SAVING THE MARY VALLEY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY

14 July 06 Save the Mary River Coordinating Group

ANTI-dam campaigner Alan Sheridan today declared that the Save the Mary River Coordinating Group was unswerving in its opposition to the proposed Mary River dam and stopping the dam had always been and would always be the main aim of the group.

“This was confirmed at our meeting on Monday night and was voted on unanimously by members of the committee,” Mr Sheridan said.

“Despite the Premier’s recent proclamations on staging the inundation of the Mary Valley, the committee remains vehemently opposed to the concept of a Traveston Crossing dam on sound social, economic and environmental grounds and we fully intend to pursue this matter to its ultimate conclusion.

“We have a team of committed people with support from university professors, geologists, modelling experts, environmental experts to a team of lawyers who have offered their services to the group and who are now assisting us.

“We fully expected Premier Beattie to announce that the dam would proceed despite the difficulties which have been encountered throughout the drilling process. It is clear that the government is prepared to throw any amount of money at this absurd proposal to make it work.

“I wish to re-assure the people of the Mary Valley, that Premier Beattie’s announcement last week makes us even more determined to fight on – and that’s exactly what we intend doing.

“Our recent meeting with the Head of the new Task Force, Peter Arnison was aimed at ensuring that people who are already badly affected get the help they deserve and to ensure that people are being treated properly by the Government”.

“Peter Arnison really has nothing to with the decision as to whether the proposed dam proceeds or not, but he has given us his assurance that he will do everything possible to help the community during this time and to ensure our requests for assistance and support are heard by Government and are acted on”.

“The Chair of the Group, Rick Elliott, will be overseas on business for the next three weeks. In Rick’s absence, myself, Kevin Ingersole and Dave Kreutz will be running things jointly and will be available to speak with the media or anyone else.

“A rally was held in Brisbane today opposing the dam and another is being held at Eumundi on Sunday from 12 noon and another will be held at Gympie next Wednesday where we hope to provide a lot more information to people about what the group is doing and how we intend to take this fight right up to the Premier’s doorstep.

“This is only the beginning as far as we are concerned - we will not be giving in to the unethical, immoral and unjust excesses of a State Government which has miserably failed to plan for the future of Queensland when there are better and more cost effective alternatives.”

Save the Mary River Coordinating Group
Support and Information Centre, Kandanga Railway, Ph: 5488 4800
savethemaryriver@gmail.com

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