Ten scientific experts visited Gladstone on Wednesday in order to hear the worries of local groups regarding sick fish in the harbor.
“ This is a listening exercise for panel members and an opportunity for local groups to bring up issues and concerns, ” Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said in a statement.
“From here, panel members will continue to assess all of the available information and evidence and develop their recommendations.”
The Australian Greens have made attempts to suspend dredging in Gladstone Harbor stressing that the latest Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) water test results show that the dredging is related to a two-month extreme turbidity spikes in the harbor.
“DERM has claimed that October’s drop in turbidity when compared to September fails to indicate a clear link to the dredging, ” Greens Senator Larissa Waters said in a statement.
“But considering that major dredging was suspended for ten days in October, a drop in turbidity is exactly what we would expect to see if dredging was the cause.”
It is expected that the panel will complete the report by Christmas.
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Dredging Today Staff, November 23, 2011; Image: westernbasinportdevelopment