Under the sea, grass sways like a hula skirt around a giant clam. The underwater gardens of the Mackay Reef, off Cape Tribulation, in Far North Queensland, Australia are a natural wonderland. Global warming, the crown of thorns star fish invasion and coal mining, with its associated dredging and dumping off the coast, are the main threats to their survival.
The Great Barrier Reef risks being downgraded to a ‘World Heritage Site in danger’, thanks to the short sightedness of the current Australian Government. Despite warnings from UNESCO, a mega port development has been approved for dredging to create three shipping terminals as part of the construction of a coal port. The process will create around 3 million cubic metres of dredged seabed that will be dumped within the Great Barrier Reef marine park area.¹
¹ Extracted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_threats_to_the_Great_Barrier_Reef
ALMOST ITALIAN 
Isn’t that a travesty? Why would you not put more resources toward solar power instead?? Beautiful photo by Mr. T.
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A travesty indeed Ardy. Makes me feel hopping mad and quite helpless.
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A truly criminal act on the part of our government IMHO, guilty of nepotism, enviromental abuse and greed. Australians in the future will rue the day they gave this government power!!!! My little rant shouldn’t distract from the beauty of the sea grass captured by Mr T.
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I’m happy for your rant and hope that more readers might do the same. Every day, we are confronted by more outrageous acts of stupidity by this small minded and ignorant lot.
Mr T loves his underwater camera, but amongst his many gorgeous shots, there were many of broken and faded coral too.
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Beautiful photos highlighting this gorgeous and important part of our environment, currently under threat. Anything to make a buck. 😒
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Yes, that just about sums it up. Lets dump a whole lot of coal tailings in the sea- Oh and let’s forget that Gladstone and Townesville have 320 days of sun per year and yet not invest in solar energy up that way, or anywhere else. Yes, Australia- the laughing stock of the world because it is so backward!
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So true, the shortsightedness is mind boggling.
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Lovely pic Fran. I am more disillusioned with substantial ignorance that is ubiquitous within the Australian general public. This government is milking it to its full extent.
I am glad Mr T got the underwater camera he liked.
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The government, its policies and the general public who seem to accept these monstrous and backward leaps, make me angry and quite sad. Unfortunately, strong leadership in the opposition camps is also lacking.
Meanwhile the Murdoch press holds sway and dishes up its daily dose of ignorance.
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Beautiful photo that highlights the contrast between Australia’s environmental/ecological best interests, and the commercial Australia For Sale interests that go almost unchecked except for the farsighted people who are yet still deemed unfashionable out of touch with commercial reality greenies behind the smokescreen of no brainer domestic policy and political personality squabbles. Big sigh here.
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Big sigh from here too.
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Wonderful Almost Italian Francesca beautiful PLACE for you to visit and enjoy Thank you for your presentation
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Aargh! Shortsightedness and anything for a quick buck, makes me very sad and angry…. Mr Ts sea grass is marvellous!
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Oh no Francesca this sounds appalling .. I just don’t understand! Why do we keep destroying our beautiful world?
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Wonderful pic…but I cannot understand anyone going into the sea in Australia..I love boats, swimming and diving but not with bad things that seem to live around Oz:)
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nd realise what a truly unique treasure they are guardian of!
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whoops what I meant to say in full was What a marvellous picture and I hope Australia will preserve and protect the reef and realise what a truly unique treasure they are guardian of!
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It’s absolutely deplorable what they are doing to the reef now! It makes me sick to think of how they will destroy such a beautiful wonder.
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Received today wonderful selection of Themes Sea Grass Thank you
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Thanks, I love the way sea grass sways.
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Thank you Almost Italian wonderful website you have Francesca Enjoy your travels Beautiful place
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Thank you kindly.
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You are welcome Thank you Donna Yule
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Great shot of seagrass – I have never done scubadiving or snorkling…Your government seems just as stupid and putting their heads in the sand as other governments are. A sad story. Doesn’t protests work? Major protests from Australians ? I guess most people don’t want this environmental catastrophe – but do they have the means to stop it? Here many people don’t seem to care unless it threatens their own property…
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All the protesting in the world doesn’t seem to have any impact on our present government. Only a change in government may help- or may not. And to think that this is only just one environmental issue, there are so many more, where they show such backwardness.
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A sad lot.
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Beautiful photo, sad story.
janet
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