Plans for the Abbot Point Coal Terminal to also become a port for LNG export are economically unviable and risky for the Reef, say the Australian Greens.
“ Minister Hunt must refuse this damaging and ridiculous application as ‘clearly unacceptable’ under our federal environmental laws ,” Australian Greens environment spokesperson, Senator Larissa Waters said.
“ The last thing the Reef needs is more damaging dredging, when the World Heritage Committee has warned it could place the Reef on its list of Sites in Danger.
“ The world’s biggest mining companies have abandoned their plans at Abbot Point.
“ Rio, BHP, Anglo American Coal and Lend Lease have read the economic writing on the wall and felt the scientific and community pressure to protect our Reef.
“ Yet the Hong Kong-based Energy World Corporation now proposes further dredging and a 1,000 kilometre pipeline from the Cooper Basin to Abbot Point for LNG export, which is an economic pipedream.
“ Our iconic Great Barrier Reef employs 63,000 people, brings in $6 billion each year and is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is not a highway for coal and gas.
“ It’s time the Abbott Government realise we’re at the end of the fossil fuel era and we need to transition to the safe and viable clean energy alternatives we have on hand that won’t wreck our Reef, ” Senator Waters said.
[mappress]
Press Release, April 10, 2014