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It's on!
Submitted by MValley on Wed, 02/25/2009 - 01:03
State Election March 21
In under three years, the Traveston Dam has gone from being "just a nimby issue", through being "a David and Goliath struggle" to the point where the ABC places it as Number two in the state's election issues, second only to Queensland's crumbling economy..
That said, the next three weeks represent a picture window of opportunity which will never return.
Last state election, we were but young. Many were convinced the dam announcement was an election stunt that would be retracted after a short shelf life.
A Senate Enquiry, a record response to the EIS, somehow Traveston seemed to act as something of a touchstone for a wider community increasingly alienated from its government. Peak environment groups have canned the plan, churches have come out against its heavy social impacts as have Councils up and down the river.
It never stacked up well economically, even in the good times, but Queenslanders are coming to ask why a government would shell out some $570m to a project that has get to get the necessary federal approvals.
The money put in upfront of the approvals accounts for almost 40% of the State's deficit.
In an election where the government seeks to don the mantle of better money managers, this is not a good look. This isn't our last chance but with a turn of speed, a good deal of enduranced and even a dash of savvy, we can give this a damn good nudge.
I reckon we've got the ticker.