Traveston train awaits final stop
Darryl Stewart, Tanzi Smith and Elisabeth Berry jumped aboard the anti-Traveston train at different stations and stayed put resolutely as the resistance rumbled from the Mary Valley to Mary’s mouth and out to sea.
Yesterday all three faced up to the possibility that an unbearable thought could become a $1.8 billion reality today.
“It’s limbo,” Darryl Stewart, the Tiaro-based president of the Greater Mary Association, said.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling. It’s been a long, long road. It’s mind-boggling, looking at the facts. They’ve just hoodwinked the people of Queensland.”
Today’s windy road to work takes Mr Stewart to Kingaroy where he will be and stay overnight irrespective of the decision.
Tiaro native Tanzi Smith, now living at the coalface in Kandanga, spent yesterday morning preparing draft media releases covering all eventualities today.
“Every big announcement has been characterised by uncertainty. It’s like the boy who cried wolf. We won’t believe it until we hear it,” the nervous environmental engineer said.
“We’re still uncertain as to what’s going to happen. Uncertainty has been a major part of how it’s has been handled. It’s a real shame it hasn’t happened in a more compassionate way.
“It really should never have got this far. It’s a dumb idea.”
Ms Smith expected to be in Brisbane today, albeit not specifically to hear Mr Garrett’s announcement.
Elisabeth Berry, who set up the ourgreatsandy website three years ago, to focus attention on the potential effects of the dam downstream will be go to work as normal in Hervey Bay today.
She also spent yesterday working on draft media releases.
“It felt as it has felt all along, just trying to defend our stance and stressing the injustice of it all,” she said.
“Governments can change laws to suit their own plans so you don’t have that sense that at federal level it’s going to turn out alright.”
