Massive Oil Slick

Left: Moreton Island.


These are some very handsome beaches. They've got to jump on this, and fast:

ANOTHER batch of spilled fuel oil is set to hit Queensland's already scarred beaches this weekend after the worst environmental disaster in the region's history.

Authorities yesterday admitted the oil spill was more than twice as large as initially thought and warned the worst might be yet to come.

Amid the political bickering, there were accusations the Filipino master of the MV Pacific Adventurer had lied about how much fuel was lost and that the response by the Government was too slow.

Fears are also held that 31 shipping containers missing off the coast could be floating time bombs for passing cargo ships, making for an even bigger disaster.

But Maritime Safety Queensland general manager John Watkinson yesterday said his main concern was that more oil broken up in the rough seas was yet to come ashore, which would produce a second wave of the damaging oil slick.

Up to 80 tonnes of oil has spread from the southern end of Moreton Island to its northwestern shore and on to Bribie Island and at least five Sunshine Coast beaches: Marcoola, Mudjimba, Buddina, Kawana and Wurtulla.

In some places, the sludge left on previously pristine beaches is 10cm deep.

Oil is also trapped in parts of Honeymoon Bay on Cape Moreton, one of the prettiest part of the island. Fears are held for wildlife, so far 13 oil-affected animals have been spotted.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said he was furious the ship's master had told authorities less oil was spilled than actually had occurred.

This put response crews in a difficult situation and caused the immediate scale of response to be less than required.

"If these (shipping) people have done the wrong thing, I want the book thrown at them in relation to misleading us," Mr Lucas said. "There's no place for people who don't secure cargo if that's what's happened in relation to the leaking of oil."