E P A Obstructing Justice? Shute Harbour.

The Shute Harbour Marine Development Pty Ltd. has submitted the EIS for public perusal and responses have been given a cut off date 15 Dec. 2008 To assist the public in their right to reply it is necessary to obtain specific monitoring data info on Shute Harbour that they are in possession of. This data can be made available to the public immediately to assist them in their right to reply but the EPA are insisting on application for this info under the Freedom of Information Act. This avenue is expensive and time consuming and if I know anything about Government Operations it will be way past the cut off date when the data will become available. The general public demand cooperation from the EPA on this matter. Tactics of obstruction are not going to wash on such an important issue. The letter on the right was sent to the EPA and below was their response. Hi Rory, The information requested below will need to be accessed through a formal Freedom of Information application. This request can be made via email or in writing and is required to be accompanied by a $38.00 fee. Please contact Rose Billington or Peter Thornton of the EPA’s FOI Unit on (07) 3237 1048 for further information regarding application process or via email on rose.billington@epa.qld.gov.au or peter.thornton@epa.qld.gov.au. Regards, Odette

Letter to Epa. Dear Odette, A number of community groups are currently preparing responses to the Shute Harbour Marina Development EIS.In preparing our responses, among other things we are assessing cumulative impacts in the region and are, consequently, seeking data. We would be grateful if you could supply us with any monitoring data gathered by EPA (or by the proponents or their representatives) relating to the marina development at Port of Airlie, the Yacht Club development at Hamilton Island and the marina expansion at Abel Point.As well as general monitoring data we are seeking plume data and comparisons between before and after; changed wave action and currents; and whether their modelling of sediment transport and deposition has been reflected in reality. As you are no doubt aware the public has been given just a few weeks to respond to this extremely complex EIS document and so our time frame is very tight. We would therefore greatly appreciate you supplying this information at your earliest convenience. Regards,Rory McCourt SOF Patricia Julien MCG