Save the Mary River - there are much better options for Brisbane's water!
Nearly 500 million dollars has been spent destroying the families and communities of the Mary Valley in southeast Queensland for the sake of a flawed project which has still not been approved under state or federal law.
The campaign to Save The Mary River has grown from the inital response coordinated by Mary Valley residents fighting for the future of their river and community to a truly broad-based national and international response.
The Queensland and Australian governments are poised on the brink of making a decision which will either provide a truly reliable and sustainable water strategy for South East Queensland, or one which will inevitably lead to the shameful and entirely avoidable degradation of a globally significant river system and all it sustains.
Please take the time to take some form of personal action (however small).
Go to http://www.savethemaryriver.com/ for the story and info on how you can help, for example by sending off prepared letters.
The website serves as a portal to a range of related efforts to save this river for future generations.
Powerline protesters will see energy minister
By Diet Simon
The Sunshine Coast hinterland people resisting the Queensland government's plan to run a 275,000-volt electricity line on huge pylons from Gympie to Eumundi will tell the energy minister, Geoff Wilson, their objections on the 26th of this month.
Wilson has agreed to meet them after they met his condition to talk first to PowerLink, the government company planning the 12-strand line that would carve through 270 private properties in some of Queensland's most beautiful country.
"We will put our case to him very firmly and we would expect him to take what we say into account," Graham Smith, coordinator of Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) told me after a recent meeting of the group in Eumundi.
The meeting heard that energy ministers tend to become prisoners of the power industry.
"The only thing we can do is give the minister the benefit of the doubt at this stage. He's obviously going to listen to PowerLink as well.
"But we believe that the process is tainted and somebody needs to stand up to PowerLink.
"You've only got to listen to people who've had to deal with them in the past and the experience they've had with them.
"This is not an organisation that consults in an open and transparent manner. The minister is responsible for making sure that they do consult in an open and transparent manner."
Solar thermal and landfill gas offers
Councillor Vivien Griffin, a veteran green campaigner in the Noosa area and chair of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's strategy and planning committee, pledged to PAGE council's backing against the powerlines plan.
She said the former Noosa and Maroochy councils had already made submissions and the merged council now had a much stronger voice in Brisbane.
Cr Griffin also outlined the bigger energy picture here to the Eumundi meeting.
She explained how offers were coming into council to develop small-scale distributed energy projects, such as solar thermal and landfill gases to produce power.
"With carbon emissions trading very much to the fore, the economics are starting to stack up much more favourably for renewable energy."
Cr Griffin told the PAGE gathering that the Sunshine Coast has the chance to be "out in front of the pack" in environmental sustainability.
"The Council as a whole is united in a vision that says we want to be Australia's most sustainable region.
"That's in a range of areas from environmental outcomes through to those new generation area of energy production.
"We certainly could set the vision that we want to have a large proportion of our energy needs actually produced here in the region and we've got great opportunities to do that.
"We've already seen the systems for grid-connected photovoltaic generation coming down in price and that's what we need to be looking at now."
Listen to the interviews with Smith and Griffin at http://www.noosacommunityradio.org/.
Mary River GetUp! Climate Torch Relay
Welcome to the biggest event yet in the campaign to Save the Mary River.
The proposed Traveston Crossing dam will have a profound and direct impact on communities along the 200km length of the Mary River.
The Save the Mary River Coordinating Group (SMRCG) was
formed following the announcement of the project in April 2006. It is based at Kandanga, a township which would be inundated if the proposal goes ahead. The SMRCG represents all of us who want to find sustainable, energy and cost effective reliable water supplies for South East Queensland.
The Greater Mary Association represents communities in the north of the river including Maryborough and Hervey Bay.
The dam poses both direct and indirect threats to areas of national cultural and environmental significance including World Heritage Fraser Island, the RAMSAR Wetlands of the Great Sandy Strait and threatened species.
Flow reduction and degradation of the river threatens the viability and livelihoods of farming, fishing (recreational and commercial), tourism and other industry.
