Shoalwater Bay – an introduction
Queensland’s pristine wilderness threatened by expanding foreign military use.
Location
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.