How does coal mining affect the Great Barrier Reef?

Mining and burning coal creates carbon pollution, which heats our oceans. It is already leading to more catastrophic weather events and resulted in the most severe back to back coral bleaching we’ve ever seen in the Great Barrier Reef.

Is coal mining killing the reef?

Mining and burning coal is driving global warming, causing waters to warm and become more acidic. Catastrophic climate change – fuelled by burning coal and other fossil fuels – is the biggest threat to our Great Barrier Reef.

How do Crown of Thorns starfish affect the Great Barrier Reef?

Outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish are ongoing and causing coral decline on the Great Barrier Reef. Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks have 2 distinct phases — initiation of primary outbreaks and waves of secondary outbreaks — and can spread across the Great Barrier Reef over a period of at least 10–12 years.

How long does dredging last?

How long does dredging take? Generally speaking, it takes a few days to dredge a small pond and a few weeks for smaller lakes and coves. Projects more than 2,000 cubic yards take a few weeks to a couple of months. Once we assess your project, we can give you a more exact timeframe.

Why is dredging important for the Great Barrier Reef?

It is mainly undertaken to dig new shipping channels (capital dredging) or maintain the depth of a port and it’s shipping channels (maintenance dredging). Dredging is undertaken in coastal Reef waters so that large coal, gas and other bulk carriers can access ports.

Why are coal stockpiles bad for Great Barrier Reef?

The groundwater is an important water source to the wetland therefore any pollutants entering the groundwater have the potential to impact the wetland and the species that are reliant on it. Coal stockpiles will be built right next to beaches where threatened sea turtles nest.

Where is the largest coal port on the Great Barrier Reef?

Coal will be shipped through the port causing hundreds more ships ploughing through the Reef’s waters and increasing the chance of an accident. Hay Point is currently the largest existing coal port on the Reef, just south of Mackay.

When did the Shen Neng crash into the Great Barrier Reef?

When the massive coal carrier Shen Neng 1 crashed into the Reef in 2010 it damaged an area covering 0.4 square kilometres – the largest ever recorded by a ship grounding in the Great Barrier Reef. Not only do shipping accidents risk the Reef, they are terrible for tourism.

How does coal mining affect the Great Barrier Reef? Mining and burning coal creates carbon pollution, which heats our oceans. It is already leading to more catastrophic weather events and resulted in the most severe back to back coral bleaching we’ve ever seen in the Great Barrier Reef. Is coal mining killing the reef? Mining…