Dugong Candle Spectacular!

The plight of dugongs was spectacularly highlighted in Hervey Bay on June 6 for World Environment Day.

Our Dugong - Yuwang’kan is the latest public candle installation by the Art for Earth team, in collaboration with the Mary River campaign, following the success of Dok’ku at Tandora homestead in June 2008.

At Dayman Park this year, hundreds of supporters young and old, gathered before sunset to help light 4,000 candles, creating a giant glowing image of a dugong family feeding on seagrass.

Footage of the display was taken from the air, and participants were delighted when sky-divers dropped over the site, filming the spectacle as they descended. A short documentary of the event is soon to be released. So stay tuned!

The Greater Mary Association (GMA) was a project partner for the event in the hope of raising awareness about dugong populations in the Mary River estuary and the potential threat the proposed dam would have on seagrass – the food supply for this vulnerable species.

Under the EPBC Act, Minister Garrett is obligated to consider the impact of the proposed dam on dugong populations in the Great Sandy Strait and Hervey Bay.

QWIPL has conducted no analysis of how a dam on the Mary would affect the characteristics of estuarine waters and sediment which determine the survival of seagrass pastures.

Check out the GMA photo gallery for pictures of this event!

Go to: www.picasaweb.google.com/greatermary and click on the Our Dugong – Yuwang’kan album link.

Dam Opposition Still Well and Truly Afloat!

For a community that Government sources claim is starting to accept a dam, Mary Valley residents and others were showing no sign of it today.

Three years to the day since Peter Beattie’s shock announcement of plans to build a large dam at on the Mary River at Traveston crossing, several hundred canoeists and supporters turned out to a “floatilla” to show their energy for battle was undiminished. Paddlers were shown lungfish breeding sites and turtle nesting sandbanks before taking part in ceremony, celebrations, speeches and entertainment.

“Today we are celebrating our community’s resilience” said Save the Mary River Co-ordinating Group President Glenda Pickersgill. “We’re celebrating that we have dug our heels in and mounted a very strong case against damming this river.”

“Peter Beattie may have called it ‘hardly pristine’, Anna Bligh may say it’s been damaged by farming, but the real test has to be what lives in there now and with a number of unique species, this is pretty impressive. International turtle experts are even coming to regard the Mary as “ the turtle river”.

“This is why Premier Bligh was so keen not to make mention of the dam at her recent election launch. The irony is that as soon as she was elected, she claimed a mandate to build it. Many in Brisbane remember her ‘delay’ announcement and think it’s on hold,” Ms Pickersgill said.

This was the third “floatilla” on the river. After the first in 2006, Greens Senator Bob Brown told opponents to prepare for a long battle. When he visited the area in 2007, Roberto Epple of the European Rivers Network said to expect maybe a seven-year battle. From the looks of it, both pieces of advice have been well-heeded.

Dam opponents heard today of a ‘milestone’ legal challenge to the Paradise Dam fishway which will be heard in the Federal Court in September. The case, mounted by the Wide Bay Burnett Conservation Council and a coalition of Environment groups is significant as the Paradise fishway is intended as the model for use on Traveston Dam, should it go ahead.

“We’ve already won this on the science,” says Glenda, “and it’s defeating itself on the economics. Sometime soon the penny will drop for this government and they’ll realize they can’t cry poor to nurses and teachers and public servants wanting better conditions while they pour more money into the black hole that is the Traveston Crossing Dam proposal.”

Contacts: Glenda Pickersgill 07 54843150 Victor Hill mb 0407754925 Steve Posselt mb 043 813-8982. Photo by Tilly Hinton

BATTLE FOR THE MARY 

Save the Mary supporters and friends will take to their kayaks on Sunday, April 26 to mark 3 years of their fight against the controversial Traveston Dam. Once again the river will come alive with colorful kayaks and canoes, traveling downstream through the area proposed for the dam wall and ending at the Traveston Crossing Bridge.

Save the Mary Spokeperson Victor Hill said the day was to celebrate the resilience of the local community and to recognise the support from individuals and groups both throughout Australia and overseas. As the “battle” entered its fourth year, Mr Hill said it was timely to remember the observation of Roberto Epple of the European Rivers Network who said that on average, it took around seven years to stop a dam.

“Greens Leader Bob Brown also advised it would be a long fight,” Ms Pickersgill said, “and we’re more than ready for that.”

“Twelve months ago, Murray/Darling kayaker Steve Posselt was half way through his “Don’t Murray the Mary” trip. Since then he’s paddled several thousand letters to Peter Garrett in Sydney and has just released his book ‘Cry me a River’. Steve will be back with us on the day,” Ms Pickersgill said.

The “ floatilla” will start at 9am but Ms Pickersgill advised allowing plenty of time to get canoes in to the water.

