Report on health of Gladstone harbour due

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 29 Juni 2013 | 15.03

THE health of Gladstone harbour and any impacts the port may be having on the Great Barrier Reef will be revealed in a report due out on Sunday.

The UN's environment arm was highly critical of Australia's management of the reef in a report last year and requested a review of the harbour.

Of particular concern is development on nearby Curtis Island, increased shipping, dredging and sea dumping activities.

Concerns have also been raised by commercial fishers about the health of fish within the port and the loss of seagrass.

Environmentalist Bob Irwin, father of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, has described the harbour as a war zone.

"What they've done to Gladstone Harbour and the southern end of Curtis Island is environmental vandalism without a doubt," he told AAP.

In February, Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke commissioned an independent review of the harbour.

The review panel is expected to report back to Mr Burke on Sunday.

The research will be used as part of the government's long-term strategic assessment of the reef, which UNESCO also requested Australia implement.

The Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) recently released research on the state of the harbour which showed the port was having little impact on its surrounds.

It showed an increase in commercial fishing catches, an increase in protected conservation areas, and consistent water quality over two decades.

GPC boss Leo Zussino told the Gladstone Observer the port was impacting the environment but the firm was mitigating that impact.

Earlier this month the World Heritage Committee told Australia it must present a plan on how it intends to protect the reef.

If improvements aren't made the reef could be listed as "in danger" when the committee meets in June next year.


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