Australia: Environmentalists Frustrated over Gladstone Dredging

Gladstone Harbour is being dredged in preparation for an expansion to cater for the gas boom.

But, environmentalists say that “Gladstone Harbour has been more turbid, or muddy, than allowed for 12 days out of the past 30, but has a free pass to flout the rules.”

According to couriermail.com, Environmental expert Dr Andrew Jeremijenko blames the muddy state of Gladstone Harbour, with heavy metals and other toxins whipped up by dredging, for illness in fish and marine life.

“They dredge over the limits on Christmas day, Australia Day, Easter, and Labour day holidays with disregard to tourism and recreational and commercial fishing.

“The new government relaxes the limits, which they ignore almost immediately,” concluded Jeremijenko.

[mappress]

Dredging Today Staff, August 3, 2012; Image: westernbasinportdevelopment