Greens: New Analysis Highlights Downsides of Boom in Gladstone (Australia)

A new economic analysis by The Australia Institute reveals major economic disadvantages will be caused by just one LNG development by Arrow in Gladstone, where the ongoing environmental crisis in the harbour has already been linked to mass dredging for LNG exports, said the Greens today.

“People in Gladstone scarcely need reminding that the coal and gas rush comes with downsides – they have a sick harbour, a shattered fishing industry and dredge spoil being dumped in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to remind them of that,” said Australian Greens mining spokesperson, Senator Larissa Waters.

“But as this report makes clear, there are also many economic drawbacks to the fossil fuel rush gripping Queensland.

“This single project is forecast by its own Environmental Impact Statement to cause 1601 jobs to be lost from other industries (1089 jobs in manufacturing), drive up labour and housing costs, inflate domestic gas prices, increase the cost of living, and for Gladstone residents likely reduce net local employment.

“It is high time that some considered management of this boom replaced the prevailing frantic rush to export of our natural resources as quickly as possible.

“We need to slow the boom to ease the pressure on other parts of the economy, and protect the industries and natural environment that should be with us for the long term,” Senator Waters said.

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Dredging Today Staff, May 29, 2012; Image: westernbasinportdevelopment