Entry point is at 1865 Mary Valley Rd (as for previous floatillas). The “floatilla” will reach Traveston Crossing Bridge at around 11am and live entertainment, information and food will be available there until mid-afternoon.

STMRCG Media Contacts: Glenda Pickersgill mb 0411 443 589 Victor Hill mb 0407754925 Steve Posselt mb 043 813-8982. 

Additional information: 

Colour flyer: http://www.savethemaryriver.com/drpl/sites/default/files/Battle for the Mary 

Registration form: http://www.savethemaryriver.com/drpl/sites/default/files/3rd Anniversary Canoe Floatilla registration.pdf

Love, Mary launched in Brisbane

Jerry Coleby-Williams.

It was standing room only as more than a hundred people packed the Avid Reader Bookshop in West End on Thursday night for the launch of “Love, Mary”.

The event proved to be something of a political milestone with the book being jointly launched by Greens MP Ronan Lee and the LNP’s Shadow Minister for Sustainability, David Gibson.

That the launch took place in the Premier’s own electorate of South Brisbane, with local Greens candidate Gary Kane in attendance, the issue of the Traveston dam is planting more than a toehold in Brisbane.

Jerry Colbey-Williams, MC for the event, introduced an entertaining and impressive line up of speakers commending the book, including Kayak4Earth, Steve Posselt and Gubbi Gubbi Elder, Dr. Eve Fesl.

Author and project Co-ordinator Adele Coombs and graphic designer Glenbo Craig thanked the host of people involved in writing, editing and preparing the book in under six weeks. Adele said the book was “a vibrant call to arms” which has already commenced being spread throughout Australia.

Ms. Coombs said one of her main inspirations for the book were the words of Bob Brown at the Get Up Climate Torch Relay held in September this year.

“Senator Brown had said that day, if all 22 million Australians knew what damage was being proposed on the Mary River they would stand up and stop this dreadful dam. That got us thinking about other ways to get the message out,” said Ms. Coombs.

Young Angus Robinson of Kandanga who had celebrated his twelfth birthday on the day of the dam announcement just over two and a half years ago, spoke passionately about the effects of the proposal on his family and community.

Save the Mary River secretary Mr. David Kreutz unveiled plans of the new “Our family… to yours” promotion to make personal links between families in the Mary Valley and Brisbane homes.

‘Make no mistake,” said Mr. Kreutz, “The Traveston dam will be a key issue in the coming state election. ‘Love, Mary’ will be an important tool in that campaign.”

With the launch coinciding with the release of several reports commissioned by federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett all of which are critical of the proposal, it would be difficult to argue otherwise.

Contact: David Kreutz 0418 463 099 / Glenda Pickersgill 0411 443589

The Campaign Continues ... A New Initiative

The campaign to Save the Mary River from the proposed Traveston Dam has just launched an exciting new initiative to inform Brisbane residents about the importance of preserving the river... and why the dam will not solve their water woes.

The initiative, called 'From my family... to yours' encourages people who live near the Mary River (from Maleny to Hervey Bay) to send a copy of the beautiful new book 'Love, Mary' to a randomly selected Brisbane family, along with a letter of explanation.

The letter has a very personal message to people in Brisbane - It’s an appeal to read the book and share it with friends and family. We’re asking them to stand with us and not let the Qld government destroy a vital river in their name.

Brisbane families have changed so much about how they use water. They’ve installed tanks, changed their habits and care deeply about where their water comes from. The fact that they’ve made these changes means the damming of the Mary at Traveston Crossing is not necessary. The popularity of the Traveston Crossing dam proposal has been in steady decline as people in Brisbane gain a greater understanding of the unsuitability of the site for a dam and the environmental consequence.

The Save the Mary River Coordinating Group has committed to pay the postage on all books heading to Brisbane as part of this initiative... so all you need to do is purchase a 'From my family...' pack which includes a copy of the book, the letter, a pre-paid envelope, and a random page of addresses from the Brisbane White Pages.

You can order the packs online at www.savethemaryriver.com/shop , or by visiting the Kandanga No Dam Info Centre beside the historic Kandanga Railway Station (ph. 07 5488 4800).

Many of you receiving this email don't live along the Mary River, so please feel free to forward it to friends or associates who do, who may be interested to take part in this fun and novel project to send our message loud and clear to Brisbane.

Cheers,
Arkin
www.stoppress.com.au

activism in pictures...

Book Launch in Brisbane ... December 4

.

The Mary River now has its own book to share its story as one of the last remaining rivers still flowing relatively freely in south-east Queensland. Although the dam proposal has now been ‘delayed’, this book will continue the momentum of the campaign to save the Mary River, aiming to stop the proposed dam completely.

