All voices being heard on Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning
Published Tuesday, 21 August, 2007 at 02:20 PM
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said today that the Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning review process would leave plenty of fishing spots for everyone.
Ms Nelson-Carr today reiterated that no final decision had been made on rezoning Moreton Bay Marine Park and reaffirmed that consultation was ongoing.
“I have made it clear from the outset that this process will be a consultative one, and I am very concerned that needless scaremongering from certain groups is instilling unnecessary fear within the fishing community.
“When I announced the marine park zoning plan review in February this year, I said that we would be seeking advice from scientists, user groups and the local community before we started to put lines on maps and that is exactly what we have been doing.
“The government has no intention to close down recreational fishing in Moreton Bay by 2015 as claimed by some groups. Families will still be able to wet a line at their favourite fishing spots.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said stakeholder groups had been in ongoing discussions with the EPA and a website survey designed to highlight where people go, what they do, why they go there and what issues they have with the site has attracted literally thousands of responses.
“The EPA is still only in stage 1 of the Review process which is collecting information and data to feed into the development of a draft zoning plan for Moreton Bay Marine Park.
“Feedback from the web survey and industry groups will be taken until later this year when the draft zoning plan and map are released for public comment. The formal consultation phases for the draft plan will then last for at least two months.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said maps being circulated in the media recently simply reflected different areas of interest within Moreton Bay that have met some of the guidelines provided by the Expert Advisory Panel and were not a draft plan.
“These areas of interest have been provided to stakeholder groups to assist them provide information to EPA staff to help minimise impacts on users when developing a draft zoning plan later this year.
“I stress that not all sites of interest will become ‘no-take’ areas.”
“This review is about achieving sustainability – for our marine environment, our lifestyles and our livelihoods and I urge anyone interested in the future of the Moreton Bay Marine Park to get involved in the process.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said by working with stakeholders and gathering information the government aims to produce a draft zoning plan that minimises impacts on user groups and protects the unique values of Moreton Bay Marine Park for everyone to enjoy.
For more information or to provide feedback on the zoning review visit: www.epa.qld.gov.au/mbmp/feedback.php
Media Contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004
Ms Nelson-Carr today reiterated that no final decision had been made on rezoning Moreton Bay Marine Park and reaffirmed that consultation was ongoing.
“I have made it clear from the outset that this process will be a consultative one, and I am very concerned that needless scaremongering from certain groups is instilling unnecessary fear within the fishing community.
“When I announced the marine park zoning plan review in February this year, I said that we would be seeking advice from scientists, user groups and the local community before we started to put lines on maps and that is exactly what we have been doing.
“The government has no intention to close down recreational fishing in Moreton Bay by 2015 as claimed by some groups. Families will still be able to wet a line at their favourite fishing spots.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said stakeholder groups had been in ongoing discussions with the EPA and a website survey designed to highlight where people go, what they do, why they go there and what issues they have with the site has attracted literally thousands of responses.
“The EPA is still only in stage 1 of the Review process which is collecting information and data to feed into the development of a draft zoning plan for Moreton Bay Marine Park.
“Feedback from the web survey and industry groups will be taken until later this year when the draft zoning plan and map are released for public comment. The formal consultation phases for the draft plan will then last for at least two months.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said maps being circulated in the media recently simply reflected different areas of interest within Moreton Bay that have met some of the guidelines provided by the Expert Advisory Panel and were not a draft plan.
“These areas of interest have been provided to stakeholder groups to assist them provide information to EPA staff to help minimise impacts on users when developing a draft zoning plan later this year.
“I stress that not all sites of interest will become ‘no-take’ areas.”
“This review is about achieving sustainability – for our marine environment, our lifestyles and our livelihoods and I urge anyone interested in the future of the Moreton Bay Marine Park to get involved in the process.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said by working with stakeholders and gathering information the government aims to produce a draft zoning plan that minimises impacts on user groups and protects the unique values of Moreton Bay Marine Park for everyone to enjoy.
For more information or to provide feedback on the zoning review visit: www.epa.qld.gov.au/mbmp/feedback.php
Media Contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004