Traveston Dam rejection a “correct decision, tainted by politics”, says Peter Slipper

11 November 2009    Traveston Dam rejection a “correct decision, tainted by politics”, says Peter Slipper

Member for Fisher Peter Slipper has applauded the Mary Valley and the Sunshine Coast community for their relentless fight that brought about the Traveston Dam rejection today.

“The Traveston Dam project was totally irrational and would have been expensive, wasteful, environmentally damaging and totally disruptive – all this for a water supply that would have been inefficient and unreliable,” Mr Slipper said.

“These are the facts that have been highlighted and driven home very successfully by the community and in the Australian Parliament, and I am pleased that people power has won the day and the Rudd government has finally seen sense and rejected the project.”

“Environment Minister Peter Garrett had no choice but to scrap Anna Bligh’s dam proposal.”

“This decision is very positive for rare fish and other species in the Mary River, and I hope it also means a return to farming for the prime farm land that was at risk.”

Mr Slipper argued, however, that the rejection decision was probably influenced by the dramatic drop in support for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in recent opinion polls.

“The ongoing pay dispute for Queensland teachers was miraculously solved just days after Kevin Rudd paid a visit to Premier Anna Bligh, and now the unpopular Traveston Dam has been canned, despite assertions over many years by Queensland Labor that it would definitely go ahead,” Mr Slipper said.

Mr Slipper said today’s outcome provided encouragement to those fighting for the Kawana Hospital.

“It is now time to step up the action in support of the Kawana Hospital, which is desperately needed and is already impacting on Brisbane residents as Sunshine Coast locals being forced to spend nights in Brisbane hospitals for treatments that should be available here,” Mr Slipper said.

“I suggest that the almost $3billion earmarked for the dam should now be put toward the Kawana Hospital.”