BRISBANE—The Queensland opposition has teamed up with wildlife conservationist Bob Irwin in its fight to stop the Traveston Crossing Dam.
The controversial $1.8 billion project was approved last month by the state's coordinator-general, subject to 1,200 conditions.
Its fate is now in the hands of federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who can ask for an extension past the November 18 decision deadline in deciding whether to grant the dam approval or block its construction.
Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek announced on Sunday that the father of the late Steve Irwin had given his backing to their anti-dam campaign.
"This is an ill-planned, badly considered dam that will wipe out the Mary Valley and a number of endangered species," Mr Langbroek said in a statement.
"In return, Queenslanders will get a shallow water storage that will lose up to 25 per cent of its capacity each year through evaporation."
Mitigation strategies for the dam include a fishway and turtle bypass system for the endangered Mary River turtle, Mary River cod and lungfish, as well as restoration and protection of around 2,000ha of habitat.
But Mr Langbroek said the endangered lungfish and various turtle and frog species would have their habitat destroyed by the dam.
"The cost of the Traveston Crossing Dam is too high for both the people and the wildlife of the Mary Valley," he said.
Mr Langbroek will be joined by Mr Irwin and members of the Save the Mary River Group on Monday to appeal to Mr Garrett not to allow the project.
Mr Irwin said allowing the project would be "environmental vandalism" as he appealed to Mr Garrett to listen to the people.
"At 1.3 times the size of Sydney harbour, the proposed Traveston Dam would block one of the last free flowing rivers on the east coast of Australia," he said in a statement.
"... I find it absolutely astonishing that in a time when our environment is in such jeopardy, that we should even be discussing this issue of building a dam in such an ecologically sensitive area."
The pair will attend a public barbecue at the Kandanga Community Hall from midday (AEST) on Monday.
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