Published Friday, 01 June, 2007 at 06:15 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
INVESTING IN HEALTHY WATERWAYS
The Queensland Government is investing $20 million over the next four years on new initiatives to improve water quality in South-east Queensland, Premier Peter Beattie said today.
Mr Beattie said the funding would focus on practical projects to reduce rural and urban pollution, restore degraded waterways, and improve waterway health into the future.
“This will help redress the decline in water quality, reverse the rising trend of pollution reaching our waterways, and combat the predicted increase in pollution that accompanies urban expansion.
“We need to act now to help ensure that the South-east Queensland economy and lifestyle is not affected by declining water quality,” Mr Beattie said.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh said the $20 million investment is the Queensland Government’s contribution to the South-east Queensland Healthy Waterways Strategy 2007-2012.
Ms Bligh said the budget commitment would fund new initiatives such as practical waterway restoration projects in high-risk catchments like the Lockyer River.
“The Lockyer project will include experts working with landowners to address the key causes of pollution,” Ms Bligh said.
“They will work to stabilise erosion from stream banks, gullies, and hill-slopes, and restore riparian vegetation and wetlands.
“Other high-risk catchments that contribute the majority of sediment and nutrient loads to Moreton Bay, such as the Bremer and Logan Rivers, will also be the focus for investment in soil erosion control, restoration of degraded waterways and sustainable land use practices.”
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said South-east Queensland could score much better on our Ecosystem Health Report Card.
“Last year’s report card showed a number of water sites in South-east Queensland were in poor condition, or had failed to meet an acceptable standard,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“This is a big concern, particularly when factoring in the impacts of population growth, with South-east Queensland’s population of 2.8 million predicted to reach the 4 million figure over the next 20 years.
“In urban areas of South-east Queensland we are looking at reducing sediment loads from land-clearing.
“This commitment is in addition to the significant ongoing State commitments to upgrading waste treatment and water reuse facilities that have water quality benefits to the region.”
“It is anticipated the State's investment will also leverage investments from local governments through the existing healthy waterways partnership in South East Queensland.
The investment complements the SEQ Regional Water Supply Strategy, State Infrastructure Plan and Program and the SEQ Regional Natural Resource Management Plan.
Media inquiries: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Treasurer’s office: 3224 6900
Environment Minister’s office: 3336 7468
1 June 2007
Mr Beattie said the funding would focus on practical projects to reduce rural and urban pollution, restore degraded waterways, and improve waterway health into the future.
“This will help redress the decline in water quality, reverse the rising trend of pollution reaching our waterways, and combat the predicted increase in pollution that accompanies urban expansion.
“We need to act now to help ensure that the South-east Queensland economy and lifestyle is not affected by declining water quality,” Mr Beattie said.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh said the $20 million investment is the Queensland Government’s contribution to the South-east Queensland Healthy Waterways Strategy 2007-2012.
Ms Bligh said the budget commitment would fund new initiatives such as practical waterway restoration projects in high-risk catchments like the Lockyer River.
“The Lockyer project will include experts working with landowners to address the key causes of pollution,” Ms Bligh said.
“They will work to stabilise erosion from stream banks, gullies, and hill-slopes, and restore riparian vegetation and wetlands.
“Other high-risk catchments that contribute the majority of sediment and nutrient loads to Moreton Bay, such as the Bremer and Logan Rivers, will also be the focus for investment in soil erosion control, restoration of degraded waterways and sustainable land use practices.”
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said South-east Queensland could score much better on our Ecosystem Health Report Card.
“Last year’s report card showed a number of water sites in South-east Queensland were in poor condition, or had failed to meet an acceptable standard,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“This is a big concern, particularly when factoring in the impacts of population growth, with South-east Queensland’s population of 2.8 million predicted to reach the 4 million figure over the next 20 years.
“In urban areas of South-east Queensland we are looking at reducing sediment loads from land-clearing.
“This commitment is in addition to the significant ongoing State commitments to upgrading waste treatment and water reuse facilities that have water quality benefits to the region.”
“It is anticipated the State's investment will also leverage investments from local governments through the existing healthy waterways partnership in South East Queensland.
The investment complements the SEQ Regional Water Supply Strategy, State Infrastructure Plan and Program and the SEQ Regional Natural Resource Management Plan.
Media inquiries: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Treasurer’s office: 3224 6900
Environment Minister’s office: 3336 7468
1 June 2007