Environmental Degradation: Magnetic Island - Report Example

Environmental degradation; Magnetic Island (Student’s Name) (Student’s Number) (Institution) (Course) (Module Name and Number) (Tutor’s Name) 18th October 2009 Introduction Man is considered as the greatest polluter of all time. His impact on the environment supersedes that of natural disasters such as tsunamis and volcanic eruption. What nature has taken millions and millions of years to create, man is destroying it within months. Such a trend threatens the bare existence of life on the planet earth. To counter this development, governments and corporations have joined hands in protecting the environment. Unfortunately, environmental protection has created opportunities for some and proved to be a challenge to others. As such, laws and regulations have been drafted an enforced to meet certain levels of environmental protection. In a rare case, the Australian government has been faulted by the people for failing to protect the environment through the destruction of natural features in Magnetic Island to give way for developers to build tourist resorts, commercial and residential houses. This paper thus explores the environmental concerns surrounding the development of Magnetic Island off Townsnville. Government policy on environment The government appreciates the need for environmental protection and conservation through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act of 1999. It was enacted in response to much pressure to environmental conversation. This act had a number of objectives as follows Protect the environment Conserve Australian bio diversity Provide a streamlined national environmental assessment and approval process Protect and manage important natural and cultural resources. Control international movement of plants, animals and their products across Australian borders. Promote ecological sustainable development The act has been the mainstay of Australia conservation initiatives with local and state governments deriving their specified versions on environmental policy. The government’s environmental policy on magnetic island highlights the following items as of most significance. 1. World heritage property 2. National heritage place 3. Listed ecological community and threatened species 4. Migratory species 5. Commonwealth land 6. The commonwealth marine environment (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2009) Background Magnetic Island is located 8 kilometers off Townsville, Queensland's northern capital. The island's relaxed tropical lifestyle, quiet secluded beaches, natural unspoilt beauty, abundant wildlife and easy access to the Great Barrier Reef - offer an experience unique in Australia's Tropics. The island has been locked in numerous controversial issues pertaining to development and environmental protection. More importantly, the island features prominently in the discussion of Australia’s environment due to its proximity to the great reef barrier and the great reef barrier (Project Background, 2006). On the other hand, the island carries a lot of significance globally. It is one the 600 continental islands within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) and the 7th largest measuring 5184 ha (Magnetic Island info). It has a number of reef systems, sand barriers and cays that oceanographers link to developments in geomorphology. The island has also been noted to have endemic fauna and flora. As the fourth highest island in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the island has been experiencing high levels of erosion and deposition. This has been caused by both manmade processes and natural ones thus exposing the island to a lot of threats (Project Background, 2006). The construction of the Nelly Bay Site The initial construction at the Nelly Bay site commenced in 1988. The Australian federal government was to fund the whole process which aimed at constructing and operating a marina. However, the project was abandoned halfway after the financial institution funding the development project collapsed. After some period of mulling over the project the Queensland State Government took over the project. The change of hands over the control of the project saw the modification of the proposal to include a ferry landing, a harbor, boat ramp and commercial and residential developments on the adjacent land. This prompted a lot of debates pitting environmentalists against the Queensland state government. The land earmarked for development by the new proposal was next to the Great Barrier Reef marine park (Project Background, 2006). The Center for Watershed Protection among many other NGO’s was at the forefront to challenge the new proposal. The Center for Watershed Protection claimed that development of the land next to the Great Barrier Reef marine park would have negative impacts on the hydrology, geomorphology, water quality and habitat of the park. The proposed dredging of the shores to make way for a canal and a harbor would ultimately alter with the ecological balance of the area whereby the effects cannot be undone (MINCA, n.d.) In the last two decades, the world has been grappling with the effects of global warming. Drought, famine starvation and depletion of the ozone layer have highlighted the effects of this trend. The global and regional water cycles (hydrology) have also been disrupted as man tries to manage the effects of global warming through irrigation and water conservation measures. Other effects have been more frequent flooding, increased bankfull flows, increased flood peaks and lower dry weather flows. The report also indicates that increased development and the construction o more tarmac surfaces in Magnetic Island and Australia in general interferes with the water cycle. Recent Hydrographs from the organization reveal that the frequency of flooding occurring in an urban stream and the fluctuation in discharge and flow has been caused by excessive tarmaking in the region. Consequently, there have been numerous flash floods during summer thunderstorms and a general increase in frequency and magnitude of flood peaks in urban watersheds. The effect of these changes has literally threatened to wipe out some animal and plant species out of the island (Markey, 2006; Creek to Coral 2006). The Magnetic Island Nature Care Association Inc. (MINCA), an NGO has been at the fore front in highlighting the effects of development activities on the environment. The organization has been linked with making propositions to the different levels of government on the beast way forward in preserving a very fragile environment. From the very initial construction and development of the island specifically the Nelly Bay, the project received resistance from various quotas citing environmental issues. To make way for the harbor, a number of natural features had to be done away with. The most notable was the dynamiting of Bright Point as one of the many headlands in the island. The debris from the headland was also to be used in making breakwalls. Support of the project argued the development of the island was for the benefit of the island as a premium tourist destination with the main attraction being the environment itself hence the need to conserve such as the reuse of the rock debris from the headland (Therese, 2004; Creek to Coral, 2006). The Picnic Bay Jetty was also to be replaced by a ferry terminal according to the initial proposal. While economics viewed the potential of the proposed developments on the island, aesthetic values of the island were ultimately threatened. Therese (2004) says that while many special interest