LIBERALS SELL OUT WILD RIVERS

Minister for Natural Resources and Water, Craig Wallace, expressed his disappointment in Bruce Flegg after the Liberals voted against the declaration of the first six WildRivers and supporting Codes in Parliament today.

“I want to know what’s happened to Mr Flegg’s and the Liberals previous support of the Queensland Government’s Wild Rivers Act.

They have given away any pretence of being a progressive Conservative party during the debate on these declarations Mr Flegg and the Liberals caved in and sided with the Nationals and voted against the environment.

Six pristine or near pristine Queensland rivers were today protected for future generations when the Queensland Parliament passed the Wild Rivers and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2007.

“Minister Wallace said Settlement Creek, Morning Inlet, the GregoryRiver and StaatenRiver, in the Gulf, and Hinchinbrook and Fraser islands had been declared as the State’s first wild rivers.

“No other state has passed such comprehensive measures to preserve rivers that have most of their natural values intact,” he said.

“Declaring the State’s first wild rivers fulfils an important Beattie Government election commitment.”

Mr Wallace said extensive consultation with landholders, environmentalists, indigenous groups, miners and graziers had resulted in a balanced approach to the new wild rivers.

“While we are protecting these wild rivers we also are allowing local communities to continue to prosper,” he said.

One of the amendments passed today allows a landholder to prepare a new property development plan.

A wild river declaration then can be amended to be consistent with a property development plan after public consultation and formal submissions.

This will allow development that would otherwise not be permitted under a wild river declaration, provided it does not affect the wild river’s natural values.

Wild rivers declarations, made under the Act, control development activities. Details are:

·All new high-impact developments are prohibited within a buffer zone, called the High Preservation Area, in and near the wild river, its major tributaries and off-stream special features.

·Typical high-impact developments would include feedlots, mines, aquaculture facilities, crop areas, dams and stream diversions.

·However, these developments can occur outside the high preservation area subject to approvals with wild river conditions.

·Most new developments within urban areas can occur, even if they are within a High Preservation Area. This recognises the need for communities to grow and have essential services.

·High Preservation Areas typically cover around 10% of wild river catchments, leaving most of the area available for future development.

·New developments for essential linear infrastructure such as roads, rail, power lines and pipelines are permitted in the High Preservation Area subject to permits with wild rivers conditions attached.

·Clearing for fences, firebreaks, tracks, weed control and approved structures will be allowed in the High Preservation Area with a permit.

·Mining can occur under a High Preservation Area but not in it. Also low impact mineral exploration can occur in the area.

Mr Wallace said the Queensland Government had taken time to consult and fine tune the wild rivers legislation because it broke new ground in Australia.

The government first published notice of intent to declare six proposed wild rivers in December 2005.

Throughout 2006 exhaustive consultations were held with stakeholders.

The WildRivers and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2007 also declares the Wild Rivers Code, which is necessary for the wild rivers declarations.

The Act also sets out the process for amending the Wild Rivers Code.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.