The Fraser Straits Marina development has been “approved” and yet conveniently no government agency has had to take responsibility for that approval. With the Council stating they had no choice and the State government publicly stating that the Council most definitely did have a choice it seems all concerned are able to walk away feeling no guilt as to the potential impacts this marina may have on the town and its fragile but unique environment.

The most appalling part of this “non decision” is that the marina has been approved without a holistic assessment of the entire project and its potential impacts for the region, anything from negative impacts on tourism through to irreparable environmental damage. How does a local council appear so eager to go with the flow, with no apparent planning for the coastal area and oblivious to the potential outcomes of taking this approach?

With many people visiting the area for its natural attractions one wonders what they are going to come here for in the future. Let’s make some assumptions about the potential impacts on the environment if this marina and possibly a second one at Carlo Point are built.

With the dolphin feeding a thing of the past and the dolphin’s available habitat reduced these dolphins will be displaced, some may survive for a while but inevitably as development continues and large power boat traffic increases throughout the entire region their population size is almost certain to decrease. These dolphins do not move on and will not simply move off shore. They are in shore dolphins and the Great Sandy Straits provide an ideal habitat.

In the draft Marine Mammal Review the State Government have listed the Indo Pacific humpback dolphin as one of the priority species under their Back on Track program. This program is aimed at identifying species that are under threat of extinction and prioritising research and conservation efforts within the community. One wonders then how a marina development with a high likelihood of impacting on this species can then be passed on environmental grounds. Surely with a species we are concerned about we should be playing it safe and doing the research before we allow any further threatening processes to be undertaken.

Of course, the dolphins are only one of the species that will potentially be impacted by this and other proposed marina developments in the region. We are home to a significant dugong population as well as a feeding ground for many marine turtles. Destruction of sea grass beds, the increased threat of boat strike and the potential impacts of increased pollution are all causes for concern. These species are listed as either threatened or endangered already. At what point will we act to protect them at the ground level by critically assessing the impacts of our actions?

As for the RAMSAR wetlands and the migratory birds that are such an important part of this regions ecosystem, as well as a major drawcard for visitors, we can only hope the developers will be true to their word about dredging impacts. Of course, there is plenty of evidence to suggest their assumptions are incorrect and that such impacts will be significant.

The problem we have is that each of the projects in this area (and all along the coastline) are being assessed in isolation. It is impossible to argue that the Fraser Straits marina will single handed cause the world wide extinction of any of these species. However, this allows the developers and our politicians off the hook. Continual coastal development, pollution and other human activity all along the coastline have a very real possibility of ultimately leading to this outcome unless we start to listen to the experts.

Moreton Bay is the subject of much research funding, with many areas of concern identified. On a recent visit to Mon Repos we were advised by a ranger that research has shown that turtles whose primary habitat is Moreton Bay have a higher incidence of the fibropapilloma tumour. Research is still being undertaken but it would seem critical to stop repeating mistakes until we understand the causes of problems and how we can prevent them in other similar ecosystems.

The State government needs to step up to their responsibilities and act now to preserve some critical marine habitats along our coastline, with the primary focus on these areas being on ensuring they remain a healthy and productive ecosystem for their non human residents. Well controlled and conducted eco tourism can then thrive in these areas as people desperately want to see nature as it is intended to be. Education by experience is by far the most effective so let’s teach the next generation how to care for their environment by showing them first hand how magical it is.

Visitors come to this area to visit RAMSAR wetlands with a wide variety of bird life; they come to see and interact with dolphins, to spot a dugong in the wild and to spend some quiet time in nature. In all the comments we receive on our web site the most consistent is that visitors come to this area because it is different. Why is it different? It is still natural and that is what brings people here.

So it is to the Federal government and the EPBC Act that we must turn our attention. We can only hope that the Federal Government have the foresight to see the danger in proceeding with development in this area and answer our calls to stop it and preserve this area for future generations of dolphins, dugong, turtles, birds as well as the humans who visit it.