groups voiced their concerns over the proposed development, the most vocalized was the potential damage to the island’s ecosystem. A massive tourist was constructed on the where the headland stood. To make the development as environmentally friendly as possible, the initial proposal as approved by the federal government, the spoils that were to be obtained from dredging an adjacent marina basin were to be used reclaim part of the State Marine Park. On this new land, tourist accommodation and catering services would be established. Unfortunately, the project did not live to commitment to the environment as is sought to interfere with the fringing reef by constructing a channel. Opposition to these proposed constructions drugged from several years in courts and local government. The debate literally divided residents of the island into two camps with passionate and emotional explosions becoming common. Therese (2004) calls it a “social drama” (p 204). Two local newspapers also fueled the debate through their hard-line positions. The Magnetic Community Times was pro-development and dedicated a various editorials in support of the project citing benefits it would bring to the island. On the other hand, the Magnetic Times was opposed to the development citing cultural, environmental and archeological matters Therese (2004). While the forums of debates ranged from the media to formal presentations, the argument took various perspectives such as political, economic, scientific and environmental. Heritage and culture also took center stage in the debate. Therefore, in response, the government had articulate policies that would meet all the suggestions and points raised by various stakeholders. However, government bureaucracy and politicking led to a discourse in the main issues involved in the debate. Midway through the project, financial woes forced the company charged with the development to abandon the plans. Ten years later, the project would be revived under the Queensland government. At this level an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report was required as stipulated by the Commonwealth Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA) (Morlot & Agrawala, 2004). A series of environmental impact survey were conducted with the final one released in 1999 which satisfied relevant bodies such as the Queensland Park and Wildlife Service. The second phase of this project faced resistance from the community as compare to the first proposal. Therese (2004) says this is due to the modification of the proposal to exclude areas such as the blowing up of the Bright Point. However, the core elements of the proposal remained as in the original proposal. Therese (2004) explores the non environmental issues that afflicted the development of this unique island. He notes that various individuals presented arguments against the new modified proposal supported by world heritage values that seek protection of places with cultural value and have historical significance. Currently, the protests still goes on as expressed by individuals and special interest groups. A popular site by Dickie (n.d.) says “Six years ago, mad pursuit of the great god "development" wrecked a noted beauty spot for all time, deeply divided a close community and left a legacy of spectacular devastation for government, local authority and community to somehow deal with.” (1st para). He also notes that the island has lots its beauty and meaning to the Australian people and blames the project on few greedy individuals. He notes that the claimed increase in tourists in the region has not increased. “Since 1990 however, the tourists, honeymooning or not, have avoided Nelly Bay and the reason is immediately apparent.” (Dickie, 3rd para) The surrounding reefs at the island are also faced with the challenge of bleaching. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) puts the risk of bleaching of the reefs around the island at 40% (Morlot & Agrawala, 2004). The higher the temperatures the higher the level of bleaching with recovery periods sometimes expected to more than a century. Therefore, in response o this issue the Australian Federal government has been actively involved in counter global warming initiatives that seek not only to benefit magnetic island but Australia and the world as a whole. In fact, the threat of global warming on coral reefs is very real and has to a number of research studies to investigate the extent of the damage (Merkey, 2006). While Australia as a country has been at the fore front in arguing for sustainable production and development, the case of Magnetic Island contravenes what the federal government purports to uphold. In essence the development of Magnetic Island which doubled its population led to further environmental degradation other than the initial destruction to the natural elements of the island. Going by the many complaints from the civil society and individuals it is obvious that the inhabitants of the island as core stakeholders were not fully involved in the decision making process. Despite trying out many avenues, the people could not win against a government that claims to protect the government in the battler against the destruction of a unique island with a lot of aesthetic value to the community. The Australian Federal Government and the Queensland government sacrificed an island for the sole greedy benefit of a few individuals. While the government has been active in other environmental protection and conservation programs, there was a definite deviation from tradition in the case of Magnetic Island. This paper thus finds that the government abandoned its own polices and world heritage polices in environmental conservation in the development of Magnetic Island. References Creek to Coral (2006). Human Use Environmental Values, (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://www.creektocoral.org/draftwqip/backround/CCIbackground/huevresults08.pdf Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, (2009). (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://www.environment.gov.au/ Dickie, Phil, (n.d.) Nelly Bay, (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://www.rag.org.au/phildickiestories/Walkden.htm DRAFT EPBC Act Policy Statement 5.1, (Sept 2008). Department of the environment, water, heritage and the arts. (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/pubs/magnetic-island-draft-policy.pdf Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act of 1999 (n.d.), (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/pubs/epbc-act-fact-sheet.pdf Markey, S. (2006). Global Warming Has Devastating Effect on Coral Reefs, Study Shows, (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/warming-coral.html Magnetic island info, (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://www.magneticisland.info/about_us.html Magnetic Island Nature Care Association Inc. (MINCA) (2009) (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/strategy/review-submissions/pubs/id969-minca-29052009.pdf Morlot, J. & Agrawala, S. (eds) (2004). The benefits of climate change policies: analytical and framework issues, Sydney: OECD Publishing Project Background, Nelly Bay – Magnetic Island, (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://nelly-bay.com/nelly-bay-background.html Therese, H. (2004) ‘Being here’: heritage, belonging and place making: a study of community and identity formation at Avebury (England), Magnetic Island (Australia) and Ayutthaya (Thailand) (Retrieved online on 15th October 2009 from) http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/71/8/08chapter7.pdf Read More

