Estuary on the edge

Newcastle harbour is an area divided between industry and environmental conservation. Known for being the world’s largest coal exporter, it also exhibits large tracks of nature reserves, State significant SEPP 14 wetlands as well as the internationally recognised RAMSAR wetlands. These contradicting land uses are located within meters of each other and as contemporary society continues to push for economic growth and industrial expansion, the Hunter Estuary Wetlands and Newcastle coastal areas are being put under more and more stress. Many people are beginning to question whether the short sighted, unsustainable coal industry should be pushed at the expense of the long-term ecological integrity of the Hunter River Estuary.

The most recent proposal to expand the harbour’s coal export capacity is the development of a third coal loader, to be located at the old BHP site on the south side of Kooragang Island. The group proposing this development is the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group, an alliance between 6 major coal exporters in the Hunter. The development will include rail and road infrastructure to the site, the loader and its support facilities as well as a dramatic widening and deepening of the South Arm of the Hunter River.

This will directly impact upon a number of ecologically significant areas and species in the Hunter River Estuary. The site for the proposed development and the surrounding wetlands are rich in ecologically significant ecosystems, as well as individual species and communities that are nationally and internationally protected. Some of these include the Green and Golden Bell Frog, several species of micro bats, endangered and vulnerable bird species as well as the threatened ecological community salt marsh.

The exact impacts of this development on local environments is still very much unknown but with the estuary already suffering with the burden that our past and present industries have put upon it, this next step may lead to the total collapse of the ecosystem and with it the things that it supports. Its decision time for Newcastle, are we to turn our backs on the future of our wetland and leave it in the hands of big business and unsustainable industry or are we going to stand up against these developments and fight for this amazing estuary’s right to survive?

To find out more about the development and its effects on the environment and the community please contact Rebecca Blunden