QRC Calls for Scientific Approach to Coal Terminal Assessments

BRISBANE, Australia - April 16, 2013 - PRLog -- The review, along with other planned assessments, is in response to a World Heritage Committee (WHC) recommendation relating to the state of conservation of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) World Heritage Area which includes Gladstone.

The WHC requested the Australian Government ensure the Gladstone Harbour review was "consistent with the highest internationally recognised standards for best practice commensurate with iconic World Heritage status".

The QRC says it expects the Gladstone review to create a template for other coal port activities throughout the GBR region.

"In light of the link between the GBR strategic assessments and the review, we believe the review is timely and could more clearly elucidate the already stringent requirements regarding the regulations and approval processes governing ports and associated land use," it said.

"It is important in reviewing current management arrangements to recognise the track record and effectiveness the regulatory framework has in mitigating environmental harm.

"The community should also take comfort in knowing that port proposals that do not meet community expectations will not and do not proceed, as demonstrated in the federal environment minister's decision in 2008 to reject the proposed development in Shoalwater Bay."

The QRC said the key requirement in relation to the GBR and the Port of Gladstone was the need for a focus on a risk management approach to the regulation of activities that actually impact on the environment and heritage values at a particular location.

"This is instead of populist reactions to special interest groups and media commentary that do not correspond to the scientifically identified primary impacts," sit aid.

"Ultimately, the best science available estimates that around 90% of the loads of sediments, nutrients and toxic chemicals entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon come from agricultural practices in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

"Therefore government has an important role to play in ensuring that the community receives accurate and informed information on the true risks and strategies needed to ensure the best possible protection of the GBR."

The QRC supported leading practice approaches to all aspects of project development and environmental management, but strongly opposed any retrospective application of new policy or alteration to conditions to existing projects as this created enormous project risk and uncertainty.

"Unlike many other World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef is protected by a strong legal system and a stable, responsible system of government. As a federation, Australia has three layers of environmental regulation spanning local, state and federal governments," it said.

"As such, this independent review also presents the opportunity to look at what lessons can be learnt in managing a World Heritage Area and what improvements can be made in co-ordination, planning, assessment, monitoring and reporting."

The council said existing governance, planning and environmental assessment and management arrangements had delivered positive environmental, social and economic outcomes.

"However there are areas where improvements can be made which will help to provide strategic clarity, improved performance and confidence for a range of stakeholders, particularly as the port continues to develop in to the future," the report said.

The QRC supported a strategic vision for port development within the GBR region and more broadly, including the development and implementation of overall state wide port and infrastructure strategies as well as port/precinct scale strategies.

One such strategy, the National Ports Strategy, said: "Australia is an island whose place in the international economy and whose productivity, living standards and quality of life depend on trade performance.

"As a nation dependent on maritime trade, Australia's ports are an important gateway for goods. Consequently, ports and associated infrastructure are of the utmost economic and social importance to Australia."

However, the QRC endorsed the maximisation of use of existing port precincts and associated infrastructure (brownfield) before the development of new (greenfield) port infrastructure.

But that assumed it met the following tests:

•   The primacy of market forces has prevailed and it can be demonstrated that the maximisation of brownfield infrastructure in comparison with greenfield infrastructure is a viable economic and environmentally sound option for proponents;

•   Brownfield ports are subject to efforts to improve port efficiency and lower costs with clear performance benchmarks and there is capacity for expansions to be developed quickly and efficiently to meet new growth; and

•   Resource projects are not sterilised based on their lack of access to brownfield infrastructure.

"Furthermore, economic development and environmental protection should not be considered mutually exclusive and it should be recognised that the ability to conduct project by project assessments that consider cumulative impacts is significantly improving," the review said.

The QRC has consistently called on all levels of government to achieve greater regulatory alignment, and reduce duplication of processes when approving port developments.

"As such it is important that all parties do not underestimate the significant economic cost currently borne by industry, and thus the community, that stem from duplicative assessment processes," the council said.

"All parties must be aware of the environmental and management risks that multiple environmental management systems, assessments and conditions can cause, particularly in terms of unnecessary complexity and conflicting environmental objectives.

"The integration and streamlining of regulation across all jurisdictions that incorporates port planning, project assessment, environmental management and monitoring will help ensure that desired industry, social and environmental outcomes are better achieved."

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