As Richard Carew shares in his article on Redlands2030, Article 2.5 of the Ramsar Convention and section 138 of Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) create the fatal flaw in Walker’s plans to destroy Toondah’s Ramsar wetland.
Article 2.5 requires international signatories not to “delete or restrict” a Ramsar site boundary unless for “urgent national interests”.
The context of this obligation includes the Convention’s general obligations of ‘conservation’, ‘wise use’ and maintaining the ‘ecological character’ of wetlands.
Importantly, a primary purpose of the Ramsar Convention is ‘to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands’ now and in the future”.
Article 2.5 reinforces, in a very specific way, the general obligations and why it is so important. There is no wriggle room.
Section 138 of the EPBC Act requires that in deciding whether to approve a proposal impacting a Ramsar wetland ‘the Minister must not act inconsistently with Australia’s obligations under the Ramsar Convention.’
So how can you help stop this?
Come along to the Stop Toondah Campaign Launch this Saturday 12 November at 3pm at Toondah's GJ WALTER Park, Cleveland. Hold a sign, chant key messages about the EIS and show your support.
We have until 6 December 2022 to lodge a submission against Walker’s draft Environment Impact Statement. Here are some tools to help you make your submission:
- Access the Environment Impact Statement via Redlands2030’s handy guide with links to the document that breaks it down into more manageable sections https://redlands2030.net/unboxing-the-toondah-harbour-draft-eis
- Register for Birdlife Australia’s submission writing workshop from 6pm on 15 November in the Cleveland Scout Hall, E/26 Bainbridge St, Ormiston or from 6pm on
16 November - CWA Hall, 3 Waterloo Street, Cleveland
https://www.actforbirds.org/workshop-series-submission-writing - Lodge your submission already via Birdlife Australia’s easy EIS submission tool which has some useful tips on specific comments you can customise and include
https://www.actforbirds.org/savetoondah
Please send a written or email submission to:
- Walker Group Holdings, PO Box 9189, GCMC Bundall QLD 9726 or email engage@toondah.com.au
- CC or post to Minister for Water and Environment, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP at Minister.Plibersek@dcceew.gov.au.
Letters to the editor of the Redland City Bulletin or any other publication would also be helpful. https://www.redlandcitybulletin.com.au/opinion/letters/send-a-letter-to-the-editor/
Briefly in other news, delegates from last weekend’s Australasian Shorebird Conference jointly stated: “we reject the claims that the Toondah Harbour proposal fits the definition of ‘wise use’ of Ramsar wetlands. The destruction of internationally important wetlands and shorebird habitat for a marina and luxury apartments is incongruous with the aims of the Ramsar Convention.
Thank you for your help to Keep Toondah Beautiful, Save our Shorebirds and Keep Our Koalas.
Please enjoy your day, let’s save the bay.
Dylan