A SURVEY of recreational fishers in the Mackay region has revealed many hold serious concerns for fish numbers if the proposed Dudgeon Point Coal Terminal goes ahead.
Land allocated for Dudgeon Point: The two proposed terminals will provide export capacity up to 180 million tonnes per year, which is 50 million tonnes more than the current capacity at the Hay Point port. Source: Google Maps
Environment group Communities Protecting Our Region surveyed 264 recreational fishers during the months of May and June.
The survey found 83% thought dredging would have an impact on recreational fishing, 87% thought dredging would impact water quality and 81% thought increased coal ships would adversely affect the reef and fish.
While Dudgeon Point’s environmental impact statement is yet to be released, dredging of 13-15 million cubic metres of sediment has been proposed for the project.
Mackay Recreational Fishing Alliance president Lance Murray said his main concern was the exclusion zone that would be established if Dudgeon Point went ahead. “It’s a compounding situation where it forces more people into a funnel, fishing in closer proximity to one another,” he said.
A spokesperson for North Queensland Bulk Ports, the proponent of the Dudgeon Point project, has shot holes through the report, saying the survey was based on people’s perceptions, not fact.
The survey predicted once Dudgeon Point was operational, shipping numbers at Hay Point would increase to more than 4250 per annum.
NQBP Regional Relationship Practitioner Simon Eldridge said this was wrong. “The Port of Hay Point has handled up to 1100 ships in a year,” he said.
“Under the expected moderate growth scenario for the Dudgeon Point project, shipping into Hay Point is expected to reach 1530 ships by 2020, but actual numbers will depend upon market demand.
“This is far less than the inflated number of 4250.”
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