UNESCO wants Great Barrier Reef on danger list over dredging fears

World heritage organisation UNESCO has heavily criticised the Federal Government’s decision to allow dredging of the Great Barrier Reef and recommended that it should be placed on its “in danger” list in 2015 unless the reef is protected.

In its first criticism of the Federal Government decision to allow dredging of the reef, UNESCO said the decision was “noted with concern”, and that it was made “despite an indication that less impacting disposal alternatives may exist”.

The report raised a number of issues regarding the decision to dredge the reef, including the unknown impact of dredge plumes, and the transfer of decision-making powers from the Federal Government to the Queensland Government.

The report added “given the range of significant threats affecting the property and the conflicting information about the effectiveness of recent decisions and draft policies, significant concern remains regarding the long-term deterioration of key aspects.”

The earlier assertion by the Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, that the dredging proposals met a tough 150% net benefit requirement for water quality was also called into doubt. The report added the requirement “appears inappropriate without a specific timescale for its rapid and guaranteed achievement prior to development proceeding, and a clear indication of the implications for progress on water quality against the reef plan targets”.

The report went on to recommend the reef for consideration on the list of “world heritage in danger” sites in 2015, “in the absence of substantial progress on the key issues addressed above”.

The Queensland Environment Minister, Andrew Powell, told the ABC he was confident the reef would not be put on the ‘in danger’ list, stating "I'm very confident that between the work we're doing as a state and the work we're doing with our federal counterparts we will not see the reef listed 'in danger'.

"We are committed to protecting the reef, we can continue to operate sensible, environmentally responsible ports adjacent to the reef."

Minister Hunt released a statement on Thursday (1st May) stating “the approval of the Abbot Point development complied with Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention, was subject to rigorous environmental assessment and applied Australia’s world-leading net benefit approach.

“Protection for the Great Barrier Reef is an ongoing challenge and we are confident that we have the processes, resources and environmental protection mechanisms in place to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef continues to be among the best managed and protected World Heritage areas in the world.”

A WWF-Australia reef campaigner, Richard Leck, said the criticism by the world heritage organisation was shared across leading communities, explaining “UNESCO’s concern is shared by thousands of Australians and hundreds of leading scientists and we call on the federal government to ban dumping of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef world heritage area prior to the world heritage committee meeting in June.”

The Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Great Barrier Reef Campaign Director Felicity Wishart conclude “this report overall keeps the pressure on both the federal and Queensland governments to lift their game on reef protection.

“It’s clear from the report that UNESCO remains deeply concerned about the Abbot Point dumping and the overall health of the reef.”

3rd February 2014 - TOURISM OPERATORS DISAPPOINTED BY GREAT BARRIER REEF DREDGING DECISION

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

30th March 2012 - UN POWERLESS TO FORCE REEF PROTECTION