Original story by Jessica Nairn, ABC News
An environmental lobby group says it has a strong legal case against the agency that oversees the Great Barrier Reef over the planned dumping of dredge spoil.
Abbot Point coal terminal in Queensland. The expansion of Abbot Point will generate millions of cubic metres of dredge spoil. Photo: ABC
The North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC) is trying to overturn the approval to dump three million cubic metres of spoil in the marine park as part of the Abbot Point coal terminal expansion.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority gave the go ahead last month.
Jeremy Tager from NQCC says they have taken the matter to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Brisbane, citing several concerns.
“The assessment undertaken by the marine park authority has failed to adequately look at alternatives at sea, dumping inside the marine park and that the impacts of dumping are far greater than the assessment,” he said.
Yesterday, construction firm Lend Lease withdrew its bid from the tender process for the Abbot Point expansion and allowed its partnership with rail company Aurizon to lapse.
Aurizon says it will continue with the tender process.
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