators disappointed by Great Barrier Reef dredging decision

Great Barrier Reef tour operators say a Federal Government decision to allow the dumping of dredge spoil near the reef's marine park area will affect the region's tourism industry and Australia's international reputation.

On Friday (31st January), the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) approved the dredging as part of the development of what will be the world's largest coal port. Part of the Abbot Point coal port expansion near Bowen after permission was granted on, nearly three million metres of spoil will be tipped in an area near the marine park.

Scientists and conservation lobbyists had urged the rejection of the expansion, arguing sediment from dredging could smother corals and seagrasses and expose them to poisons and elevated nutrients.

Jan Klaxton, the owner and operator of a business in the Whitsunday Islands for 13 years, says the authority's decision to allow the dumping of dredge spoil came as a shock.

She told the ABC "we take over 100 people a day out to visit the wonderful Whitsunday Islands. And we go snorkelling and bushwalking and return them as happy people, having learnt something about our reef and our Whitsunday Islands.

"I've always assumed that GBRMPA, as custodians of our reef, would be the final say and only consider the environment with the decision they make.

"And obviously this has not been the case at all, because it's black and white: if they were considering the environment, they wouldn't even give them an option of dumping dredge spoil in the reef."

Economists have estimated the Great Barrier Reef contributes $6.4 billion a year to Australia and employs more than 60,000 people.

Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive Rod Hillman says he believes the dredging decision will affect more than just tourism on the reef, stating "you look at all the marketing collateral and the campaigns that Tourism Australia use, and the main feature is Australia's natural advantage; we've got all these national parks, we've got the unique animals, fantastic landscapes.

"People will only read the headlines from overseas, they will see that these kinds of decisions seem to be saying that the Australian Government doesn't care.

"So if the Australian Government doesn't care, why should they?"

In announcing the decision on Friday, the marine park authority assured stakeholders there will be safeguards to ensure the reef would not be adversely affected.

47 conditions have been imposed, including limits on when the spoil can be dumped, a long-term water quality monitoring plan and compensation for commercial fishers.

However, tour operators contacted by the ABC indicated that they were looking at legal action and planned to speak with local politicians.

Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association President Tony Brown stated "there's a 20% probability that the spoil can head towards the direction of the Whitsundays, and there's a lot of sedimentation locally and that's a real concern for water quality to workplace health and safety issues for diving, obviously, for visibility."

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has previously placed the Great Barrier Reef on its endangered list, threatening to remove its World Heritage listing.

21st June 2013 - UNITED NATIONS DEFERS DECISION ON LISTING GREAT BARRIER REEF AS ‘IN DANGER’

4th February 2013 - NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR ECOTOURISM AUSTRALIA

3rd June 2013 - CAIRNS TOURISM TECHNOLOGY ON SHOW TO AUSTRALIA 

30th March 2012 - UN POWERLESS TO FORCE REEF PROTECTION

3rd March 2012 - GREAT BARRIER REEF CONFIRMED AS A ‘NATIONAL LANDSCAPE’ 

23rd January 2012 - PROPOSED NEW DIVE AND SNORKEL LAWS TO ENSURE SAFETY

10th November 2011 - GREAT BARRIER REEF TOURISM OPERATORS RECOGNISED FOR GOING THE EXTRA MILE

17th August 2009 - REEF TOURISM STRATEGY TO TACKLE A CHANGING CLIMATE

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