Garrett rejects dam proposal

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

Craig Warhurst

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Traveston Crossing dam rejected

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RESIDENTS of Queensland's Mary Valley are planning a celebrationafter federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett formally vetoed thecontroversial $1.8 billion Traveston Crossing Dam.

Mr Garrett,last month in his initial assessment, rejected the state government'splan to dam the Mary River near Gympie, north of Brisbane.

Theminister had a 10-day consultation period, giving all sides a chance tocomment on the decision. His final decision, announced on Wednesdayafternoon, backed his original assessment to scrap the dam.

"Aftercarefully considering all the information ... I have concluded that theTraveston Crossing Dam cannot go ahead without unacceptable impacts onmatters of national environmental significance," Mr Garrett said in astatement.

"As I stated when I made my proposed decision on thisproject, all of my decisions under the national environment law arebased primarily on science, and the science is very clear about theadverse impacts this project would have on the nationally protectedAustralian lungfish, Mary River turtle and Mary River cod."

Thefinal decision has given residents of the Mary Valley cause forcelebration, with a party planned for December 12 at Kandangarecreation ground.

Greater Mary Association president DarrylStewart said it was a major victory for a community that had foughthard for more than three years to protect homes, the river and itswildlife.

He said there was still a lot of work to be done to rebuild the community.

"Somepeople who had their properties purchased (by the state government)have moved on and they won't come back," Mr Stewart said.

"We will certainly be working hard to build another vibrant community for the Mary catchment."

The Queensland opposition is calling for Premier Anna Bligh to visit the Mary Valley to discuss the area's future.

LiberalNational Party (LNP) member for Gympie David Gibson said the governmentneeded to work with the local community on a recovery plan, which couldalso include a freshwater species conservation.

Ms Bligh said there was no surprise in Wednesday's decision.

"I think we expected that what Peter Garrett said a couple of weeks ago would be what his final decision was," Ms Bligh said.

"We're getting on with the job now of investigating a future water supply for southeast Queensland."

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