The Queen of the Netherlands ship entered Port Phillip Bay just before 8am yesterday morning. Her arrival marks the imminent dredging of the bay, that for all their assurances, the government cannot possibly guarantee as environmentally sound.
Regardless of their continued talk, I don't believe them. I believe it is a disaster waiting to happen. I believe that it should not go ahead. I believe that the people who are elected to protect and support environmental issues (Peter Garrett, I'm talking to you) should be held accountable if they back down and allow this to go ahead.
Regardless of concerns from many quarters including transport, environmental, academic and community groups, I expect the dredging will go ahead.
Without doubt it is going to have an environmental impact on the area. Tearing up the ocean floor and dumping it elsewhere must have an impact. It is inevitable. There can be NO guarantees that all will be well.
Let us hope that in 10 years time (or 2 or 20) we do not look back and regret what has been allowed to happen despite our protests.
Picture from The Age website, 29/01/08. 'Regret' quote - anon.
