ACF slams Borbidge over Hinchinbrook

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE -- The Australian Conservation Foundation has slammed Premier Rob Borbidge over a letter he sent to federal Environment Minister Senator Robert Hill demanding an end to World Heritage restrictions over the Port Hinchinbrook mega-resort and marina.

Borbidge's "intemperate" letter suggests that he fully expects developer Keith Williams' project near Cardwell on the north Queensland coast to damage World Heritage values in the nearby Hinchinbrook Island and Channel, the ACF says.

The premier has written to Hill requesting that he remove World Heritage proclamations "which are choking Keith Williams' Port Hinchinbrook development to death", claiming they are "deliberate, fraudulent, licences to kill for the Green movement".

"If there is no damage to the World Heritage area and no potential threats to World Heritage values (such as dugongs being killed by boats), then a legal challenge cannot delay the project", said ACF campaigns director Michael Krockenberger on February 20.

"Perhaps Mr Borbidge believes the project needs further consents from Senator Hill, consents which the minister would find difficult to give because of the damage involved", Krockenberger added.

"Removing the proclamation would increase the risk to dugongs, mangroves, the World Heritage listed Hinchinbrook Channel, and this beautiful stretch of north Queensland coast."

The Wilderness Society had earlier described the Federal Court decision to overrule environmentalists' objections to the construction of the Hinchinbrook resort as a "Valentine's Day Massacre of World Heritage".

Conservation groups are considering further steps in their campaign to stop the Hinchinbrook resort, including a possible court appeal.

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