Tim
Winton

Award winning Australian Author

“We each have a moral obligation to those who come after us, and the Queensland Government has to be brave enough to see past short-term politics and vested interests to reserve at least 30% of Moreton Bay for the future. History, not just the electoral cycle, will hold them to account.”

Read Tim's speech in full

"No other major city in the world has such a priceless natural asset on its doorstep, that is in such urgent need of greater protection. So I urge the Queensland Government to increase the ratio of fully protected areas in Moreton Bay to that found in the State's other great Marine Park, the Great Barrier Reef, as soon as possible. That is, at least one third fully protected."

Bernard Fanning

Powderfinger Lead Singer

“I grew up next to Moreton Bay but didn’t realise how little protection it’s had until recently. The Queensland Government must protect at least a third of our marine park in green zones if they’re at all serious about sustainability. I hope you can get behind the campaign to protect this special piece of paradise.”

Luc Longley

NBA Basketballer

“It’s becoming clearer that our oceans are under increasing pressure. Each and every one of us has a role to play to ensure that we get the balance right and look after our oceans and the life within them.”

Kylie Kwong

Chef, Billy Kwong restaurant

"I love the sea and am an avid supporter of cooking with sustainable seafood in my restaurant Billy Kwong in Sydney. Sustainable seafood is not just about choosing seafood wisely, it’s about giving marine wildlife a place to grow, breed and flourish in areas where they are safe from human harm.

That’s why I support protecting at least 30% of Moreton Bay Marine Park in fishing-free ‘protection zones’."

Michael Barnes

Brisbane Lawyer

"It's a no-brainer. More green zones means better ecosystem health and better fishing. We should be leading the other states and protecting at least a third of the bay for the future."

Jerry Coleby-Williams

Seed Savers' Foundation, QCC, ANZSES

"Moreton Bay Marine Park is one of the world's great gardens, and it's one of Brisbane's greatest natural assets. That's why I strongly support at least 30% of Moreton Bay being protected by fishing-free sanctuary areas (aka ‘protection zones’)."

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Dr Gayle Johnson

Ecologist

“We are among the most fortunate in the world to have such a great natural beauty as Moreton Bay at our backdoor. By global standards we are wealthy. There are no excuses. We should do everything we can to protect it.”

Katherine Stariha

Opera Singer

“Having grown up with both bush and ocean as my playground, it is most important to me that Moreton Bay is protected for future generations to enjoy. Wildlife, in particular, turtles and dugongs must be protected. One of my most treasured and breathtaking memories is that of a dugong coming up beside the small boat that I was in. The Queensland State Government needs to realise just how important it is to increase the amount of protection on this very special bay.”

Jo Bragg

Brisbane environmental lawyer

“Moreton Bay is a blue jewel teaming with life. I love the wader birds the quick glimpse of a dolphin, the quiet mangroves.

Treat this marine system with the same respect as our national parks and so fully protect at least 30% of the Marine Park.”

Dr Joan Roughgarden

Eminent US ecologist, Stanford University Professor

“In support of protecting Moreton Bay Marine Park, we should set aside at least 30 per cent of the habitat of a given species to have any serious assurance of long-term profitability as well as to guard against risk of extinction”.

Debra Henry

Councillor Redland Shire Council

“We have international and intergenerational obligations to ensure Moreton Bay remains a healthy functional ecosystem that provides recreational and economic benefits. Sound science and common sense will mostly likely dictate increasing protected areas to achieve this. How could you argue against that?”

Marg O’Donnell

Chair Australian Festival of Chamber Music

“Moreton Bay is such a treasure for us to have at our doorstep. I’ve just had a granddaughter and I want the turtles and dugong and other wildlife to be there for her and future generations. We need more green zones!”

Martin Moynihan

Retired Supreme Court Justice

“Moreton Bay is important to us all. Decisions we make today will affect our children’s children. We must think beyond today and do the right thing for the health of the bay into the future. Lets have more green zones!”

Dr. Bill Dennison

Professor of Marine Science and Vice President for Science Applications at the University of Maryland

“Preserving an ecosystem like Moreton Bay Marine Park is much more cost effective than restoring a degraded system”

“Moreton Bay is one of my most favourite places on the planet. It is on the world map. It’s an iconic, magnetic place for people to study. Researchers from across the world will be watching to see what happens with the review of the park’s zoning plan.”

Speaking on his visit to Brisbane for the 10th International River Symposium

Dr Hugh Possingham

University of Queensland, Professor of Ecology, Professor of Mathematics

“The effectiveness of Highly Protected Areas for enhancing fish stocks has already been proven in Moreton Bay. Recent studies by Dr Sue Pillians simply confirms what we know from 100 other studies from around the world. The fact is, if you don't kill fish there are more and they get bigger. Bigger fish have proportionately more babies. That is it!

A primary school student could work that out. If people are arguing we need to test these well known facts again then perhaps we should also check to see if the speed of light is the same in Moreton Bay as the rest of the world, or if gravity is still working tomorrow."

Ian Haug

Guitarist of the Australian rock band Powderfinger

“The action we take today will be judged by our children. We’re lucky enough to have dugongs and turtles out there now, but they’re in trouble. If the world’s marine scientists recommend we protect at least a third of our oceans in green zones, then why wouldn’t we do this for Moreton Bay?”

Kim Wilkins

International author

“I grew up on the shores of Moreton Bay, and I am always breath-taken coming home on a plane when I look down and see its beauty.