GetUp is a national organisation of activists for social and environmental issues. They have over 280,000 subscribers who participate principally in online campaigns. They raise the profile of issues to pressure action by the Federal Government on matters of national significance. Recent campaigns include lobbying against the Gunn's Pulp Mill in Tasmania; Equal Wages for Women in the Workforce and Indigenous Reconciliation.
Together, on the weekend of the 5 - 7th of September, we will send our strongest message ever to our Federal Parliament. We say NO to Climate Change; No to Traveston Crossing Dam.
We're striving to reduce our carbon footprint. Please take the bus or car pool with your neighbours and friends. Bus bookings must be made by 29 AUGUST.
Events
Community Relay fun run pre-event party 5 September Evening
Community Relay Fun Run from Maleny to the proposed dam wall site -
6 September Early Morning
Meet the Torch and Bust the dam!
6 September Morning
Human Chain at the Traveston Crossing Bridge
6 September Morning
Camp Paradise!
6 September Afternoon/Evening
Mitigation Tour (for Camp Paradise participants)
7 September Morning
Hervey Bay Human Sign
7 September Afternoon
Climate Torch Lights up The Mary Valley Community -
Beginning the Relay from the hills to the Sea.
Support the GetUp Climate Torch at our ceremonial welcome on the banks of the Upper Mary River before it begins its relay from the hills to the sea. Send the Mary River your well
wishes. Kids will love the Mary River Tribe Characters and special guests share their understanding of the implications of the Traveston Crossing dam from research over the last
2 years. Dance and dine with a black board of Local Musicians, wholefoods and like minded people willing to make sustainable living a living reality. We'll send off the torch with a vision
of what is sustainable and possible for our Valley and this region.
Time: 5.30pm till
Date: Friday 5th September
Venue: The Village Green - Crystal Waters Permaculture Village. Kilcoy Lane off Aherns
Rd - Conondale Valley via Maleny and Kenilworth.
Cost: Free
Catering: $10 wholesome homestyle meals
RSVP: Please email: waterbreath@bigpond.com For Catering Purposes.
Parking: available
Maps and Directions see www.waterbreath.ecourbia.com
Crystal Waters www.crystalwaters.org.au
UNITED NATIONS AWARDED FOR HABITAT AND
DESIGN.
Community Relay Fun Run from Maleny to the proposed dam wall site
Commencing in the early hours of Saturday 6th September anti-dam Torch bearers will travel through the Conondale Valley, Kenilworth and the Mary Valley using their own or
animal power only.
Time: Midnight to 10am
Date: Saturday 6th September
Registration: Required. email: savethemaryriver@gmail.com
Meet the Torch and Bust the dam!
Bring your canoe and paddle to the proposed wall to meet Steve Posselt as he arrives with the GetUp Climate Torch. Free the endangered Lungfish stranded at a fish ladder. Bring the torch and ‘Lug the Lungfish' safely to an awaiting crowd at Traveston Crossing Bridge.
Time: On water at 9.30am
Registration opens 8.30am
Date: Saturday 6th September
Registration: Please print out and bring along signed registration form
Email: anneandbill@bordernet.com.au and let us know if you are coming. (helps planning)
Parking: available
Human Chain at the Traveston Crossing Bridge
Form a human chain along the site of the proposed Traveston Crossing dam. Steve Posselt will be the first to pass the Torch along a human chain stretching as far along the river as we
can. Wear yellow and black. We'll make a colourful spectacle from the air!
Enjoy a BBQ and entertainment by the river. Bring your NO DAM toggs!
Time: 11am - 1pm
Date: Saturday 6th September
Venue: Traveston Crossing Bridge GoogleMaps location and photograph
Registration: Please print out and bring along signed registration form
Email: anneandbill@bordernet.com.au and let us know if you are coming. (helps planning)
Catering: BBQ, coffee/tea, cool drinks and refreshments available from 10am at cost
Parking: available
Buses: leaving from Brisbane. Reservations essential. Email:
sarahforsyth99@hotmail.com
Leaving from Hervey Bay via Maryborough. Reservations essential: Email:
greatermary@gmail.com
Cost: Brisbane Bus (going onto Paradise dam): Cost TBA
Maryborough & Hervey Bay bus return: Cost TBA
Camp Paradise!
