Australia approves dumping of 1 million tons of sludge near Great Barrier Reef [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Independent


Ditching of industrial waste treats world heritage waters ‘like rubbish tip’, critics say

Colin Drury @colin__drury
1 day ago


More than one million tons of sludge are to be dumped close to the Great Barrier Reef after authorities in Australia approved plans to discard industrial dredge spoil.

Sediment scooped up from the sea floor during maintenance work at nearby Hay Point Port will be ditched under a permit granted by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).

“Dumping dredged sludge into world heritage waters treats our reef like a rubbish tip,” said Larissa Waters, a senator for The Greens party.

The plans have been approved barely a week after warnings that filthy water from recent floods in Queensland could cause irreparable damage to the reef by blocking sunlight and preventing photosynthesis which the coral relies on to survive.


Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/great-barrier-reef-sludge-dump-australia-marine-park-dredge-spoil-greens-a8791801.html