More than one hundred people have rallied on Woodgate Beach this morning in a fight to save their coastline from State Labor Government delays.
After years of hurdles, the Woodgate Beach Sand Nourishment program was recently ‘reapproved’ by the Department of Environment one day after Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett raised the issue in parliament. *
“While it appears the State Labor Government ‘reapproved’ the project… there was a catch,” said Mr Bennett.
“The approval was conditional to works not being carried out during turtle season which could potentially delay the project until May next year.
“I’m joined by hundreds of Woodgate residents today who are all fighting to save the coastline from any more Labor Government red tape.
“The revocation of the approval for these vital works should have never happened in the first place.
“I’m calling on the State Labor Government to do everything in their power to fix their mistake as a matter of urgency.
“Woodgate can’t afford any more bureaucratic delays or lengthy departmental processes; we simply can’t wait.
“The Palaszczuk Government is in chaos and crisis; too focused on their image and desperately trying to cover up their mistakes.
“The Minister needs to swallow her pride and do everything possible to work with the Bundaberg Regional Council to get this project done before it’s too late.”
President of the Woodgate and District Residents Association Pauline Greer said there are serious fears the sea will break through the bank.
“Turtles can’t nest, houses can’t swim, we need action now,” she said.
“We are at a critical point, if we get one big storm surge or cyclone, it could be too late.
“A huge Norfolk Island Pine is only three feet away from being washed away with pathways and homes not far behind.
“A normal high tide already reaches the dunes and washes them out from underneath causing them to collapse; we simply can’t wait.
“We’re calling on the State Government to allow us to begin work as soon as possible.”
* https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableoffice/questionsanswers/2023/1006-2023.pdf
ENDS.
19/09/2023