Anger at island coal port move

“A COLLISION course for disaster” are the words used by a conservation organisation up in arms about a proposed coal port earmarked for Balaclava Island.

Last Saturday The Observer reported the $1 billion coal export terminal has been declared a significant project by the Coordinator General.

Coordinator of the Capricorn Conservation Council (CCC) Janet Barrett said Xstrata's plans to build a terminal on Balaclava Island will damage extensive tidal delta containing mangrove forests, salt marsh flats and wetlands.

“It will create significant impacts for commercial and recreational fishing mainly because the project will impact the salt marshes and salt flats which store the nutrients for the marine life on Balaclava Island,” Ms Barrett said.

“High tides drive all those nutrients into the estuaries, which is a fish habitat that has been declared under the fisheries act.”

Balaclava Island is located 40km north of Gladstone and is owned and managed by the Gladstone Ports Corporation.

Ms Barrett said Xstrata intends to build a causeway and a conveyer belt system which will dissect the island and the tidal floods.

“It is going to change the tidal flows and the way the tides are coming in because it will be inundated at high tide regularly which will change the dynamics of the ecosystem.”

Coordinator General Colin Jensen said the declaration signals the beginning of a rigorous assessment of the projects impacts on the natural, social, economic, built and cultural environment.

Xstrata were unavailable for comment.