Australia's Great Barrier Reef could be at risk of environmental damage if the planned construction of coal ports goes ahead, environmental activists claim.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter told SBS the reef would be at risk of serious damage if the building of nine new coal mines and nine coal terminals in the world heritage-listed area went ahead.
Mr Ritter urged the federal government to take active steps to protect the reef.
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“There's no doubt that so far the response of [Environment Minister] Tony Burke at the federal level has been inadequate. We're talking about our Great Barrier Reef here, and we're talking about the world's climate being at risk from an out-of-control coal industry here in Australia,” he said.
Mr Ritter said the potential economic gain from the construction of coal mines was not enough to warrant more damage to the reef.
“What we're talking about is the expansion of the industry,” he said. “We are actually talking about the loss of jobs from agriculture, the loss of jobs from tourism, rather than imagining what, hypothetically, could be gained.”
The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior will travel to Queensland in April to raise awareness about the health of the reef, and to challenge and confront the coal industry.
Earlier this week, visiting marine biology expert Professor Callum Roberts also warned the impact of coal ports could be permanently damaging to the reef.
The comments follow a UNESCO report published last year, warning that “decisive and immediate action” was required to protect the long-term health of the reef. It lists coastal development and ports and shipping among the major environmental risks.
Comment is being sought from Environment and Sustainability Minister Tony Burke.
