Explosive documents (available Here ) obtained by The Wilderness Society, Queensland Conservation and the
Wide Bay Burnett Conservation Council under Freedom of Information show the extent to which the Queensland Government was planning for a dam on Baffle Creek. The Baffle Creek is located between Bundaberg and Gladstone and one of the last major river systems without dams in South-East Queensland.
The Wilderness Society’s Wild Rivers Campaigner, Glenn Walker said “The significant extent of
internal technical documents and discussion papers just from the last few months shows how
seriously the Queensland Government was planning a dam on Baffle Creek.”
“This is a pattern we are now seeing across all of Queensland. Dam building is out of control.
From Traveston Dam in the south, to Nullinga Dam in the north, massive and destructive water
infrastructure has been planned behind closed doors, with little consideration of local
communities and environmental impacts” said Mr Walker.
“What is of great concern to me and other members of the community is that the Government
has been engaging the community of Baffle Creek for over a year seeking feedback on how to
conserve Baffle Creek, whilst at the same time a handful of bureaucrats are planning for a dam
in an entirely clandestine manner,” said Toby Hutcheon Executive Director of Queensland
Conservation.
Roger Currie Water Policy Officer of the Wide Bay Burnett Conservation Council concluded:
“The Baffle needs permanent protection. The water resource plan being developed for the area
at best will only offer modest protection for just 10 years.”
The conservation groups have publicly released the FOI documents. They can be found online
at: www.wilderness.org.au/files/baffle-creek-foi.pdf
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