More importantly, the island features prominently in the discussion of Australia’s environment due to its proximity to the great reef barrier and the great reef barrier (Project Background, 2006). On the other hand, the island carries a lot of significance globally. It is one the 600 continental islands within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) and the 7th largest measuring 5184 ha (Magnetic Island info). It has a number of reef systems, sand barriers and cays that oceanographers link to developments in geomorphology.

The island has also been noted to have endemic fauna and flora. As the fourth highest island in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the island has been experiencing high levels of erosion and deposition. This has been caused by both manmade processes and natural ones thus exposing the island to a lot of threats (Project Background, 2006). The construction of the Nelly Bay Site The initial construction at the Nelly Bay site commenced in 1988. The Australian federal government was to fund the whole process which aimed at constructing and operating a marina.

However, the project was abandoned halfway after the financial institution funding the development project collapsed. After some period of mulling over the project the Queensland State Government took over the project. The change of hands over the control of the project saw the modification of the proposal to include a ferry landing, a harbor, boat ramp and commercial and residential developments on the adjacent land. This prompted a lot of debates pitting environmentalists against the Queensland state government.

The land earmarked for development by the new proposal was next to the Great Barrier Reef marine park (Project Background, 2006). The Center for Watershed Protection among many other NGO’s was at the forefront to challenge the new proposal. The Center for Watershed Protection claimed that development of the land next to the Great Barrier Reef marine park would have negative impacts on the hydrology, geomorphology, water quality and habitat of the park. The proposed dredging of the shores to make way for a canal and a harbor would ultimately alter with the ecological balance of the area whereby the effects cannot be undone (MINCA, n.d.) In the last two decades, the world has been grappling with the effects of global warming.

Drought, famine starvation and depletion of the ozone layer have highlighted the effects of this trend. The global and regional water cycles (hydrology) have also been disrupted as man tries to manage the effects of global warming through irrigation and water conservation measures. Other effects have been more frequent flooding, increased bankfull flows, increased flood peaks and lower dry weather flows. The report also indicates that increased development and the construction o more tarmac surfaces in Magnetic Island and Australia in general interferes with the water cycle.

Recent Hydrographs from the organization reveal that the frequency of flooding occurring in an urban stream and the fluctuation in discharge and flow has been caused by excessive tarmaking in the region. Consequently, there have been numerous flash floods during summer thunderstorms and a general increase in frequency and magnitude of flood peaks in urban watersheds. The effect of these changes has literally threatened to wipe out some animal and plant species out of the island (Markey, 2006; Creek to Coral 2006).

The Magnetic Island Nature Care Association Inc. (MINCA), an NGO has been at the fore front in highlighting the effects of development activities on the environment. The organization has been linked with making propositions to the different levels of government on the beast way forward in preserving a very fragile environment. From the very initial construction and development of the island specifically the Nelly Bay, the project received resistance from various quotas citing environmental issues.

To make way for the harbor, a number of natural features had to be done away with.

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