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Australia's government has a plan to massive amounts of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will from a project to a coal port at Abbot Point, on the coast near the reef. The decision to give the go-ahead to the dumping of the sludge was by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has environmentalists to be up in arms about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is outrageous to corporate profits ahead of such an important marine environment. About 3 million cubic meters of mud will be into the reef's waters. Authorities the sludge will not be on top of any coral.

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system. It for over 2,600 kilometres, an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. It special protection from Australia's government to the impact of fishing and tourism. Climate change is already its delicate ecosystems by and killing the coral. The reef $3 billion a year in tourism revenue. Greenpeace that the dumping, "is one more body blow for the Reef which further marine life, its World Heritage status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision , "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future".