The Queensland government is proposing a highway through pristine wetlands that could make flooding on the Logan River even worse.
As the residents of Eagleby showed me on Tuesday19 September 2023, an alternative route is available just a few kilometres up the road. That option wouldn’t require filling up the Eagleby Wetlands, host to migrating birds and the rare Latham Snipe, with soil.
Government likes to pretend they care about the environment, yet they’ll completely ignore it if it means a flashy press release.
Questions have to be asked whether Transurban has influenced the route and connection point to maximise customers to their toll road.
Media
The government is compulsorily resuming land and literally filling in wetlands for the Coomera connector when an alternative is available just up the road.
At huge expense to the taxpayer, this plan needs attention and questions asked.
Courier Mail Article: read here at https://tinyurl.com/mszmkb3d
Senate Estimates | 12 February 2024
Infrastructure Australia
Transcript
Senator ROBERTS: And if the first answer is positive then it will be even quicker! Thank you for being here so late as well. Are you familiar with the Coomera Connector stage 2 in Brisbane?
Mr Copp: Yes.
Senator ROBERTS: You are—thank you. Are you in possession of the business case for the Coomera Connector stage 2?
Mr Tucker: We assessed the business case for stage 1 of the Coomera Connector but we haven’t received a business case for stage 2.
Senator ROBERTS: Why hasn’t the stage 2 business case been published?
Mr Tucker: That would be a matter for the Queensland government.
Senator ROBERTS: Have they discussed it with you at all?
Mr Tucker: I would have to take that on notice. We have regular engagement with Queensland, but I don’t recall a recent conversation on that particular project.
Senator ROBERTS: Could you do that, please? My understanding is that the Commonwealth government may be tipping hundreds of millions of dollars into this project, so I’m wondering why the public can’t see the business case.
Mr Tucker: I’m not aware if a business case has yet been finalised. We will assess it once it’s submitted to us.
Senator ROBERTS: So you haven’t received it at all?
Mr Tucker: No.
Senator ROBERTS: No requests for funding?
Mr Tucker: No.
Senator ROBERTS: Okay. We’re very concerned about flooding of human habitat, and flooding and destruction of wetlands—triggers to the EPBC Act, and for migratory birds in particular. That’s all I have, thank you, Chair.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Transcript
Senator ROBERTS: Thank you for being here tonight. My questions are to do with the Coomera connector stage 2 freeway project in Brisbane. What is the status of the Coomera connector stage 2 with the department under the EPBC Act?
Mr Edwards: At this stage, that project hasn’t been referred to us for assessment under the EPBC Act.
Senator ROBERTS: Where is the public environment report for Coomera stage 2?
Mr Edwards: Again, I’m not able to comment. I don’t have the project referred to me for assessment.
Senator ROBERTS: You’ve had no contact at all with the state government on this project?
Mr Edwards: That’s not what I said.
Senator ROBERTS: I know it’s not what you said. I’m asking you.
Mr Edwards: We’re certainly aware that there’s some work being prepared.
Senator ROBERTS: By the Queensland state government?
Mr Edwards: By the state government. We expect that there may be a referral sometime soon, but, unfortunately, I don’t have details of that.
Senator ROBERTS: What information does the department have in regard to the impact of Coomera connector stage 2 on the estimated 299 bird species in the Eagleby Wetlands?
Mr Edwards: I don’t have any information about that.
Senator ROBERTS: None at all? Our information is that Coomera connector stage 2 has seven potential EPBC triggers in terms of sensitive fauna and flora. What triggers or potential triggers has the department been made aware of? None at all?
Mr Edwards: The only contact we’ve had is a pre-referral meeting. There would have been a conversation, in general terms, about the types of impacts that may be in a referral document. What we do in those meetings is refer people to the relevant statutory guidelines and other things that they’ll need to consider in preparing the referral.
Senator ROBERTS: In preparing their submission to you?
Mr Edwards: Yes, that’s right. It’s more of a general exploration conversation about how to set up a good referral when it does come.
Senator ROBERTS: Did they mention migratory bird species?
Mr Edwards: I don’t have any information about the content of that meeting, but, if it were a likely impact, we’d generally run through threatened species, migratory species and Ramsar if that were relevant.
Senator ROBERTS: Flooding of humans?
Mr Edwards: Sorry?
Senator ROBERTS: Flooding of humans?
Mr Edwards: No. I don’t regulate impacts from—
Senator ROBERTS: Diversion of rivers?
Mr Edwards: No.
Senator ROBERTS: Is there any chance of getting the contents of the discussion on notice?
Mr Edwards: We would only have been talking about the controlling provisions under the EPBC Act. It includes threatened species, migratory species and Ramsar if that were relevant.
Senator ROBERTS: Are there any minutes for that meeting?
Mr Edwards: I’ll have to take that on notice.
Senator ROBERTS: Please see if we could get a copy.
Mr Edwards: Of course.
Senator ROBERTS: Thank you very much.
