Marina measures will not be upheld

I am certain that Norm Harris will see no one upholding the environmental mitigation measures for the marina at Koolewong.

Nothing seems to be monitored these days, since money has been cut to all Government Departments.

We now have a policy of self-monitoring, the efficiency of which is very questionable.

Anyway he must realize that few people are interested in sea grasses.

After all they are only nasty looking weeds which grow around our waterways and many people just clear them away in order to get to the sandy beach beneath.

Sea grasses only grow in shallow waters with their roots in the mud.

They are essential for many crustaceans living there and they sequester more CO2 than trees on the land.

When they are disturbed they may be releasing the carbon from thousands of years ago.

Boat propellers, anchors and swing-moorings do a great deal of harm to seagrasses.

This is why I was amazed that the marina at Koolewong was ever permitted.

Australia has the richest sea-grass meadows in the world and much research is being done which demonstrates their increasing importance for a warming planet.

A very interesting podcast may be downloaded freely from the ABC website. It's called Off Track.

Email, 20 Jun 2016

Margaret Lund, Ettalong