Shoalwater Bay

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Question - Should Shoalwater Bay and the Great Barrier Reef be:
A Bombing Range
A World Heritage Conservation Area?

Shoalwater Bay (SWB), 70 km north of Rockhampton, Queensland, is a biologically diverse and beautiful coastal treasure of 400,000 hectares, including beaches, harbours and coral islands. Its pristine nature a result of geographic isolation and, in the past, only limited defence use. SWB is difficult to access and virtually unvisited by the local population who until recently believed the ADF provided the best care taking option. Fishermen, yachtsmen, ADF and National Park staff recognise the significance of this unique region.

Public sentiment changed when, in 2005, the Australia Government entered agreements with the USA providing long-term access and joint use of Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

This agreement ties Australia to the rapid military build up in the Pacific, particularly in Guam, a US territory to our north. The “Talisman Sabre 2007“ (TS07) exercise is a result. As part of the Australian–USA Joint Combined Training Centre, SWB is one of the US Pentagon’s largest and most important training and bombing ranges in the Asia-Pacific region. There has not been disclosure of these agreements or the weaponry to be used in Australia.

Research by the Shoalwater Wilderness Awareness Group (SWAG), into the history of U.S. military training and bases in foreign countries reveals an appalling environmental, economic, social and health legacy.

The Talisman Sabre 2007 War Games
are the largest joint USA exercises conducted in Australia, and vital to the USA’s regional dominance through the Pacific Command in Hawaii, linked to bases in Alaska. Guam, the major forward base, lacks the landmass for combined air, sea and land training. SWB is the USA’s principal joint training area using Guam’s airspace which extends south to SWB in Australia.

Environmental legislation has been altered,
removing the usual need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) for any activity the ADF deems necessary. The EIS is replaced by Public Environmental Reports (PER), commissioned, financed, reviewed and released by the military. The public input and consultation process is controlled by military.

Yeppoon’s water catchment
is in SWBTA and seriously omitted in the incompetent PER. An ADF public relations campaign has started and residents are being told of the huge benefits of “military tourism “.

Serious public concern has resulted in a “National Peace Convergence” in Central Queensland during TS07 from 16th to 24 June 2007. National and international support is strong. Increasing numbers or scientists, environmentalist, sociologists, business leaders and politicians are realising what Australia will lose by sponsoring the USA military’s ambitions in our region.

National Peace Convergence – Shoalwater, Bay, Qld.
18-24 June 2007
www.peaceconvergence.com

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