Endangered bird stands in way of Queensland Premier’s dredge spoil dumping

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is pushing ahead with plans to dump dredge spoil from the Galilee coal mines at Abbot Point in the state’s north, despite the World Wide Fund for Nature warning of the effect it will have on a local endangered bird.

The painted snipe lives on Abbot Point, a bird with fewer than 5000 specimens left.

The World Wide Fund for Nature has said it has warned Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt that Abbot Point is one of the most important habitats for the species.

However, Mr Newman said the site was home to fewer than three per cent of the birds, meaning 97 per cent would not be affected.

The Galilee coal mines provide significant employment for Queenslanders, with apprentices coming from as far away as Townsville.