Forty-eight American university students have completed an extensive tour of port facilities and environmental and conservation projects at Mackay Harbour.

MPA Environmental manager Scott Keane (right) shows the visiting Stanford University students through the Kommo Toera Trail.

The international students from Stanford University are in Australia as part of the Australian Coastal Studies Program with the University of Queensland.

The tour party consists of 48 students from a range of disciplines, including social, environmental management and a number of science related topics.

Mackay Port Authority Environmental manager Scott Keane said the tour covered the port’s western land conservation area, such as the Kommo Toera Trail through the melaluca forest off Keeleys Road.

Mr Keane said the tour party also received a detailed outline of coastal planning and development projects being undertaken by the Mackay Port Authority at a special presentation at the Windmill Motel.

“We are proud of our record on environmental issues and development,” Mr Keane said.

“These projects have been identified as following global best practice initiatives where science has been used in sustainable development and decision making.”

Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland, Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg said the students were very impressed by the conservation initiatives undertaken by the Mackay Port Authority.

Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg.

“These young scientists are learning that it’s all about how you integrate the science with the community and the future,” he said.

“In terms of what is happening in Mackay, we all have to make decisions based on the ‘best’ information and from that point the science is playing a huge role, but all other aspects have to be considered.

“What is really good about this is that the eyes of the world are on Australia – things like the world heritage Great Barrier Reef, but at the same time it’s also trying to look at how you go about developing coastlines and at the same time not damaging those values.”

“I think that’s what has been fantastic about the visit.”

Prof Hoegh-Guldberg said students had been given the opportunity to look at a number of view points and look at a best practice approach.

“At the end of the day it has got to be a community decision as opposed to one lobby group over another.” he said.

Prof. Hoegh-Guldberg also praised the MPA over the development of the first stage of the Kommo Toera Trail.

The Kommo Toera (water-walk) Trail is a conservation initiate of the Mackay Port Authority that winds through part of the MPA’s western port lands.

A quarter of the port’s land already has been set aside for conservation.

“I love these developments because they give access to the community to a really unique eco-system where they can actually see the changes in vegetation as you go towards the salt marsh habitats – and it’s a great way to illustrate the link between land and sea,” he said.

“It’s the best educational tool. It is active learning. We can’t teach this in a lecture theatre.

“You have to go out and walk on these things – so this is the one of the many things we have seen today that will bring us back.”

The Stanford students have continued onto Townsville and Cairns and will spend about two weeks in the Port Douglas region before returning home.