The Abbott Government has announced an independent review of how two leaking incidents occurred in the protective wall of Gladstone Harbour.
“” It is clear that there has been a failure in the bund wall at the Port of Gladstone. An Independent Review of the Port of Gladstone was commissioned by the Australian Government in February 2013, but since then new information has come to light, ” said Environment Minister Greg Hunt , and added: “I consider it necessary that an independent panel also examine this latest information.”
The independent panel will:
– examine and report on information relevant to the design and construction and functioning of the outer bund wall of the western basin reclamation area that has become available since the Independent Review reported on its findings;
– provide advice as required to assist with the department’s current review of the outer bund wall leak incidents in 2011 and 2012;
– consider the adequacy of monitoring requirements and operations; and
– seek submissions from relevant stakeholders on the design, construction and other matters relating to the subsequent leaking of the bund wall.
“I have appointed Dr Andrew Johnson and Ms Anthea Tinney to co-chair the review. I have also appointed Dr Ian Cresswell as a member of the panel,” said Hunt.
Dr Andrew Johnson is a leader in environment and sustainability-related research at CSIRO and is a member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
“The Port of Gladstone Western Basin Dredging Project was approved under national environment law on 22 October 2010 by the previous government. It is the responsibility of a new government to investigate what went wrong and why, and to make sure it does not happen again,” concluded Hunt .
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Press Release, January 30, 2014