TOUR TO HIGHLIGHT EAST TRINITY REJUVENATION

Cairns residents will have the chance to tour the East Trinity acid sulfate soils remediation site on Saturday August 30.

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said the tour would highlight the progress of the Queensland Government’s Acid Sulfate Soils Remediation Action Plan (ASSRAP) on the degraded East Trinity site.

“The East Trinity site was irreversibly altered by earthworks and drainage in the 1970s when little was known about acid sulfate soils, which occur like battery acid in the ground,” Ms Boyle said.

“The disturbances caused the release of tonnes of sulfuric acid, a substance that kills vegetation and marine life, and renders land non-productive,” she said.

Minister Boyle said the Queensland Government had purchased the site in May 2000 and had made significant progress towards remediation of the acid sulfate soils and substantially improved the quality of the water leaving the site.

“Cairns residents are invited to take part in this tour and see for themselves the work that has been undertaken by the State Government to rejuvenate this area.”

Minister Wallace said scientists from NRW and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries would be on hand during the tour to address key issues.

“One of the most talked about aspects of the ASSRAP is lime-assisted, partial tidal exchange, which involves allowing salt water to move in and out over the lowest parts of the site,” Mr Wallace said.

“Experts will be available to discuss the benefits of this method, as well as those of using hydrated lime to neutralise acid and remove heavy metals from drainage waters.

“Other topics for discussion will include floodgate innovations, improvements to water quality, and the return of fish and mangroves to the site.

“Visitors will also have a chance to see the mangroves which are naturally re-establishing across the site.”

The tour will leave the State Government Building at 5B Sheridan Street, Cairns, from 8am on Saturday August 30 and is expected to take around four hours.

Places for the tour should be secured by phoning the Department of Natural Resources and Water on 3896 9819 by Friday August 22. Numbers will be limited due to seating capacity.

A technical forum designed for state and local government agencies, environmental consultants, developers and community group representatives will be held from August 27-30 at the Hibiscus Room of the Cairns RSL Club.

Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office, 3896 3688.