Traveston Dam - The Social Impact

Last Updated (DATE_FORMAT_LC2) Written by Media Centre DATE_FORMAT_LC2

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The success of the campaign to stop the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam is already being recognized as a text book example in community activism, and has exposed the poor planning and infrastructure project management displayed by the Beattie/Bligh Labor Government.


The major concerns around the project can be grouped into three main areas; social, environmental and economic. In the first of a three part analysis of the campaign local State Member David Gibson MP looks back over a fight that lasted 3 years, 6 month and 16 days.

 

Whilst the decision last Wednesday by Peter Garrett was made on environmental grounds, the lungfish and other endangered species remain blissfully ignorant to Labor’s plans to destroy their habitat. Tragically those who have already paid a high price for this water policy folly has been the local community.


The social fabric of the Mary Valley began to unravel back on the 27th of April 2006. Families have left the area, farmers have moved off the land, and small business owners have struggled, all without any approvals in place. This proposed dam was never about water security for south east Queensland but rather about a Labor government failing to invest in water infrastructure for too long and then scrambling to catch up when dam levels were reaching crisis levels.


The LNP members locally (and their former parties) have been a vital part of the campaign to stop this dam. Whilst many members were directly impacted by the proposed dam, others just wanted to join with their community to help the fight, but all can be incredibly proud of their efforts. The LNP were instrumental in getting a Senate inquiry into the project which begun the detailed analysis of the failings of this project, the LNP took the fight in the State Parliament over this issue and it was the LNP at the last State election that was the ONLY political party to have a policy to ensure their would be no dam at Traveston Crossing on the Mary River.


Now the focus of the community will be on the rebuilding of the social fabric in the Mary Valley.


David Gibson MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Planning

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