Garrett the reluctant hero | Fraser Coast Environment | Environmental News in Fraser Coast

Dam opponents David Kreutz and Glenda Pickersgill celebrate at the Federal Court in Brisbane.

Craig Warhurst

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PETER Garrett saved the Mary River, from source to sea, with a few simple but significant words in Brisbane yesterday.

In doing so he earned new respect for the entire Australian political process and prompted effusive praise even from his political enemies.

Mr Garrett stunned the Brisbane media and rocked the Bligh Government with his rejection of the Traveston Crossing dam proposal, telling them, “I’m very proud to be Environment Minister in this (federal) Government” and adding, “I sleep pretty easily most nights.”

His decision vindicated three-and-a-half years of struggle by the people of the Mary Valley, backed by this newspaper and the vast majority of its readers.

Although rules of procedural fairness give the Bligh State Government 10 days to respond to Mr Garrett’s “proposed decision,” Premier Anna Bligh told State Parliament yesterday she would accept the decision, despite being unable to hide her bitter disappointment.

At Wednesday's press conference, Mr Garrett said: “After carefully considering all the information put before me and advice from my Department, it is very clear to me that the Traveston Crossing dam cannot go ahead without unacceptable impacts on matters of national environmental significance.

“I have based my proposed decision on the science presented to me, and the science shows that this project would have serious and irreversible effects on nationally listed species such as the Australian lungfish, the Mary River turtle and the Mary River cod.

“The area that would be flooded by this proposal is critical habitat for populations of these species.

“The evidence before me showed that flooding this habitat would have serious consequences for those species, including on their ability to breed and maintain population numbers.

“My department advised that the environmental impacts of this project would be so serious they would contribute to the further decline of these threatened species.

“As Environment Minister, my responsibility is to ensure that nationally-listed species are protected and I believe no conditions or mitigation measures that would adequately guarantee their protection could be imposed on this project.

“Several of the measures put forward in the proposal lacked scientific evidence as to their effectiveness. The assessment of this proposal has highlighted the serious plight of these species, and I believe it is critical that all levels of government work together to tackle the threats to these species and secure their future.”

Mayor Ron Dyne said he thought the decision was “unusual and quite unexpected”.

“My initial feeling was the commonwealth would have (said yes)…A lot of people have committed a lot of money and resources,” he said yesterday while in Western Australia. The most important thing now, he said was to try and make the Mary Valley liveable again.

“Council and the State Government need to work together to overcome the situation,” he said. Cr Dyne said Mr Garrett had vindicated the efforts from the Save the Mary Valley Co-ordinating Group and the Mary River Catchment Co-ordinating Council.

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