The State Government and the Townsville City Council are promoting major expansion of heavy industry in the Townsville suburb of Stuart. This proposal will be a disaster for Townsville because:
The site is upwind of most of the city – residents are threatened by the emissions of lead and other smelters
Contaminated water runoff from the site will pollute Cleveland Bay, degrade the local wetlands and marine ecosystems and poison local fisheries. The effect on dugongs, turtles and the remarkable ibis and bat colonies adjacent to the site are of particular concern
Some of the land that will be destroyed by this proposal is of high conservation value.
Much of the land is low lying and flood prone and this area simply should not be developed in any way
Major development works will expose acid sulphate soils causing further unintended environmental damage.
We do not believe that further development of heavy industry and the consumption of its products are in the interests of our planet.
The NQCC therefore sees this proposal as an attack by the development at all costs establishment on the health and future of Townsville. NQCC is doing its best to stop this drive for heavy industry and to redirect Townsville’s economy in a more environmentally friendly direction with an emphasis on ecotourism and our region’s diverse biological resources