From info at peaceconvergence.com Mon Aug 11 00:03:03 2008 From: info at peaceconvergence.com (Peace Convergence) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:03:03 +1000 Subject: [Ts-09] PC Bulletin - August Message-ID: Dear Friends UREGENT ACTION is required regarding the proposed coal port and railway line to be built in the Shoalwater/Byfield area by Waratah Coal. Building more coal infrastructure is madness as our planet melts down. Shoalwater Bay should be preserved not carved up by the military and coal industries. Waratah Coal has submitted a referral to the Federal Government outlining what impacts the development may have on the area as required under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC). Public submissions to Peter Garrett (Environment Minister) can be made in response to the referral by Waratah Coal. Individuals and groups making submissions must act now as the deadline is 14 August 2008. Referral from Waratah Coal: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_ detail&proposal_id=4366 How to make a submission: http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/epbc-help.html#comment Regards The Peace Convergence Team ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ What YOU can do! Read SWAG Press Release: Local conservationists and the Shoalwater Bay Wilderness Awareness Group (SWAG) are appalled by new evidence obtained from analysing information contained in Waratah Coal?s initial advice statement (IAS). Steve Bishopric (SWAG spokesman) says, ?The coal terminal is best described as Port Byfield and not Port Clinton or ?in Shoalwater Bay?. Although located in the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area (SWBTA) the proposed port is close to Byfield township adjacent to the Byfield National Park. The proposed rail line will cut through the Byfield forest, crossing the Yeppoon-Byfield road south of the military gates then into SWBTA along the National Park boundary. This project flies in the face of the Federal Government?s carbon trading initiatives and their calls for Australians to ?THINK CLIMATE, THINK CHANGE?? ". ?The meetings are being called to inform Byfield and Stanage Bay residents and the wider community of the implications of this huge project. Investigations show that the project is already well advanced and is seriously alarming? says Steve. The projected 100 million tonnes per annum facility will be located 3 km north of Five Rocks Beach (Three Rivers) and 20km from Byfield town. Steve said, ?Facts revealed by the IAS and from the Capricorn Conservation Councils meeting with Waratah Coal?s CEO Peter Lynch indicate ? ? Ships may be up to 440,000 tonnes in capacity twice the size of those currently in use elsewhere and drawing up to 24m. ? Ship and Chinese port construction for this class vessel has already commenced in China. ? Engineering plans are well advanced for the $5.1 billion rail port project and mine design. ? The proposal states the rail line will cross only five kilometres of military training area, but will cross the Byfield State Forest and terminate along the boundary of the Byfield National Park. ? The railway will cross Waterpark Creek and north Sandy Creek just north of Byfield township. ? Trains will be 21,240 tonnes, with 180 wagons, 6 locomotives, 3.2km long and bottom dumping, operating 24 hrs per day. ? Port facilities are wholly within the Waterpark Creek catchment area for the Capricorn coast. ? Coal stockpiles will be 2.5million tonnes and 2.5km x 160m in size with expansion capabilities. ? A 1.7-km wharf will berth 2 ships loading 10,000 tonnes per hour. ? Port will also include stockpile reclaimers, conveyors, loaders, two rail loops. A tug harbour and barge dock will possibly be situated in Port Clinton. ? Port construction workforce will be up to 600 persons with a permanent staff of 100. ? Port will consume 800 mega litres of water per annum and require a 40 Mw powers supply through a new transmission grid. ? The project will affect the Darumbal peoples native title claims and indigenous use. ? Air quality, dust, noise and vibration will impact on neighbouring communities, waterways and beaches. ? Port is located wholly within RAMSAR wetlands. ? Port will require amendment of the GBR zone plan to allow shipping access. ? Waratah Coal admits disturbance to many endangered terrestrial and marine species will result. ? Dredging will be in pristine sea beds and sediment will be dumped unconfined at sea, affecting habitats. ? Port will affect fish, turtles, dugongs, dolphins and whales. ? Access to the port is via the Byfield ? Yeppoon road. Steve concluded, ?The meetings at Byfield and Stanage bay will give the community the opportunity to air their concerns and to start planning strategies to stop the proposed Coal Terminal? Public Meetings: Monday 11th August - 123 Landsberg Road, Stanage Bay, 6.30 p.m. Thursday 14th August ? Byfield Hall, 7pm Write to the Rockhampton Mayor and councilors: Rockhampton Regional Council 232 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700 PO Box 1860, Rockhampton QLD 4700 http://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au His Worship the Mayor Cr Brad Carter Work Phone: 4936 8275 Work Fax: 4922 7351 Email: mayor at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 1 Glenda Mather Fax Number: 4936 4230 Mobile: 0412 100 263 Email: glenda.mather at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 2 Brett Svendsen Mobile: 0400 768 515 Email: brett.svendsen at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 3 Bill Ludwig Fax Number: 4939 7645 Mobile: 0428 791 792 Email: bill.ludwig at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 4 Sandra O?Brien Mobile 0408 060 763 Email sandra.obrien at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 5 Cherie Rutherford Fax Number 4936 3717 Mobile 0439 753 056 Email cherie.rutherford at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 6 Cr Greg Belz Mobile 0417 287 859 Email greg.belz at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 7 Stephen Schwarten Mobile 0438 783 695 Email stephen.schwarten at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 8 Cr Tony Williams Mobile 0407 579 025 Email tony.williams at rrc.qld.gov.au Division 9 Cr Rose Swadling Fax Number 4926 5650 Mobile 0418 458 622 Email rose.swadling at rrc.qld Don?t forget: * International Day of Peace September 21. * Asia Pacific Defence & Security Exhibition in Adelaide this November 11-13. * Talisman Sabre July 6-26 2009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.peaceconvergence.com/pipermail/ts-07/attachments/20080811/841cd8f6/attachment-0001.