JourneyOnline
As part of his commitment to investigating the impact of the two mega dams proposed for South East Queensland, the Moderator of the Uniting Church, Queensland Synod, the Reverend Doctor David Pitman, visited Rathdowney to inspect the site for the proposed Tilley’s Bridge Dam.
110kms from Brisbane city and nearing the border of New South Wales, Rathdowney is a popular farming, camping, bushwalking and mountain climbing area. The lives and livelihoods of residents of this peaceful hollow have, like those in the Mary Valley, been thrown into disarray.
Dr Pitman said, “Again, I have arrived in a distraught community suffering from shock after this announcement eight weeks ago. When I visited the Mary Valley a fortnight ago, I was dismayed to find the community in such obvious distress as a result of the lack of consultation and callous way in which this announcement had been handled. That same story has been repeated here. These are people, whose homes and businesses would be resumed by a dam, finding out about the proposal on the nightly news.”
Social Responsibility Advocate, Ms Heather den Houting said:
“What is also disturbing is the bewilderment of the community, who have strong local knowledge about the geography and environment of the area, and who do not appear to be getting accurate information about the proposal.
“For instance, the expected yield of the dam does not equate with the recent rainfall patterns, the reliability of the Logan River and with the current state of a dam up river from the proposed site.
“So local residents are traumatised, not only because their lives will be so affected by the proposal, but also because the proposals make no sense to them.”
The Uniting Church is implementing measures to ensure it provides additional pastoral support to the communities affected by the proposals.
Photo : Moderator Rev Dr David Pitman listens to ‘No Dam For Rathdowney’ action group chairman John Robinson. Photo by Mardi Lumsden
