After 20 years of protests, the Shute Harbour Marina Resort is pushing ahead with a multi-million dollar construction right on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. 

The construction project will leave a permanent, harmful footprint on Australia's priceless coastal and marine ecosystems. This includes the home of threatened marine species such as dolphins, sea turtles and even dugongs. These facts are not speculation but are legitimate environmental concerns recognised by scientific bodies.

The Whitsunday Conservation Council revealed:

• "The project will destroy large areas of mangrove forest and seagrass meadows which are irreplaceable. These areas are critical fish nurseries and the primary food source for dugongs and many sea turtles."
  
  
• "The required dredging will cause a serious water quality problem for the local marine life, particularly the coral reefs flanking the islands of Shute Harbour. Coral reefs are already struggling with increased water temperatures due to global warming. A decrease in water quality may push them to the point of no return."
  
  
• "The inevitable increase in boat traffic will create a hazard for sea turtles. This was seen with the development of Port of Airlie where the opening of the marina, boat ramp and ferry terminal resulted in increased turtle boat strikes."

In such a sensitive region, it's crucial to minimise infrastructure. This is incompatible with the current construction directly over the pristine waters of Shute Harbour beside Conway Conservation Park. In fact, the current plans include 58 resort dwellings with private marina berths, a retirement resort, a 400-berth marina, a 100-room hotel, and a 44-room backpackers’ accommodation.

Maintaining the health of the marine environment is a fundamental responsibility for all Australians. We urge you to reconsider the conditions permitting a construction with such high environmental costs.

Sign this petition to support the preservation and protection of Shute Harbour's precious environment.