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 16914 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.peaceconvergence.com/pipermail/ts-07/attachments/20080811/841cd8f6/attachment-0001.jpeg From info at peaceconvergence.com Mon Aug 11 00:25:00 2008 From: info at peaceconvergence.com (Peace Convergence) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:25:00 +1000 Subject: [Ts-09] Sample Submission Form - Waratah Coal Proposal Message-ID: Please find below a sample submission form requesting that the Government assesses the referral from Waratah Coal and requests an Environmental Impact Statement. Please feel free to amend the submission as you wish. FAX TO: 02 6274 1789 for Referral Business Entry Point, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. POST TO: Referral Business Entry Point, EIA Policy Section (EPBC Act) Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601 EMAIL TO: epbc.referrals at environment.gov.au SUBJECT: WARATAH COAL PROPOSAL: TRIGGERS UNDER EPBC ACT This correspondence identifies matters of national environmental significance that require assessment under the EPBC Act in relation to: Project Reference No: 2008/4366. Title of Referral: Waratah Coal/Mining/Mine in Galilee Basin; Port South of Port Clinton; pipeline to Lake Dalrymple/Qld/Galilee Coal Project including development of coal mine, 495km railway, port and 285m pipeline. Grounds for Assessment under EPBC Act: Having considered the information in the Initial Advice Statement for the subject proposal as prepared by Waratah Coal dated 14 April 2008 (the Waratah IAS Report), it is concluded that there are clear grounds for assessment of the proposal under the EPBC Act. The proposal would have impacts on the following EPBC Act matters: * The proposal would, in part, be on land and water held by the Australian Government. This proposal includes rail line and shipping port activities over land and water used for national defence training, an area known as the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (the Area). The > Waratah IAS Report is vague on the location of the rail and port facilities > within the Area. The whole of the Area has remarkable environmental, notably > biodiversity, values. * The Area was the subject of the 1993-1994 Commission of Inquiry under the Commonwealth Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974. The Waratah proposal is inconsistent with the Key Findings and Recommendations of that Inquiry. Amongst other matters the Area?s environmental values were examined in detail and > summarised in the Inquiry?s final report: > ?By any measure the natural and cultural values of the Area are outstanding > ?The area is the largest coastal area with high wilderness values on the east > coast of Australia south of the Cooktown and, as such, is regionally and > nationally very significant? (Page xvi Final Report Commonwealth Commission of > Inquiry, Shoalwater Bay, May 1994). * The Area contains Threatened Species and Ecological Communities. Tables 11-14 of the Waratah Report provide the proponent?s desk-top summary of the ?threatened?, ?endangered?, ?of-concern? ecosystems and species within the proposed Project Area. It is likely that comprehensive study would confirm and expand on that desktop review. The proposal would fracture and fragment habitats and ecosystems putting those species and ecological communities at further risk. * The whole of the Area?s marine environment is included on the World Heritage List. The massive rail and port proposal would be an intrusive development not compatible with that listing. * Being part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park the area is considered to contain important Commonwealth marine environments, which would be jeopardized by the subject proposal. * The Area includes wetlands of international significance, including Ramsar Convention declared wetlands. The proposal would potentially adversely affect those wetlands and the movement of migratory birds. * The area is on the National Estate registar and the proposal would demean that long established registration. * The area is part of the traditional country of the Darumbal People and the imposition of rail and port facilities would compromise that cultural landscape. * The Area is on the Commonwealth Heritage List and has historical significance in respect to sites associated with the explorers Cook and Flinders. * It is considered that the Waratah proposal would have significant impact on the above matters of national environmental significance. It is difficult to image grounds to support the proposed actions especially against the precautionary and intergenerational equity principles. Accordingly the application requires the most rigorous application of the EPBC Act?s assessment processes. Proposed Actions Clearly Unacceptable: Further it is believed that the proposed Waratah actions would be clearly unacceptable against the EPBC Act?s aims and objectives. The proposal includes developments and activities that would be fundamentally in conflict with the findings and recommendations of the 1993-1994 Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry. Surprisingly the Waratah Report failed to reference that Inquiry and did not seriously identify alternative locations or the impacts of the proposal on the above matters of national environmental significance. Rather than expending significant time and effort in furthering the proposal, it is respectfully suggested that the Minister decides and informs the proponent that the proposal is unacceptable. Notwithstanding that position and if the assessment process is to continue, it is requested that any possible joint EIS Report to address both Australian and Queensland Government requirements (perhaps under a bilateral agreement) does not forego wide national and international assessment and full public consultation as opposed to an abbreviated research and public information process only. Public Inquiry Level of Assessment: Given that the Minister does not immediately dismiss the proposed actions, it is requested that an open Public Inquiry is established under the EPBC Act. It is considered that this would be the only appropriate approach for the massive proposal, which would generate obvious adverse environmental, socio-economic, water catchment and other impacts. The Public Inquiry approach would also suggest due respect to the work of 1993/1994 Commission of Inquiry which comprehensively rejected the intrusion of sand mining and related storage and transportation activities. 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