Negative Impacts
Failure to address underlying causes of metropolitan water shortages - environmentally unsustainable growth coupled with wastage and inefficient use of water
Unwilling relocation of hundreds of businesses that form part of the social and economic fabric of the local community.
Unwilling relocation of hundreds of families.
Loss of approximately 76 square kilometres of high quality fertile irrigated farmland close to major population centres. Relocating this activity will cause huge environmental impacts somewhere else.
Requires disruption of all local major transport infrastructure - Bruce Highway, bridges, Mary Valley Road, Mary Valley Rail, telecommunications and power infrastructure.
Extremely shallow, variable water level will create an ideal environment for huge numbers of pest species - blue-green algae, water hyacinth, salvinia, cabomba, cane toads, mosquitoes, rodents, carp.
Decreased water flows to downstream communities and ecosystems- Gympie, Tiaro, Maryborough, Hervey Bay.
Uncertain effects on flood mitigation.
Ecosystem disruption in Great Sandy Straits
Decrease in large existing tourism and fisheries industries in Great Sandy Straits.
Increased river bed and streambank erosion downstream.
Impacts on groundwater salinity. |