Thursday, March 8

Days in paradise are now numbered

I'VE been gazing at the Keppel islands and the unbeatable horizon, dotted with ever-changing landmarks, for 10 years and have never seen it up close. Then, last Saturday, I took a cruise with Keppel and Fitzroy Delta Alliance.
Joining about 80 fellow voyagers on board the Freedom Adventurer, we headed south to check out Keppel Bay and the Fitzroy Delta, taking in locations earmarked for development.
We travelled on bumpy seas between Emu Park and Pelican, Wedge and Divided islands before gently rolling past Peak Island, the world's second-largest Flatback Turtle rookery. Located in a Preservation (Pink) Zone, Peak Island has been off limits to locals for years, due to its scientific significance.
The proposed construction of an Xstrata coal export terminal, which would include a rail spur stretching out into the bay close to Peak Island, was the reason KAFDA was formed and now the possibility of huge ships queuing a mere 6km away to load with coal, before wallowing back over the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, is what has raised concerns for locals.


The Daily Observer

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