The Aquis Casino Resort complex is a huge undertaking that will vastly change the landscape of the Great Barrier Reef. Normally, with construction projects of this size, the companies are required to undergo an Environmental Impact Statement(EIA); however, Aquis developers are confident that they do not need to submit to the evaluation.
The company recently pleaded its case to the Department of the Environment, stating that there is simply no need for an EIA. According to representatives of the project, the construction will not have a significant impact on the environment.
“Although the site is surrounded by protected areas and contains valuable remnant vegetation with relatively intact ecological function around its perimeter, over 83 per cent of the site is cleared and this area provides a major opportunity for development,” reads a statement from the company. Conservationists have spoken out against Aquis’ reluctance to submit an EIS.
The Great Barrier Reef needs protection, and an EIS would help to ensure that the land and those inhabiting it remain safe and unharmed. “There is due process and the community should have its say,” says Andrew Picone of the Australian Conservation Foundation. “With climate change and rising sea levels, massive developments like this in storm surge zones put the environment at risk and put lives at risk, too.
Many locals are also speaking out about the potential environmental impact of the casino resort. Aquis Aware and Stop Aquis Reef Casino are two Facebook communities that address these concerns, posting environmental legislations and other information that concerned parties should be made aware of. There is not much time before construction begins on the new Aquis Reef Casino Resort, so the debate will likely heat up very soon.
We are eager to see how the situation plays out, and if the developers will be forced to change their plans.
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