22 February 2013

1. Proposal to manage dredging spoil as a valuable resource for the betterment of Cairns community and economy. 22 February 2013

2. KEY POINTS Ports North propose dredging the Trinity Inlet Channel, primarily to enable more large cruise ships to dock at the cruise terminal. Dredging spoil is potentially a valuable resource that should not be treated as waste. Ports North consider it acceptable to dump huge quantities of spoil near our reef. Most Cairns residents disagree. A better and longer-term approach would be to use this spoil for on-land projects that benefit Cairns economy and community. Two recommendations to achieve this are presented at the end of this proposal.

3. Ports North plan to‘…enhance cruise ship visit numbers, involve dredging a broader and deeper entrance channel to allow port access for larger cruise ships and upgrading berth infrastructure within Trinity Inlet.’ (Ports North AIS report, July 2012) • Ports North propose dredging ‘5,073,600’ m3 of spoil and dumping this at an extended area near the reef out from Yorkeys Knob. • This proposal presumably meets Ports North imperative for least cost and compliance with State Government directive or policy.

4. Even if government departments in Brisbane approve the extended dump site, do YOU want 5+ million cubic metres of dredging spoil dumped near our reef?

5. Dredging spoil can be a valuable resource. There are numerous opportunities to use this massive amount of spoil in on-land projects that could benefit Cairns’ economy and community. These on-land projects all need full and objective evaluation, as required by the Queensland Coordinator’s modified EIS Terms of Reference. Ports North stated in a presentation to the CRC on 12 December 2012: ‘The existing offshore dredge material placement site is in an optimumlocation’. Question 1: ‘Optimum’ for whom? Ports North, or Cairns Community and economy? Question 2: How can ‘optimum’ for Cairns community and economy be known before proper assessment is carried out?

6. Question: Given that spoil can be a valuable resource, would it make sense to dredge out more than the minimum amount proposed by Ports North? This could avoid ‘introducing some tidal constraints to access by the cruise ships’* as well as doubling or more the amount of spoil available for projects using this spoil for the betterment of Cairns. * Reference: Ports North AIS report, July 2012 ‘This iterative design process allowed a reduction of channel dredge volumes from 10,058,000 m3 to a final dredge volume of 5,073,600 m3. This reduction in volumes was achieved through the optimisation of channel width and more critically by establishing a channel depth, that while introducing some tidal constraints to access by the cruise ships, achieved significant dredge volume reductions.’

7. Just one indication of the value of spoil: Portsmith commercial area was created using dredging spoil from the Trinity Inlet.

8. A deeper channel could allow larger liners such as Queen Mary II to dock at Cairns Cruise Terminal, as well as allowing greater flexibility for arrival and departure times for other cruise, naval and commercial ships.

9. Imagine filling Cazalys Stadium with 5 million m3 spoil. Eiffel Tower 320 metres 250 metres deep

10. …. Or having 15 million m3 ofthis potentially valuable resource available for on-land projects in Cairns! Eiffel Tower 320 metres 750 metres deep!

11. Cairns would have had this magnificent resort at East Trinity, opposite the cruise terminal. But the Queensland Labor Government withdrew approval. A still-secret negotiation resulted in the NatWest bank being paid compensation, rumoured to be many millions of dollars of YOUR MONEY. The next photos show what over 10 years of gross mis-management of this land by State and Federal government departments has produced.

12. East Trinity, 8 years ago. East Trinity, November 2012. Note the dead melaleucas. Spoil bulk-fill could assist fixing this environmental disaster.* * Reference: 1995 Brannock report on East Trinity, Page 5.6:'The results of the geotechnical investigations are present in a background report (Golder Associates 1995)…It is evident from this analysis that the composition of the material will form an engineered fill of sufficient quality for most, in not all, the bulk fill requirements of the East Trinity site.'

13. Imagine you’re a Chinese tourist, or a visitor with a caravan, or a local resident, which would you prefer? This …

14. Or this? An even better Esplanade beach than Townsville! Graphics by local artist, Csaba Sreder Plus a park on a plateau of spoil, for the community, caravans etc. And a quiet bird-watching area.

15. Quote: ‘…..But pumping spoil to on-land sites is more expensive’ Several potential projects require huge amounts of fill. All these projects could attract revenue from developers. This revenue could offset spoil pumping costs. Project proposals in urgent need of assessment include: Restoration of the highly polluted East Trinity area New or extended Naval base and tank farm area Extended beach by the Esplanade, plus community/caravan park Extension to the Cairns Airport land

16. Who supports on-land options for dredging spoil? • The Hon. Warren Entsch MP, Federal Member for Leichhardt • Michael Trout MP, Member for Barron River Why have beneficial developments been stymied in the past? “A client of mine had a proposal to dredge the front of the Esplanade and build islands, canals and public spaces which was fully researched by DPI and Fisheries, and its economic feasibility demonstrated.  Your spoil concepts were all included. This was in the 1980's under a National Government. A Labor Government came out of the political wilderness in Qld and the whole concept was immediately trashed. My client was ultimately partly reimbursed by the Government for breach of contract. Our local leaders and some of the public had been persuaded by the Greens and the Labor Politicians, based on false and/or irrelevant information.” Quote: well known and very respected local professional, 26-02-13

17. FIRST RECOMMENDATION: WHOSHOULD LEAD: Whoshould ensure our Cairns economy and community get the most out of this massive amount of valuable resource? • Ports North, whose imperatives are least-cost and compliance with State Government directive or policy; their dredging proposal includes 2 years for the EIS assessment,then 1 year dredging. • Or: • Our elected representatives on Cairns Regional Council, supported by Queensland State and Federal Government. • WE SAY, YOU, OUR ELECTED COUNCILLORS are the right people to lead, facilitate and expedite this once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Cairns community and economy.

18. SECOND RECOMMENDATION: THE NEXT STEPS We recommend the Cairns Regional Council: Build on what our Cairns City Fathers started over a century ago Much of Cairns was swamp then – no Portsmith, no Esplanade, no airport …. Expedite development of the new Cairns Plan Cairns community needs an updated vision; …..and a long-term plan to achieve the vision. Include land-based options for spoil in the new Cairns Plan Assessment of the contribution of such land-based projects to the updated Cairns Vision. Council’s independent experts’ review all significant reports relating to potential land-based options for dredging spoil.