$1.4 Billion Queensland Harbour Project Rejected on Environmental Grounds

People gather along the Wynnum foreshore in Brisbane, Australia, on Oct. 3, 2021. Dan Peled/Getty Images

A $1.4 billion (US$930 million) harbour project in Queensland is likely to be abolished after nearly a decade of planning due to concerns about its environmental impacts.

This comes as federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek proposed to reject the development of the Toondah Harbour near the city of Brisbane.

The project, initiated by the Walker Corporation, was intended to be a mix of residential, commercial, retail, and tourism developments and be built in part of a wetland protected under the government’s environmental policy.

The plan for construction phase was to dredge the wetland and use the sediment obtained for a process of land reclamation over a 15-to-20-year period.

According to the government, the project would result in the removal of 58.7 hectares of wetland and have a significant impact on many threatened and migratory species living in the area, including loggerhead and green turtles, the eastern curlew, dolphins, and other shorebirds.

Consequently, Ms. Plibersek found the project “unacceptable” and decided to refuse its application.

“I made my proposed decision after considering the relevant assessment material, visiting the site and meeting with the company as well as local residents, businesses, representatives of the Quandamooka people, and environmentalists,” she said in a statement.

“These wetlands are rare, unique, and important to prevent the extinction of animals like the eastern curlew and loggerhead turtle.

“My proposed decision says that we can’t destroy portions of this internationally important wetland.”

The minister also noted that she wanted to announce the proposed decision so that people who made public comments on the project could have a chance to respond to her decision.

After the government released a draft assessment of the impact of the project, it received 26,000 comments from the public.

Walker Corporation will have 10 business days to respond to the minister’s proposed decision before the government make a final decision on the project.

Walker Corporation’s Response

Following the announcement, Walker Corporation said it respected Ms. Plibersek’s proposed decision and would take time to review and understand the reasons behind it.

“We will then look to work with our consultant team and joint venture partners to see what opportunities might exist to mitigate or ameliorate the environmental concerns that the department has raised to ensure we provide the best opportunity for this important project to proceed to deliver housing, jobs and new state government infrastructure whilst ensuring world’s best environmental practice,” the company said.

Redland City Council, which supports the project, expressed its disappointment over the decision.

“The council has long supported the proposed development and believes the impacts of a refusal would be detrimental to the city and a missed opportunity for significant private investment in Redlands Coast,” it said.

The council elaborated that the government’s rejection of the project would result in huge economic losses for the region.

“If the Toondah Harbour project was refused, it would mean a $3 billion loss to the Redlands Coast economy, the loss of more than 500 jobs for locals, and the missed opportunity to revitalise an existing working port to acceptable international standards for more than one million passengers and 200,000 vehicle movements that already use Toondah Harbour,” it said.

“The jobs that would be created by this development, and the dwellings it would provide, are significant when housing and cost of living are daily impacts for many people.”

Meanwhile, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), an environmental organisation, praised Ms. Plibersek’s judgement, calling it a “landmark” decision.

“This draft decision is a testament to people power. More than 24,500 people have directly contacted Minister Plibersek, urging her to reject this proposal,” ACF CEO Kelly O'Shanassy said.

“Walker Group’s marina and high-rise apartment plan would have destroyed irreplaceable feeding grounds for migratory birds, a big chunk of the Ramsar wetland and mature eucalypts that are home to koalas and other wildlife.”