Stop polar concrete

THE Antarctic Division and its many contractors have done well to create the Nuyina and it should be recognised as an environmentally sensitive science and logistics platform. So why on earth would Minister Ley be intent on destroying Australia’s reputation and a unique part of Antarctica by dumping over 115,000 tonnes of concrete on it, and calling it a runway? Rhetorical question. Whatever she likes to call it, it will always be an irretrievable lump of concrete that’s construction over 20 years will require the levelling of 70m hills and the destruction of bird and seal breeding sites; and that’s use will endanger colonies of already endangered giant southern petrels and the pollution of unique freshwater and supersaline lakes. With increased ice cap melting rates and being constructed across drainage courses it is more likely to end up as a dam than as a usable runway. Stop this nonsense minister and use the billions on positive climate change action.

Geoff Dannock

Blackmans Bay