The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has approved to dump dredge spoil in park waters putting the Reef in grave danger.
The decision is a result of the government giving a go-ahead to a major coal port expansion for India's Adani Group on the Reef coast in December 2013. The Adani Group will dredge up to 3 million cubic meters of materials from the seabed, which will allow freighters to dock at the port in Abbot Point. The move will increase the facility's capacity by 70 percent and will make it one of the largest coal ports globally.
"We're going backwards on the Reef - that's the sad truth. What we get from the Australian and Queensland governments is lots of talk but very little action. The reality on the ground is that major destructive industrial projects that involve outdated practices like dumping dredge spoil in Reef waters continue to be approved," said Richard Leck, Reef Campaign Director at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia.
Conservationists have already warned that the Great Barrier Reef is already in poor condition and the dumping of dredge spoil may result in the demise of the Reef. The World Heritage-listed reef is already affected by climate change, land-based pollution and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
The Reef is also facing a World Heritage downgrade from UNESCO because of the concerns about extensive coastal development such as coal, gas and port projected in the region. UNESCO will discuss the issue at a meeting scheduled for June this year.
Russell Reichelt, chairman of (GBRMPA), said that he has recognized various concerns raised regarding dump of dredge spoil in the park. However, the Adani Group expansion project will help develop existing ports and the Reef itself. He said that the seagrass meadows will still be protected.
"This approval is in line with the agency's view that port development along the Great Barrier Reef coastline should be limited to existing ports," said Reichelt. "It's important to note the sea floor of the approved disposal area consists of sand, silt and clay and does not contain coral reefs or seagrass beds."
The current condition of the Great Barrier Reef requires sediment entering the marine park to be reduced by 150 percent over the long term, which will benefit the water quality. Around $81 million is also needed to fund the Reef's conservation programs to protect marine flora and fauna.
