Take action on dredging
CURTIS Pitt (4/3). There are more important facts about dredging Cairns Port.
Nobody has ever suggested dumping mud on the Reef.
The functioning inshore spoil ground, within the designated port limits, was only recently included in the marine park area.
It can be excluded again, as has recently occurred at Townsville’s port.
The small area of overlap has been used by green activists to falsely claim Reef damage.
The original plan was to remove 4.4 million cubic metres of sediment from the channel, future proofing the port for about 25 years.
The revised 1 million cubic metres works for only several years and the Sustainable Ports Development Act prohibits any more.
The original cost was over-inflated, but on a cubic metre basis is cheaper than the current proposal.
Talk refers to changing the act to allow future major capital dredging rights, like other major ports adjoining the GBR, especially relevant now the project has been slashed.
This mature plan has taken five years and $8 million of tax payers money.