Hi Wilson,

You may be aware that the QLD Government is proposing to dam the Mary Valley with the building of a dam at Traveston Crossing. This dam will not only seriously impact on the lives and futures of thousands of residents affected by the construction and flooding of productive farming lands but also seriously impacts on many endangered species which are unique and native to the area.

As a timber worker, employed at the Boral Cooroy Mill, I was involved in the negotiations for compensation for the hundred or so affected timber workers. I recall you visiting the Cooroy site in your Ministerial capacity.

The environmental aspects of the impact of the dam’s construction have just been submitted to the Federal Environment Minister, Sen Ian Campbell by the QLD government for approval and consideration.

I wish to seek your opinion on another aspect of the dams proposed construction. Which you in your former capacity as Minister for Forestry and Conservation would be qualified to provide an informed opinion.

My concern is that the construction of the Traveston Crossing dam may infringe on the 1999 SEQ Regional Forestry Agreeement, which you played a major role in negotiating.

That agreement locked up large parcels of land and set up conservation reserves.

One of the stated aims and goals was:

“Providing a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) environmental reserve system”

The major areas protected under that agreement included:

“Wrattens, Kadanga, Mapleton, the Conondales, Belthorp and the D’Aguila, Ranges west of Brisbane - Gympie and significant areas adjacent to Bunya Mountains National Park, Heildon Hills and State forests along the Scenic Rim in the southwest of the region.”

A map available on: http://swampnews.squarespace.com/display/ShowPicture?moduleId=785947&pictureId=483896&galleryId=38054

shows areas set aside under the SEQRFA with “Kadanga” ( Kandanga) as well as other areas directly impacted by damming the Mary River at Traveston Crossing included..

With your knowledge of the workings of that State and Federal agreement and of it’s stated objectives in the conservation of the above mentioned affected areas, I seek your opinion as to whether the QLD Government is in fact in breach of the RFA by its actions in damming an area set out under the agreements guidelines “as environmentally protected and of conservational significance.”

The dam when constructed will involve the clearing of about 12, 000 hectares, including native forest, and will have an impact not only on the Mary Valley but on areas downstream including Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Straits, and upstream in the Conondales.

Areas directly set aside under the SEQRFA for environmental protection.

As a resident affected by the proposed construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam I would appreciate your opinion on the matter, as to whether there is any breach by the QLD government of the mutually agreed RFA and its stated intentions and objectives.

Senator Ian Campbell in his capacity as the Federal Environment Minister also may be aware of the nature and of the conservational intentions of the RFA when he considers the QLD government’s submission under the Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

We have a website which further details our objections and concerns over the Traveston Crossing proposal:

http: //swampnews.squarespace.com/welcome/

Thank you for your time

Steve Milson (former QLD Timberworker and affected Mary Valley Resident)

Senator Ian Campbell

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600

Dear Senator Campbell

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT REFERRAL – TRAVESTON CROSSING DAM

I refer to Queensland Water Infrastructure Pty Ltd (QWIPL)/Water Management and Use/Mary River/Qld Traveston Crossing Dam dated 15 November 2006 referral under the EPBC Act (Registered Number 2006/3150)

You may be aware that the QLD Government is proposing to dam the Mary Valley with the building of a dam at Traveston Crossing. This dam will not only seriously impact on the lives and futures of thousands of residents affected by the construction and flooding of productive farming lands but also seriously impacts on many endangered species which are unique and native to the area.

As a timber worker, employed at the Boral Cooroy Mill, I was involved in the negotiations for compensation for the hundred or so affected timber workers.

The environmental aspects of the impact of the dam’s construction have just been submitted to you by the QLD government for your approval and consideration.

I wish to raise my concerns over another aspect of the dams proposed construction.

My concern is that the construction of the Traveston Crossing dam may infringe on the 1999 SEQ Regional Forestry Agreeement.

That agreement locked up large parcels of land and set up conservation reserves. Many of these areas were directly affected by the SEQ Regional Forestry Agreement.

One it’s the stated aims and goals was:

“Providing a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) environmental reserve system”

The major areas protected under that agreement included:

“Wrattens, Kadanga, Mapleton, the Conondales, Belthorp and the D’Aguila, Ranges west of Brisbane - Gympie and significant areas adjacent to Bunya Mountains National Park, Heildon Hills and State forests along the Scenic Rim in the southwest of the region.”

A map available on: http://swampnews.squarespace.com/display/ShowPicture?moduleId=785947&pictureId=483896&galleryId=38054 shows areas set aside under the SEQRFA with “Kadanga” ( Kandanga) as well as other areas directly impacted by damming the Mary River at Traveston Crossing included listed “as environmentally protected and of conservational significance.”

The dam when constructed will involve the clearing of about 12, 000 hectares, including native forest, and will have an impact not only on the Mary Valley but on areas downstream including Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Straits, and upstream in the Conondales.

These areas were directly set aside under the SEQRFA for environmental protection.

As a resident affected by the proposed construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam I would appreciate your consideration on this matter and whether there is any breach by the QLD government of the mutually agreed RFA and its stated intentions and objectives.

We have a website which further details our objections and concerns over the Traveston Crossing proposal: http: //swampnews.squarespace.com/welcome/

Thank you for your time

Steve Milson (former QLD Timberworker and affected Mary Valley Resident)