jaybee
25-06-2003, 04:17 AM
FISHERMEN and conservationists have blasted plans for a 400-berth marina next to an important wetland on the Logan River, south of Brisbane.
The development, 17km upstream from the river mouth, was the first marina application lodged in Logan City.
Concerned locals feared it would add to the woes of the river, already the second-most polluted in southeast Queensland.
As well as the marina, Lotus Dee Pty Ltd proposed to build a hotel, restaurant, boat maintenance facility and 250-space car park.
Bird Observers Club of Australia (Brisbane) president Rod Bloss said the developer also wanted to divert a creek which fed into the Loganholm wetlands, on the river's north bank.
"To do that they will have to clear an area of mangroves and possibly dig up acid sulphate soils," Mr Bloss said.
"Wetlands are disappearing at a great rate of knots and these wetlands, when you put them together with the Eagleby wetlands immediately across the Logan River, are some of the most important in southeast Queensland.
"The Eagleby wetlands have 195 bird species, including 17 of the 24 Australian raptors."
Sunfish South Moreton spokesman Keith Jarrett said acid sulphate soils, which released sulphuric acid when dug up, were a major cause of fish kills around the Logan floodplain. He also was worried about the effect of boat wash on families who used the area and its impact on bank erosion.
"It's not a big river. You get the odd mum and dad fishing from dinghies and this will add to the dangers on the waterways for them," he said.
Logan City Council chairman of town planning Darren Power said the application first would have to pass scrutiny by the Harbour Master and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Roger Brewster, the marina's planning consultant, said a fauna assessment showed migratory bird species would be unaffected because most of the wetlands would be left alone, while a reed swamp destined for removal was silting up naturally.
The development, 17km upstream from the river mouth, was the first marina application lodged in Logan City.
Concerned locals feared it would add to the woes of the river, already the second-most polluted in southeast Queensland.
As well as the marina, Lotus Dee Pty Ltd proposed to build a hotel, restaurant, boat maintenance facility and 250-space car park.
Bird Observers Club of Australia (Brisbane) president Rod Bloss said the developer also wanted to divert a creek which fed into the Loganholm wetlands, on the river's north bank.
"To do that they will have to clear an area of mangroves and possibly dig up acid sulphate soils," Mr Bloss said.
"Wetlands are disappearing at a great rate of knots and these wetlands, when you put them together with the Eagleby wetlands immediately across the Logan River, are some of the most important in southeast Queensland.
"The Eagleby wetlands have 195 bird species, including 17 of the 24 Australian raptors."
Sunfish South Moreton spokesman Keith Jarrett said acid sulphate soils, which released sulphuric acid when dug up, were a major cause of fish kills around the Logan floodplain. He also was worried about the effect of boat wash on families who used the area and its impact on bank erosion.
"It's not a big river. You get the odd mum and dad fishing from dinghies and this will add to the dangers on the waterways for them," he said.
Logan City Council chairman of town planning Darren Power said the application first would have to pass scrutiny by the Harbour Master and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Roger Brewster, the marina's planning consultant, said a fauna assessment showed migratory bird species would be unaffected because most of the wetlands would be left alone, while a reed swamp destined for removal was silting up naturally.