CLC # 54 Save Whitsunday Water - Protect Endangered Species

Dittmer is mapped essential habitat for 4 Threatened Endangered Species, including Endangered Proserpine Rock Wallaby (Petrogale persephone), the Greater Glider, the Northern Quoll, threatened Koala habitats and multiple endangered vegetation including Native Grass Trees and Cycads. 

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The Urgent Threat

Dittmer is currently embroiled in controversy due to a fast-tracked gold mining lease being approved by bureaucrats, being ushered through quietly without adequate application of environmental legislation. Ballymore Resources meager $18,000 surety provides minimal security in the event of a disaster. With 79 residents depending on bore water for their daily needs, the absence of water studies, risk assessments and mitigation strategies is alarming. So far, the project has been rubber-stamped without comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), leaving the community’s concerns largely ignored.

Risks to Critical Catchments

This issue is exacerbated by the fact that Dittmer’s waterways feed into two crucial catchments: the Whitsunday water resources and the Great Barrier Reef. The lack of EIAs means there is no scientific evidence to evaluate the potential impact of mining activities on these vital areas. The risk of contamination from this project could have severe implications for local water sources and the global significance of the Great Barrier Reef. The GBR reef acts as a trigger for the EPBC referral to be made.

Impact on Residents and the Environment

The proximity of the mining site to homes and Dittmer’s fragile topography could render the area uninhabitable for its residents. Risks potentially include cyanide spills, acid mine drainage [from backfilling waste rock], habitat destruction, and disruption of natural ecosystems, all of which threaten the environment and the community over the project’s 15-year duration. In an Australian wide housing crisis there is no compensation being offered to 79 residents; and DESI approved a human rights assessment from a remote desktop study alone.

A Call to Action

We are dedicated to ensuring rigorous oversight and proper risk management to protect our precious Whitsundays, its endangered species, Whitsunday water resources and the Great Barrier Reef. Immediate action is needed to ensure that all risks are addressed and mitigated.

How You Can Make a Difference

Join us to hear Jeudi’s insights and learn how you can support this critical cause. Discover how to spread the word, sign the federal petition, and back the efforts of passionate locals working to preserve the Whitsundays for future generations.

https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN6605/sign?fbclid=IwY2xjawFSI3hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVV4t-D-s7_BlKNZz6mpVAtqGA-WEwrT3ZqqC37xSDIw0w5LNSkhNPB3qA_aem_m1Xse-pUHVySiPmbrpVti

https://www.facebook.com/SaveWhitsundayWater

https://www.gofundme.com/f/SaveWhitsundayWaterSaveDittmer?qid=538eaa24c6ba3455b5a72804818d90ee