During May-June this year, Queensland's Shoalwater Bay will host tens of thousands of Australian and US troops engaged live-fire, large-scale military exercises that will pose grave risks for the environment and people's health. The Shoalwater Military Training Area (SWMTA) is located inside the Great Barrier Reef National Park.
Residents of Yeppoon, a small town located some 100 kilometres south of Shoalwater Bay, are organising to oppose the exercises. Members of the Shoal Water Bay Group (SWAG) want the SWMTA to be demilitarised and declared a world heritage national park. A "Peace Convergence" (<http://www.peaceconvergence.com>) is being held June 18-24.
SWAG has established a website at <http://www.shoalwaterbay.org> with more information about the devastating impact that the training exercises will have on the area.