Have your say on new Wet Tropics water plan

The Palaszczuk Government is inviting people to have their say on the proposed new Wet Tropics water plan in far North Queensland.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said the draft Wet Tropics Resource Operations Plan was another example of how the Palaszczuk Government was committed to community consultation and developing the north.

“The Palaszczuk Government made an election commitment to be a consultative government that listened and the public forums to discuss this plan are one of the ways we are continuing to deliver on that commitment,” Dr Lynham said. 

“We also committed to sustainably developing the north and these proposals are aimed at supporting farmers and urban growth, as well as the rights of existing users and the natural environment.

“Importantly, the plan aims to establish 199 tradeable water allocations totalling more than 112,000 megalitres.

“These tradeable amounts of water allow users of different sizes to access the right amount of water for their activities.”

The Wet Tropics plan area covers approximately 19,920 square kilometres and consists of a number of important river catchments, including the Daintree, Mossman, Mulgrave–Russell, Johnstone, Tully, Murray and Herbert river catchments.

While Cairns is the major regional centre in the Wet Tropics, the proposed plan area also covers the Hinchinbrook, Cassowary Coast, Tablelands, Yarrabah and Wujal Wujal local government areas.

Member for Cairns Rob Pyne said the new plan would also support the local economy and ensure a new measurable approach to water management in Cairns.

“These proposed changes will support a diverse range of agricultural industries including bananas, sugarcane, grazing and dairy production,” Mr Pyne said.

“The proposed plan will enable the release of unallocated strategic and general reserve water for future development, including a process to secure alternative water supplies for urban use to Cairns Regional Council.

“These proposed science-based changes will protect the Wet Tropics environment while also allowing future growth.

“Proposals in the draft plan will also help protect the reef by ensuring that vital fresh water for fish spawning flows into the reef’s lagoon,” Mr Pyne said.

For more information:

• visit dnrm.qld.gov.au and use the I’m looking for panel  
• email WRTWetTropics@dnrm.qld.gov.au
• call 1800 232 454

Submissions can be made until 5pm on 24 December 2015.

Public information sessions will be held at:

EDS: Please visit the DNRM media centre to download images for print and online publications.

[ENDS]                      13 November 2011

Media contact:           Jan Martin       3719 7370       0439 341 314