We simply cannot take such a rare asset for granted; we must do the right thing to protect it now and into the future.”

http://www.kimwilkins.com/

Dr Cathy McNamee

Research Institute of Germany

“I spent much of my time as a child playing on the shores of Moreton Bay. Now, whenever I return home from oversees, I always like to revisit the bay and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the sea and islands.

It is important to protect the health of the bay so to safeguard it for future generations”

The Audreys

Tristan Goodall, Toby Lang, Taasha Coates, Mikey G and
Lyndon Gray.

“We all love our precious oceans and marine wildlife. You guys are lucky to have turtles on your doorstep, but they need sanctuaries where they are safe from harm.

We support more green zones in Moreton Bay Marine Park"

Stephen Kiem

QLD Barrister

“Moreton Bay is the focus of many magic memories for my family and me.

For many years, traveling to Nudgee Beach and walking out across the mud flats with children, siblings, nieces and nephews and cousins has made an ordinary weekend turn into something special. A trip in the barge to Stradbroke or Moreton, watching the water colour change to bright iridescent green, as one approached the islands, is never forgotten. As our population in south east Queensland continues to grow rapidly, the need for far sighted and sensible management measures becomes even more urgent."

David Neil

Associate Professor UQ Program Director of Geography and Environmental Management

“Over the last 150 years, Moreton Bay has deteriorated under pressure from disturbance and damage caused by a wide range of human activities.

Although it is still a remarkable place, it is vital that there be greater protection of Moreton Bay to help reduce that deterioration, to allow the Bay's systems to recover something of the paradise that the available evidence suggests it once was, and to enhance the Bay's resilience in the face of future pressures such as increasing regional population and climate change."

Ralph Wilson

Artist

“My family has been going down the bay and painting and drawing its shorelines for five generations. We’ve watched it change as our city treated it as a mine and a dump. This complex treasure has suffered badly.

Our Government needs the guts to legislate now for the benefit of our great grandchildren. The science is done. We know what works. The longer we delay the longer the recovery will be. Let’s take the medicine now and take care of the most stunning back yard in the world."

Dr John Pandolfi

Associate Professor, Centre for Marine Studies,
ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, University of Queensland

“Moreton Bay stands at a crossroads in how to manage what’s left of her natural resources.

On the one hand we can follow cutting-edge conservation measures, largely initiated in Australia, in setting aside > 30% of the Bay as ‘no-take’. On the other, we can follow the now familiar route that has resulted in the decimation of so many of the world’s estuaries close to centres of population – sacrifice them for short-term gains.

And the fact remains, that good resource management makes good economic sense.’"

http://profiles.bacs.uq.edu.au/John.Pandolfi.html

Todd MacDonald

Actor Neighbours and Secret Life Of Us

I spent my childhood growing up in Brisbane, and at least once a year we holidayed on North Stradbroke Island. It was such a great family tradition, and we always loved catching the car ferry from Cleveland over Moreton Bay to Straddy and looking out for dolphins. As a kid you take things like that for granted, but now that I’m a parent myself to twin girls and living down in Melbourne, I realise how unique and special Moreton Bay really is, and how important it is to protect it - now and for the future. I completely support at least 30% green zones in Moreton Bay in the areas where the turtles, dugongs and dolphins need it the most, and urge the Bligh government to take this opportunity to get it right.

http://www.australianstage.com.au/features/melbourne-interview/todd-macdonald-859.html

Peter Ludlow

Historian and author

For twenty years I have been writing about Moreton Bay’s history as seen through the eyes of its ‘locals’. In part, my aim was originally to preserve, in print at least, Moreton Bay as it was, because the Bay, like everywhere else, is changing rapidly.
What we need now, though, are not just words but actions.
I hope my words will help people act to preserve Moreton Bay’s heritage. There is still time

www.users.bigpond.net.au/pludlow

Dr. Kathy Townsend

Manager of Research and Education/Marine Biologist, Moreton Bay Research Station

"Moreton Bay is a unique and special place, possessing enviable biodiversity and beauty. Sadly, it has been under-protected and under-valued for decades.With this zoning review, it is a timely opportunity to put good scientific based marine park management into practice. The current proposal of 15% Marine National Park Zones is not acceptable. Scientific studies have shown that between 20-50% of ALL habitat types must be protected if we are to ensure the health and productivity of Moreton Bay."

"With the increased pressures of climate change and population growth in our region, it is even more critical that we protect the maximum habitat withinMoreton Bay. I implore the decision makers to not "trim" the proposed green zones after consultation but have the courage to listen to the scientific evidence and expand them to 30% or more. As the self-proclaimed Smart State, Queensland should be 10 years ahead, not 10 years behind in marine management practices."

www.cms.uq.edu.au/mbrs

Katie Noonan

Singer/Composer/Pianist

"the moreton bay area is a unique and inspirational place. i often turn to the shores of these islands for reconnection and deep breaths to bring me back to myself. i have written many songs in this area - a lot of which are on the 2 george albums and the 2 elixir albums. it is also where i got married, so needless to say the moreton bay area is a place very very close to my heart.
i urge the sustainability minister to help protect this unique eco-system and support 30% green zones in the moretan bay area and help protect this beautiful area and it's wildlife." kt noonan

http://www.katienoonan.com/

Paige Houden

Billabong Pro Surfer

"As a Pro Surfer my life revolves around the ocean and what happens to it. Nothing can beat the feeling when you're on a wave and a wild pod of Dolphins jumps along side you!! Sadly the wildlife that makes the ocean complete is in danger. Without the wildlife the ocean will not survive so we need more marine national parks to save it now."

http://www.billabonggirls.com.au/text_rider.php?pid=1&rid=8