Ever wondered what the Paradise dam fuss is all about? Travel with the Climate Torch as it visits the Paradise dam on the evening of Saturday 6th September. Play the ‘catch n' carry'
relay, watch movies, listen to guest experts and see for yourself why the fishway at the Paradise dam has never worked. We'll project a message that can't be missed! Camp or
catch the bus to return to your car at Hervey Bay, Maryborough or Traveston Crossing.
Campers return to Brisbane via the Mitigation Tour and Hervey Bay Human Sign. -
Time: 1pm all buses leave Traveston Crossing Bridge. Day Bus returns to Traveston
Crossing approx 11pm.
Campers' bus returns to Brisbane Sunday 7th September. Approx arrival 8pm.
Meal and entertainment at Paradise Dam - 6pm-8pm
Date: Saturday 6th September
Venue: Paradise dam
Catering: Saturday evening dinner; Sunday breakfast and lunch included
Registration: Please print out and bring along signed registration form.
Email: anneandbill@bordernet.com.au and let us know if you are coming. (helps planning)
Parking: available (discouraged. Catch the bus!) Security for cars left at Traveston Crossing Bridge will be provided
Buses: Bus convoy leaves Traveston Crossing Bridge at 1pm
Day bus returns to Traveston Crossing approx 11pm
call or email Helga: (07) 5447 9288 bensoncooroy@bigpond.com
Day bus Maryborough/Hervey Bay returns approx 11pm
call or email Tanzi: 0405 848 375 greatermary@gmail.com
Campers' bus returns to Brisbane Sunday 7th September email Sarah sarahforsyth99@hotmail.com
Cost: Camping overnight: $20 per adult, $5 per child
Saturday evening dinner; Sunday breakfast and lunch included BYO Tent, Sleeping bag & mat, chair, cutlery, plate & cup
Mitigation Tour (for Camp Paradise participants)
Paradise was built with conditions to mitigate environmental costs. In this bus tour from Camp Paradise, we'll help you get up close and personal with the range of conditions that allowed this dam to happen with talks from experts from both sides of the wall. You judge for yourself if a dam can be environmentally friendly.
Time: 10am - 2pm
Date: Sunday 7th September
Venue: Paradise dam to Hervey Bay via Maryborough and River Heads
Registration: Please print out and bring along signed registration form
Email: anneandbill@bordernet.com.au and let us know if you are coming. (helps planning)
Buses: leave from Paradise Dam to Hervey Bay via Maryborough and River Heads.
Cost: inclusive with Camp Paradise TBA
Hervey Bay Human Sign
Say it in words! Big words that can be read a mile high. The GetUp Climate Torch will be passed along the Hervey Bay Human Sign at Dayman Point Beach, Hervey Bay and make a statement
Come, stand and support the campaign to save the Great Sandy Strait and Fraser Island from the proposed Traveston Crossing dam and urge our leaders to turn the
tide and support environmentally and socially sustainable water security for current and future generations.
Date: Sunday 7th September
Venue: Dayman Point Beach
RSVP: Please call Tanzi Smith 0405 848 375. Registration on site from 1.30pm
Food: TBA
Parking: available
Buses: Traveston Crossing via Maryborough to Hervey Bay. Reservations essential.
Call Helga: (07) 5447 9288
Cost: refreshments available
BYO: chair, hat and sunscreen
Aust. Conservation Found. president sees dam-powerlines link
Professor Ian Lowe AO, President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, argues that there is a link between the Traveston Dam, the water pipelines to Brisbane and
Powerlink's proposal for massive amounts of power in the Northern Sunshine Coast area. He stated at a recent function in the area that it will take a lot of power to move the water to Brisbane.