Extreme green antics and the effects on Bowen

JUNE 30, 2015: Bowen Chamber of Commerce president Bruce Hedditch reckons the Bowen community has had enough of the antics of green activists who sought to use the Abbot Point expansion project for their own ends. Here’s what he had to say:“The community is very upset with what’s happening with the delays. They’ve been going on for such a long time and we seem to be a political football when it comes to Abbot Point. This is not about Abbot Point - it relates purely to coal development."There’s no evidence whatsoever to support the argument that dredging will cause any damage and Abbot Point has been operating for 30 years with no problems whatsoever."Cairns is dredged, Townsville is dredged, Mackay is dredged, Airlie and Hamilton are dredged, but it’s all in relation to tourism, and nothing is said. When it comes to a coal port the world falls apart when these conservationists start protesting.”Mr Hedditch said the extreme green activists did not stick to the facts when they were telling their stories.“They’re telling mistruths. It’s about time those people stepped aside; they’ve had a fair go with their objections to the development, and they’ve been defeated every time.“It’s a disgrace. They’re disadvantaging not only Bowen, and the surrounding community but also Queensland and the nation,” Mr Hedditch said.“And this is also damaging our reputation overseas.”He had another word of advice for people who were keen to see the project go ahead.“The silent majority are sitting quietly thinking things will be right,” he said. “These anti-coal campaigners have got an enormous amount of money that we can’t compete with.“I think it’s about time that government and politicians of both persuasions saw what people really think. So people should write letters to ministers and politicians.“We’re playing with fire here; if we don’t try and give these companies a fair go they will decide it’s all too hard.”