Mary River

A River Rich in Life

The Mary River flows for around 310 kilometres through south-east Queensland, beginning near Maleny and reaching the sea through the Great Sandy Strait west of K’gari. The river supports extraordinary biodiversity, including several species found nowhere else on Earth. Among them are the endangered Mary River cod and the vulnerable Mary River turtle. The river is also home to the Australian lungfish, Richmond birdwing butterfly, multiple threatened frog species and Coxen’s fig parrot. Its ecological health is closely connected to the fisheries and marine environments of the Great Sandy World Heritage Area.

The Threat

In 2005, the Queensland Government proposed constructing a major dam at Traveston Crossing on the Mary River. The project was intended to supply water to the growing metropolitan regions of Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Campaigners warned the dam would cause irreversible environmental damage. Reduced river flows threatened breeding and spawning habitat for species including the Mary River cod and Australian lungfish. The proposed inundation area at Traveston would also destroy critical habitat for the Mary River turtle and other endangered wildlife.

The Campaign

Community opposition to the dam rapidly intensified. Local residents, conservation groups and scientists organised rallies, paddle-out protests, public meetings and awareness campaigns across Queensland. Campaigners also challenged government modelling and environmental assessments linked to the project. The scale of public opposition pushed the issue into the national spotlight and increased pressure on both State and Federal governments. The campaign ultimately became one of Australia’s highest-profile river conservation battles of the time.

The Dam Rejected

In November 2009, Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett rejected the Traveston Crossing dam proposal. He concluded the project’s environmental impacts were “unacceptable”. The decision marked a major victory for river protection and for the communities that had campaigned against the project for years.

Legacy

The Mary River campaign demonstrated the power of sustained community mobilisation in defending threatened river systems. It also highlighted the global significance of protecting species found nowhere else on Earth. As noted during the campaign:

“[Alastair Driver] said the fact that species such as the cloacal-respirating Mary River Turtle and the recently described Southern Snapping Turtle were found nowhere else on this planet meant there was something ‘very special and subtle’ about this vulnerable river system.” — Ian Mackay