Future of flood plain in doubt
Future of flood plain in doubt
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Future of valuable flood plain in doubt
The future production capability and environmental health of one of Queensland’s most important flood plains today came into question with the State Government’s announcement of conditional approval of the $6.4 billion Hancock Alpha Coal Project in the Galilee Basin.
Under the approval 495km of new railway will transect the Belyando/Suttor /Mistake Creek flood plain, located between Clermont and Mackay, which is broadly recognised as one of the State’s biggest and is a key area for future expansion of food and fibre production.
AgForce State Councillor and local producer, Peter Anderson, said while today’s announcement from Queensland’s Coordinator-General does bring to an end three years of uncertainty for local primary producers, the resulting impacts could be dire.
“Any proposal that attempts to cross the Belyando/Suttor River/Mistake Creek flood plain will be at risk of future flood damage such as has been seen over the last few wet seasons,” Mr Anderson said.
“For local producers who have massive investments in the area and whose livelihoods rely on these very flood plains there has been little comfort in the hydrological models that have been used by proponents to justify their projects.”
Mr Anderson said pleas from AgForce and local action groups calling for alternative, and more appropriate, infrastructure options had fallen on deaf ears. Furthermore, today’s announcement, while ending years of uncertainty and pressure on landholders from mine proponents, does not address the legacy of poor planning from the previous Government.
“AgForce members are well aware of the significant role of mining in Queensland’s economy but have been very vocal in their push to convince the new LNP Government to commit to a single rail corridor which offers the best solution environmentally, has regard for existing land uses and offers best reliability for rail operations.”
“In particular we have advocated for one of the corridor options that runs along the ridge on the western side of the Belyando which, although more expensive, would negate environmental impacts as well as economic impacts on local grain and grazing communities.”
While Hancock will be providing compensation to directly affected landholders the question of the ultimate effect of the project on this valuable floodplain remains.
The future production capability and environmental health of one of Queensland’s most important flood plains today came into question with the State Government’s announcement of conditional approval of the $6.4 billion Hancock Alpha Coal Project in the Galilee Basin.
Under the approval 495km of new railway will transect the Belyando/Suttor /Mistake Creek flood plain, located between Clermont and Mackay, which is broadly recognised as one of the State’s biggest and is a key area for future expansion of food and fibre production.
AgForce State Councillor and local producer, Peter Anderson, said while today’s announcement from Queensland’s Coordinator-General does bring to an end three years of uncertainty for local primary producers, the resulting impacts could be dire.
“Any proposal that attempts to cross the Belyando/Suttor River/Mistake Creek flood plain will be at risk of future flood damage such as has been seen over the last few wet seasons,” Mr Anderson said.
“For local producers who have massive investments in the area and whose livelihoods rely on these very flood plains there has been little comfort in the hydrological models that have been used by proponents to justify their projects.”
Mr Anderson said pleas from AgForce and local action groups calling for alternative, and more appropriate, infrastructure options had fallen on deaf ears. Furthermore, today’s announcement, while ending years of uncertainty and pressure on landholders from mine proponents, does not address the legacy of poor planning from the previous Government.
“AgForce members are well aware of the significant role of mining in Queensland’s economy but have been very vocal in their push to convince the new LNP Government to commit to a single rail corridor which offers the best solution environmentally, has regard for existing land uses and offers best reliability for rail operations.”
“In particular we have advocated for one of the corridor options that runs along the ridge on the western side of the Belyando which, although more expensive, would negate environmental impacts as well as economic impacts on local grain and grazing communities.”
While Hancock will be providing compensation to directly affected landholders the question of the ultimate effect of the project on this valuable floodplain remains.