A rare and unique bird, the Eungella Honeyeater, urgently needs its habitat protected from mining and logging if it is to survive. 

The Eungella Honeyeater (scientific name Lichenostomus hindwoodi) is one of the last new species of birds discovered in Australia, identified only in the early 1980s as being a different species to the more common Bridled Honeyeater. 

The only place the Eungella Honeyeater can be found is in a small area of plateau rainforest in the Clarke Range, about 65 km west of Mackay. 

The Eungella Honeyeater cannot be found anywhere else in Australia and is currently listed as being “near-threatened”. 

‘Eungella’ is an aboriginal word meaning ‘mountains of the mist’ – which perfectly describes its habitat.

Act now - email the Minister to protect the habitat of the Eungella Honeyeater.

How would you feel if a gigantic coal terminal, spraying coal dust and digging up the seabed, was about to be built just a few miles south of your home?

That’s the situation for the people of Mackay.

Just 20 or so kilometres south of this central Queensland coastal town lies an enormous coal port, its piers stretching 2 km out to sea with great mounds of coal lying in the open, waiting for the prevailing winds to blow them over the population of Mackay.

The coal port already exists, but a proposed expansion would see capacity increased to 180 million tonnes per annum

Sign the petition against the proposed coal terminal at the Communities Protecting our Region website: http://www.dudgeonpoint.org/no_dudgeon_point_coal_port_petition

As Queensland prepares to build the largest coal ports in the world on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area, few protections are in place to prevent the destruction of fish, coral and iconic marine mammals.

Green and Flatback turtles nest along the beautiful Abbot Point Beach just east of the sand dunes containing the Juru burial grounds which themselves would adjoin the enormous coal stockpiles.

As the coal dust blows off the stockpiles and rain leaches toxic chemicals into the near shore marine waters, the turtles will ingest this pollution via consumption of the local sea grasses.

If coal miners and coal port owners get their way, 16 million cubic metres (~4535 million tonnes)[1] of the seabed at Abbot Point in Queensland will be dredged and dumped into the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The proposed dredging is to allow the expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Port near Bowen in Queensland.

The mud to be dredged is enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) 30 times over.

The proposed massive increase in mining and coal ports on the Queensland coast adjacent to the World Heritage protected Great Barrier Reef is predicted to see an increase of 5 times in the number of shipping transits.

This increases by 5 times the risk of oil spills, reef damage, groundings and boat strikes on marine mammals like dolphins, whales and dugongs.

Dugongs were once so plentiful in Queensland that observers commented that it would take hours for the 100 metre wide herds to pass by, the water thick with their wallowing movements.

Today, dugongs are officially recognised as being vulnerable to extinction.

Will the day come when there will no longer be dugongs in the clear shallow waters off the coast of Queensland, and the only place you’ll be able to see one is in an aquarium? 

One of the most beautiful and largest coastal Wetlands in Queensland is in real danger of permanent damage as a result of the expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Ports, associated rail links and industrial development in the adjacent Abbot Point State Development Area.

Climate change is a matter of concern for all of us, and on November 13 Mackay Conservation Group joined with GetUp! and the members of the local community in a national day of action of climate.

Over 40 people gathered at Jim Mulherin Park for a colourful and though provoking event.

Are you looking for a unique Christmas or birthday gift that also helps preserve on of Queensland's most precious nature reserves?

Long time Mackay Conservation Group supporter, Maureen Cooper, has made these beautiful brooches and stuffed toys of the birds and insects found at the Bimblebox nature reserve. You can have  your own for only $20, and all of the proceeds go the fight to save Bimblebox from Clive Palmer's China First mine.

Pictured right is a Kingfisher, and there are three species of Kingfisher at Bimblebox – Sacred, Forest and Red-backed.

To buy your own Bimblebox baby go to: http://bimbleboxcritters.wix.com/creatures

On October 9, Mackay Conservation Group released their alarming report on the state of Mackay's air quality, to a national audience.

The report included comprehensive data analysis by MCG Co-ordinator Patricia Julien who examined State government air quality data from their monitoring station in West Mackay.

The Australian reported on the story: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/mackay-dust-pollution-hazardous-study/story-fn3dxiwe-1226735222051 .

And follow this link to download the report.

Air quality standards in Australia lag behind the rest of the world, which is why we need strong local voices to ensure the health of our community is protected. The picture below shows coal dust from a train that is coming in the ports at Hay Point.