The World Heritage Committee (WHC) is considering placing the magnificent Great Barrier Reef in the “endangered” category, because of the adverse impact of proposed new ports and coal loading facilities, which would add to the current pollution problems of soil, fertiliser and pesticides from coastal farms and developments. Each year 16 tonnes of pesticides are [...]
UNESCO’s confirmation overnight that it will consider listing the Great Barrier Reef on the World Heritage list of sites in danger, puts the Newman and Gillard governments on notice to stop letting mining companies destroy the Great Barrier Reef, say the Australian Greens. “The World Heritage Committee has officially expressed concern over the lack of [...]
The Australian Greens are backing a call on Australians to use their customer power to shift the big banks investment decisions, which are contributing to the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef. The report released today, “Financing Reef Destruction: How Banks are using our Money to Destroy a Natural Icon,” by Market Forces and 350.org, [...]
The Newman Government’s plans to privatise ports and to weaken environmental impact assessment, revealed today, will put more pressure on the Great Barrier Reef than ever before, say the Australian Greens. With coal ports in private hands and a lax process for assessing their environmental impacts, the Great Barrier Reef will be under more pressure [...]
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has applauded the efforts of thousands of farmers and graziers who are working to boost the health of the Great Barrier Reef, after a report card showed progress is being made in improving water quality. The Australian and Queensland governments have released the Reef Plan Second Report [...]
The Australian Greens congratulate the bravery of Greenpeace activists, who boarded a loaded coal ship in the Great Barrier Reef to raise awareness of the damage coal exports are doing to the Reef through climate change and shipping. “The Great Barrier Reef is too precious to be treated as a coal and gas highway for [...]
The Christie Administration has developed a compromise between recreational and commercial fishing interests regarding access to artificial reefs off the coast of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner (DEP) Bob Martin announced today. The plan will allow commercial interests to have continued access to portions of two reefs in state waters and calls for [...]
The doubling of Xstrata’s coal production in Queensland will escalate the pressure on the Great Barrier Reef from port expansions, dredging and greater shipping movements, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS). Great Barrier Reef Campaign Director, Felicity Wishart said the massive expansion in coal production and exports is placing the short-term profit of [...]
A massive tourism and marina development approved today by the Federal Government will put the unique environment of Great Keppel Island at risk, say the Australian Greens. “Tourism is vital for Queensland’s economy and locals suffered when Great Keppel Island’s last resort shut down but this new resort has a far larger ecological footprint and [...]
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has called on state and federal governments to stop quarrelling over the duelling scientific reviews of the impact of Gladstone Harbour and recognise what’s at stake. Felicity Wishart, the Great Barrier Reef campaign director, said that if the Queensland and Australian Governments needed to stop quibbling and recognise that [...]
