Marine & Coastal
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Chronology |
How
Elizabeth River Was Saved
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7th December 1999 – Darwin
Harbour Alliance reveals NT Government maps which show plans to dam
several arms of Darwin Harbour. Groups including Amateur Fisherman's
Association and Darwin Lord Mayor call on Chief Minister Denis Burke
to scap plans and protect Darwin Harbour in a National Park.
Download Media release (PDF
File - 5KB)
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11th March 2000 – Darwin
Harbour Alliance publishes results from a survey of Port Darwin by-election
candidates.
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8th May, 2000 – Public
meeting organised by the Darwin Harbour Alliance attracts over 100
people. The meeting is presented with the DHA's vision for Darwin
Harbour and meeting agrees to call for:
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1.
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a commitment to shelve plans for dams and marinas
in Darwin Harbour
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2.
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the conservation of the Harbour's mangroves,
and
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3.
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an overhaul of the existing 1990 Darwin Regional
Land Use Structure Plan
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August - November 2000
– Darwin Harbour Alliance produces and distributes over
3000 copies of it's vision for Darwin Harbour. Hundreds of letters
are
sent to Lands Planning and Environment Minister Tim Baldwin calling
for protection for Darwin Harbour's mangroves and supporting the
DHA's community vision.
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October 11, 2000 – Tim
Baldwin, the NT Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment makes
a statement on the future of Darwin Harbour in Parliament. The Minister
outlines plans to dam the Elizabeth River to 'allow for the growth
of Darwin.' The Minister's announcement is condemned by the Environment
Centre, traditional owners, Councils, Fishing bodies, residents groups
etc. If the dam proceeds it will kill all mangroves upstream of the
dam, and impact on flora and fauna downstream.
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November 17th, 2000 – The
Darwin Harbour Alliance launches the next phase of its campaign.
The focus is on preventing the damming of the Elizabeth River.
Petitions, stickers and postcards are distributed to over 90
shops around Darwin and the rural area allowing Territorians
to have their say about the future of Darwin Harbour. Several
days later the NT Government releases the results of 'push polling'
carried out which show that 50% of Darwin residents are opposed
to the damming of the Elizabeth River and that only 25% would
support the NT Government's dam option. Pressure increases on
the Goverment to abandon their dam plans.
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Margaret Clinch of the Planning
Action Network, Gerry Wood, President of the Litchfield Shire
Council and Kirsten Blair, Coordinator of the Environment Centre
NT launch the next phase of the Darwin Harbour Alliance's campaign.
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November - January 2000/01
– Over 7000 signatures are collected on
petitions and many cars around the Top End are seen sporting the
Livid Lizzie "Save
Elizabeth River" sticker. Livid Lizzie T-shirts become high
fashion in the Darwin area.
(NB: we still have a few of these historic shirts available
for just $10, contact ECNT on 8981 1984 if you would like one)
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January 23rd, 2001 – NT
Government acknowledges community opposition to dam proposals and
withdraws plans to build a dam on Elizabeth River.
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February 21st, 2001 – Darwin
Harbour Alliance members present petitions with over 7,500 signatures
to both parties in NT Parliament. While the Elizabeth River dam
plans have been shelved, there is still no sign of a National
Park for Darwin Harbour which is the ultimate goal of the Darwin
Harbour Alliance. The petitions clearly call for a long-term
approach in requesting legislative protection for Darwin Harbour
and its catchment.
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The beautiful Elizabeth River - safe for now
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You can also help
protect Darwin Harbour by joining the
Environment Centre NT
To download a membership form click here
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MORE
INFORMATION
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