Book creators Adele Coombs and Glen Craig have designed ‘Love, Mary’ as a vibrant ‘call to arms’ which will be distributed across Australia. ‘This book tells stories of the Mary River’s endangered creatures like the lungfish and Mary River turtle alongside stories of real people from communities along the river,’ says Adele. ‘We want people to know there is far too much to lose if the proposed dam goes ahead. We are calling people across the country to stand with us to stop a destructive dam on the Mary.’

Book designer Glen Craig believes in the value of a book that can be held in the hand. ‘Although digital technology can be amazing, this is something tangible and compelling which can be touched, and can touch the heart’, says Glen. ‘It is essential that we reach people’s hearts as well as minds, in order to ask them to join with us to make sure this river keeps flowing to the sea.’

'Love, Mary’ is written as a love letter from the Mary River, filled with stories of the river’s life-giving journey from the Sunshine Coast hinterland to the Great Sandy Strait near Fraser Island. Stunning images have been donated by photographers including Arkin Mackay, Kevin Coppalotti, Stewart Riddell and the Gympie Times. This book tells the truth about the shallow dam proposal, failed large dams and fish ways in south-east Queensland, and the Mary River’s crucial freshwater flows to the Great Sandy Strait.

The official Book Launch of ‘Love, Mary’ will be held in West End, Brisbane at ‘The Avid Reader’ bookshop on the 4th of December at 6pm, where Mary Valley MP David Gibson along with Greens MP Ronan Lee will launch the book. There will also be launch events in Gympie, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Kandanga and Maleny.

Sponsorship has funded printing costs for the book, and it is supported by the Save the Mary River Coordinating Group.

This is your invitation to attend a launch near you... please feel free to circulate this email widely.

If you can't make it to a launch... or are just too impatient to wait that long, you can order a copy online at www.savethemaryriver.com/shop or drop by the Kandanga No Dam Info Centre and pick one up.

Cheers,
Arkin

Upcoming Events:
Noosa Book Preview 28th November, Noosa National Parks Association Environment Centre 11.15am
Official Launch Brisbane 4th December, Avid Reader Bookshop, West End 6pm
Hervey Bay Book Preview 8th December Urangan Community Centre, 6.30pm
Maryborough Book Preview 9th December Maryborough Town Hall, 6.30
Kandanga Book Preview 10th December, Kandanga Hall, 6.30
Gympie and Maleny Previews to be advised.

Postponement last nail in coffin of Traveston Crossing dam proposal

The Greater Mary Association were today ecstatic at the announcement by Premier Bligh that the proposed Traveston Crossing dam would be delayed, but cautioned that opponents to the dam need to remain vigilant and continue to pressure the Queensland ALP to can the dam forever.

"The Coordinator General's recommendations to the Queensland Government are a clear indication that the proposed Traveston Crossing dam has big problems. This is the last nail in the coffin for the proposal. All that remains is the burial," said Darryl Stewart, Chair of the Greater Mary Association, the organization representing communities in the lower Mary River and Great Sandy Strait estuary.

"We've argued all along that key mitigation measures for the proposed dam are untested and will not come close to reversing the damage the proposed dam would do to the Mary River ecosystems and local communities. Nothing is going to change in several years, it will still be a flawed proposal with major economic and social and environmental impacts. The only way to avoid these impacts is to can the dam forever.

According to the Greater Mary Association, the Queensland Government and the proponent Queensland Water Infrastructure Pty Lt has sort to side step the downstream impacts of the proposed dam since it was announced in April 2006. The Premier's announcement has not included any mention of more attention being paid to downstream and estuarine impacts. Her comments have related specifically to the environmental rehabilitation of the dam site.

"Despite what the Premier implies, the fact remains that research by international water experts has revealed that the proposed Traveston Crossing dam is not needed. Evidence to support this position is there in black in white in Queensland Water Commission reports," explained Greater Mary Association Research Coordinator Tanzi Smith.

"We completely reject Premier Bligh's suggestion that the people of SEQ think this dam is needed. She has no research to back up this statement. As the Premier herself noted in parliament today, people's attitudes to water have changed. The little research the Queensland Government has done supports this view and gives even more weight to our argument that the dam is not needed," added Ms Smith.

Mr Stewart called on Anna Bligh to show real leadership and acknowledge that the proposal is fatally flawed and consign it to the history books. He said, "It is cruel of her to leave the affected community in limbo. Planting a few trees now instead of later isn't going to make the proposal viable."

The Greater Mary Association also extends a huge thank you and congratulations to all it's members and supporters and the role their efforts have had on this decision.

"Let's celebrate, but let's also keep up the fight and make sure this dam is damned forever," urged Mr Stewart.

For further information contact:
Darryl Stewart 07 4129 6190 or 042 729 6190
Tanzi Smith 040 584 8375