Cape Regional Plan advances

The Newman Government has taken the next concrete step in delivering the Cape York Regional Plan.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney today met with Cape York Mayors, key industry and community stakeholders and fellow Ministers to discuss issues to be addressed in the preparation of the draft regional plan.

Mr Seeney said the government would pave the way for economic development on the Cape and was determined that local communities would have an economic future.

“We want to see communities benefit from the region’s agricultural, mining and tourism activities and their ongoing development,” he said.

“Through a regional plan, the State Government is seeking to balance appropriate economic development with the protection of the Cape’s environment.

“That is why the State Government has taken this course of establishing new statutory regional plans to set the future direction for our regions, which will provide a sound strategic approach to respond to regional economic and land use challenges.”

Mr Seeney said the draft regional plan was expected to be completed later this year.

It will then go out for formal consultation for approximately twelve weeks, with the final plan set for release in 2014.

“This plan will create land use certainty to facilitate economic development in those areas suitable for appropriate agricultural and tourism developments, as well as resource extraction activities, while providing for environmental protection of sensitive areas on the Cape,” he said.

“As part of the regional planning process, the appropriate manner to replace the land use aspects of the Wild River Area declarations previously made on the Cape will be put into place.”

“Collectively, we can bring about change to provide greater opportunities for development for the region’s communities and businesses.”

[ENDS] 23 April 2013

Media Contact: John Wiseman 0409 791 281 or Kate Haddan 0418 373 516