The federal environment minister has again put off a decision on intervening over a proposed 3600 unit development on internationally significant wetlands for critically endangered species in south-east Queensland.
A spokesperson for the minister Josh Frydenberg said the Toondah Harbour case was “deferred at the request of the proponent (billionaire property developer) Lang Walker until mid-next year to allow further community consultation”.
It is the sixth time Walker Corporation has asked for a postponement of the $1.3 billion Toondah Harbour project in Moreton Bay.
Scientists and conservation groups warn the 3600 unit development would make a “mockery” of Australia’s international wetland treaty obligations and migratory bird agreements.
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In a statement to SBS News before the decision, Walker Corporation said it supported Mr Frydenberg's decision to declare the Toondah Harbour plan a “controlled action” and order an environmental impact assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Moreton Bay was protected 25 years ago under the international wetlands treaty, known as Ramsar, and Australia was one of its first signatories in 1975.
Mr Frydenberg could intervene using three of the nine triggers in the EPBC Act, including impact on migratory birds, endangered species and Ramsar wetlands.
The site at Cleveland, south of Brisbane, is home to critically endangered migratory birds from Russia and Alaska, endangered turtles and dugongs, vulnerable salt marshes and threatened fish.
The Walker Corporation’s development would house up to 7000 people on 50 hectares of mudflats reclaimed at Toondah, with a 400 berth marina.
The site is the departure point for ferries from the mainland to Stradbroke island, also known as Minjerribah, and prime waterfront real estate.
If the development goes ahead, mangroves and sea grass habitat would be destroyed and a deep boat channel dredged, potentially releasing acid sulphate from the mudflats into the surrounding environment.
The project on a mix of public and private land was declared a priority development area by the Queensland government in 2013 at the request of Redland City Council.
