- LNP sets target to stop plastic and litter flowing into the Moreton Bay under Ocean Protect’s “Zero Litter” initiative.
- $35 million project to install specialised stormwater filtration devices on Queensland’s stormwater network flowing into the Bay from high litter zones.
- Project will remove an estimated 6,000 wheelie bins of plastic and litter from Moreton Bay each year by expanding on Brisbane City Council’s existing litter traps to 80% of high litter areas across the Moreton Bay.
The LNP has pledged to protect Queensland’s iconic Moreton Bay from plastic and litter with a Zero Litter to the Bay by 2030 target, as part of its Supporting Wildlife, Preserving Our Environment policy.
Under the plan, the LNP will upgrade the stormwater network opening into the Moreton Bay with specialised filtration devices to prevent plastics from entering the water, killing marine wildlife and degrading the ecological values of the Bay.
The $35 million program will target the missing links in the existing network, building on the work already done by Brisbane City Council, to prevent any plastic or litter larger than 5mm escaping into Moreton Bay with specialised stormwater filtration devices.
LNP Leader David Crisafulli said the LNP’s Zero Litter to the Bay target would help preserve the pristine Moreton Bay now and into the future.
“Our Zero Litter to the Bay target will protect one of our State’s most environmentally diverse ecosystems, by putting a stop to the plastic and litter runoff that’s life-threatening to our marine wildlife,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Moreton Bay is enjoyed by thousands of locals and visitors but as long as litter flows freely into the bay, its future will be under threat.
“Without action, litter will continue to be dumped straight into Moreton Bay from local waterways each time it rains, but the LNP’s plan will target high litter waterways to stop the flow of rubbish into the Bay.
“The LNP will partner with local government to install filtration devices on around 100 major stormwater drains flowing into the Bay, saving 6,000 wheelie bins of plastic and litter escaping into the bay and choking our waterways.
“The LNP are combining conservation with science, to protect our native marine life and restore Moreton Bay to a pristine condition for future generations.”
The announcement follows the LNP’s commitment for an Australian-first Marine Wildlife Hospital, a state-of-the-art Wildlife Hospital in Moreton Bay and an expansion of the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre program.
Shadow Environment Minister Sam O’Connor said the LNP’s plan would help protect the hundreds of plants, birds, and marine wildlife native to the Moreton Bay including turtles and dugong.
“The LNP’s goal of Zero Litter to the Bay will protect our environment by investing in conservation, science and technology,” Mr O’Connor said.
“In Australia alone, around 1,580 kilograms of plastic enter our bays and oceans every hour and if no action is taken, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by weight.
“Zero Litter to the Bay takes practical action to protect Moreton Bay, which is already recognised as a high-value waterway, by working in partnership with local government.
“Our state needs a fresh start and the LNP has the Right Plan for Queensland’s Future.”