A selection of candidates for the State electorates around Townsville will present their views and answer questions about the environment at ‘The Environment and the Election’ forum to be held at the Townsville Yacht Club, 1 Plume Street, South Townsville at 6pm on Thursday 15 March.

The forum, organised by North Queensland Conservation Council, will give members of the public the chance to compare the environmental policies of the parties, as briefly presented by the candidates, and to ask questions during the Q&A session – which will take up most of the forum.

In announcing the forum, NQCC Coordinator Wendy Tubman said “We are aware that there is a lot of community interest and concern about the local and broader environment and how State government policy will affect it.

Whether it’s solar power and renewable energy, protection of the reef, coastal development, the future of coal seam gas in the area or something else again, the forum will provide the opportunity to ask specific questions about specific environmental issues that are influenced by the State government.”

The forum is free of charge and open to all.

Following from the success of last year’s Coal Seam Gas rally, NQCC will be launching its BIG SOLAR Campaign in Townsville on Sunday 18 March. In support of the national BIG SOLAR Campaign by 100% Renewable Energy, NQCC is calling for the government to commit, this year, to at least 2000MW of Big Solar projects (either solar thermal or solar PV power stations) to be built by 2015.   
 
To show your support for this campaign, join the gathering on the banks of Ross Creek near Victoria Bridge and help form the words ‘BIG SOLAR’, using massed people to make the shape of the letters. Stay on for live music and free food.  There will also be speakers, posters, banners and information on the BIG SOLAR Campaign.   
 
Come along!  Together we can make a difference!  Let's show our support for BIG SOLAR and make our MPs pay attention!
 
Where: On the banks of Ross Creek near the Victoria Bridge - between the river, Victoria Bridge and Dean Street - South Townsville
  
When: 9.30am, Sunday 18 March 
  
For more information, check out NQCC's facebook page or contact 
Janet (4724 2072), Mary (4725 7245) or Gerald (0401 429 021).

When my daughter was two we went snorkeling at Great Keppel Island. Her excitement over the coral, which she called “water wowas” – translated as ‘water flowers’ – was a joy to watch. Two years later we still tell bedtime stories about that trip.

The other day she asked about my work. I told her I’m trying to protect the water flowers from being destroyed by dirty great big piles of coal. It’s a crude over-simplification but it pretty much sums it up. 

Australians are the proud custodians of one of the world’s greatest treasures – the Great Barrier Reef. But it is under threat from the coal and gas export boom.

Our new report details the enormous coal expansion plans that are putting Queensland’s magnificent reef at risk. It exposes plans for six massive coal port expansions in the World Heritage area. One of the ports, Abbot Point, is planned to become nearly three times larger than any other coal port in the world. 

If the coal industry plans proceed unchecked, there will be over 10,000 coal ships passing through the reef each year - more than one ship departing port every hour of every day. Millions of tonnes of sea floor will be dredged and dumped in the marine park.

The guardians of World Heritage – UNESCO – arrive in Australia next week to investigate impacts on the reef. With the spotlight of the world focusing on Australia, the Australian and Queensland Governments have agreed to do an 18-month ‘strategic assessment’ of the impacts of development on the reef.

Sounds good but what’s the catch? 

It looks like major industrial projects in the World Heritage area may be approved by our governments before they’ve finished their strategic assessment! We must ensure this doesn’t happen – these projects should not get approval while the assessment is conducted. Otherwise it will be too late and the damage will be done.

The Great Barrier Reef is far too precious to let it be trashed by the coal industry. We need your help to defend it. 

This is the beginning of a vital campaign to protect our reef and our climate.
 
Thank you for being part of this critical work.

John Hepburn
Senior Campaigner
 
Greenpeace Australia Pacific

TAKE ACTION!

•    Become a reef defender - Sign Greenpeace’s petition 

•    Read the full report

•    Subscribe to receive Greenpeace updates