Shoalwater bay

Shoalwater Bay – an introduction

Queensland’s pristine wilderness threatened by expanding foreign military use.

Location
Delcomyn Bay Shoalwater Shoalwater Bay (SWB) is located 70 km north of Rockhampton and is adjacent to, and part of, the Great Barrier Reef Marine National Park and adjoins Byfield National Park.

Environment Significance
SWB has survived as a biologically diverse and superbly beautiful coastal national treasure consisting of around 400,000 hectares; hundreds of kilometres of coral coast, beaches, bays and harbours, wetlands and off shore islands. Its pristine environment is a result of geographic isolation and until recently, only limited, high impact training, by the Australian Defence Forces (ADF).

Dolphins at Strong Tide Passage The area 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, the ADF and National Park staff, all recognise the significance of this unique region. The 1994 Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry- Shoalwater Bay banned sandmining recognising “World Heritage” values and environmental importance.

US Involvement
Public sentiment began changing in 2005 after the Australian Government entered an agreement with the USA, which provided the Americans with long term access to and joint use of Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), and to other Australian military facilities across the continent.

War Games This agreement ties Australia to the rapid military build up taking place in the north-west Pacific, particularly in Guam, a US territory to our north. The Talisman Sabre 2007 exercise is a result of this agreement; as part of the Australian–USA Joint Combined Training Centre.

Shoalwater Bay is one of the US Pentagon’s largest and most important training areas and bombing ranges in the Asia-Pacific region. There has not been disclosure of the terms of these agreements or what weaponry will be used in SWB or Australia generally.

Research by the Shoalwater Wilderness Awareness Group (SWAG), into the history of U.S. military training and bases in foreign countries reveal an appalling record. Serious environmental, economic, social and health problems have too often resulted.

The biennial War Games “Talisman Sabre”
are the largest joint USA exercises conducted in Australia. They are vital to the USA’s dominance of the region through the Pacific Command in Hawaii and are linked to other military bases in Guam and Alaska. Guam is the major forward base for the USA in the north-west Pacific but lacks the landmass for combined air, sea and land training. SWB is now designated as a principle USA joint training area, with Guam’s airspace for training extending south into Australia to include SWB and Rockhampton.

Bombing Range
Raymond Island SWB - Talisman Sabre 2005

Environmental Impact Statement
Recently the Australian Government changed the way it administers Environmental Protection Legislation, removing the usual need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for all ADF and foreign military training and infrastructure development in SWBTA if the ADF deem it unnecessary. The EIS is replaced by a Public Environmental Reports (PER), commissioned by the ADF, paid for by the military, reviewed and released by the military. The public input and consultation process is controlled by military and has been privately described by ADF personal as embarrassing and a disgrace.

Water Supply
The Capricorn Coast’s water catchment lies within the SWBTA and was one of the serious omissions of the incomplete and incompetent PER. A massive public relations and advertising campaign is being undertaken by the ADF and residents are being told of the huge benefits “military tourism “ will bring.

Meeting
Concerned citizens entering ADF "hosted"
Senate Expenditure Review Committee
Hearings, Rockhampton 2006

Independent Monitoring
There is an urgent need for independent monitoring of military activity in SWBTA, with transparency and consultation if public trust in the ADF and Department of Defence is to be restored.

Palm Sunday march Brisbane 2007

2007 National Peace Convergence
Serious local and national public concern has resulted in the “2007 National Peace Convergence” to protest in Central Queensland during Talisman Saber 2007 from 16th to 24 June 2007. National and international support is strong and growing as increasing numbers or scientists, environmentalist, sociologists, business leaders and politicians come to realise what Australia has to lose in sponsoring the USA military’s ambitions in our region.