A YEAR has passed since Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen, was re-elected to office in September 2013, with the MP claiming that in just 12 short months he has already delivered on two thirds of his original Whitsunday ‘pledge’.
Mr Christensen’s commitments, made during the election campaign, ranged from a promise to flood-proof the Goorganga Plains as part of an extensive Fix the Bruce Highway program, through to funding projects to clean up the marine environment and improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
Last week, Mr Christensen said his pledge to the people of the Whitsundays regarding a Green Army project to help clean up marine debris in Whitsunday waters, had been guaranteed by the Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt.
“It should be delivered in the next round of project funding,” he said.
Mr Christensen was also confident in the progress of flood-proofing the Goorganga Plains.
“$15 million to plan and preserve the Goorganga Plains corridor forms part of the Coalition’s $6.7 billion Fix the Bruce program which will take place over the next 10 years,” he said.
As for reef health, Mr Christensen promised that the $40 million Reef Trust program would fund projects to improve coastal habitat, water quality and enhance species protection.
“I am also glad to hear that the State Government has now approved a land-based option for the dumping of dredge spoil, which will go further towards alleviating the concerns of tourism operators in relation to the Abbot Point coal terminal expansion,” he said.
In addition to this, Mr Christensen said the Liberal National Coalition Government had pledged to axe the carbon tax and mining tax, both of which had been done in recent weeks.
“With the mining tax gone, there is now greater certainty for the mining industry going forward, and this was vital for the health of the regional economy,” he said.
Mr Christensen is also making good on a $15,000 promise to help build the Logan’s Adventure Playground in Cannonvale.
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