Environmental Impact Statement for Traveston Crossing Dam (Mary River, Queensland): a Review with Regard for Species of Concern Under the EPBC Act 1999
Environmental Impact Statement for Traveston Crossing Dam (Mary River, Queensland): A Review with regard for Species of Concern under the EPBC Act 1999 Report to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra KF Walker Consultant in River and Floodplain Ecology PO Box 331, YANKALILLA 5203 Adjunct Associate Professor School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide www.sunwater.com.au November 2008 ii … This report may be cited as: Walker KF. 2008. Environmental Impact Statement for Traveston Crossing Dam (Mary River, Queensland): A Review with regard for Species of Concern under the EPBC Act 1999. Report to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. November 2008. xx+84p. iii Executive Summary Queensland Water Infrastructure (QWI) proposes to construct Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River as part of a strategy to meet anticipated water demands in south‐ eastern Queensland. This is the last high‐yield dam site available in the region, according to QWI, but it is also an extremely sensitive site in terms of significance for conservation. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been released for public comment, and a Supplement containing responses to submissions has also been issued. This review is concerned with the implications for a number of species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act), including three ‘iconic’ species, the Australian lungfish, Mary River cod and Mary River turtle. Context Ecologically Sustainable Development In many cases, the EIS makes assumptions on the basis of scant evidence and draws conclusions about impacts with little or no justification.
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