FINALLY, Walker have submitted their EIS to Australia’s Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek and a decision on Toondah’s future is expected within 40 days.

We got 40 days just before Christmas to make our submissions, Walker has been allowed almost a year to respond. Out of 26,225 submissions, 86% of unique submissions opposed this development.

If the Albanese Government approves the destruction of almost 50 ha of the Moreton Bay Marine Park, including 42 ha of the Moreton Bay Ramsar site wetland for private profit, it will dishonour its national Toondah platform and fail this critical test of its environmental credibility.

Over 10 years later with more than 66,460 of our signatures (plus all the other community petitions), community rallies and events attracting thousands and at least 21,000 opposing EIS submissions, it’s unbelievable we’re still fighting to save the home of 10 threatened species on land that belongs to the people. 

By Walker’s own draft EIS admission, their 3,600-unit ‘suburb in the sea’ with its 200-berth marina for the mega-rich will have “a permanent direct impact on 28.9 ha of tidal flat habitat’ Iikely to significantly impact four threatened migratory shorebird species”.

Additionally, “Capital dredging of up to 530,000 m3 resulting in direct loss of marine and wetland habitat including clearing of 2.5 ha of mangroves, 37.8 ha of seagrass and 7.5 ha of unvegetated intertidal sandbanks and mudflats”.

Seriously, how could removing the above habitat and replacing sea, vegetation and land (including removing koala trees and building a road through their home) with housing density (7000 plus people) greater than Brisbane CBD’s 2000-unit Queens Wharf development have net environmental benefit?

We know both Labor and the LNP have backed their developer donor, Walker Corporation at all stages of this development by fast-tracking favourable planning approvals and signing undisclosed commercial agreements covering public land with them without public involvement and support.  

Moreton Bay is the jewel in South-East Queensland’s crown and belongs to Redlanders, Queenslanders, Australians, the international community and its remarkable natural inhabitants, not Walker.  

All I want for Christmas is for Tanya as our ‘Environment’ Minister and Labor to do the right thing, put people and planet before private profit and reject this clearly unacceptable development.

Yours in Toondah 

Dylan