The Keppel and Fitzroy Delta Alliance (KAFDA) has welcomed the clear indication in the Reef 2050 Plan that the environmentally sensitive area of the Greater Fitzroy Delta which includes: Balaclava Island, north Curtis Island and Keppel Bay, is going to be afforded greater environmental protection.
“ This is something our community has been advocating for continuously over the last 4 years. We are pleased to see that the government has finally committed to these promised actions and has acknowledged the crucial importance of the area in the Plan, ” KAFDA spokesperson Ginny Gerlach said.
The Reef 2050 Plan indicates that the Greater Fitzroy Delta is clearly outside the Gladstone Port Area and that additional protection in the form of extension and strengthening of the Conservation Zones and Fish Habitat Areas are proposed together with other potential protection mechanisms.
“ KAFDA are now keen to see the detail and timeframes of these protection mechanisms and are eager to work with both the Queensland State and the Federal governments to facilitate the long-term protection of the area, ” Ms Gerlach said.
“ We are also asking the government to clarify their definitions of “capital dredging”, “new dredging” and “maintenance dredging” in order to define intentions with regard to the potential for port redevelopment of the existing Port Alma loading facility. Currently Port Alma only has assess to vessels with a maximum draft of less than 7 meters and maximum length of 180 meters and we seek strong legislative clarification that the existing channel and loading area at Port Alma will not be allowed to be expanded in width, length or depth should any expansion or redevelopment of the port activities be applied for ,” Ms Gerlach said.
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