Published Monday, 03 December, 2007 at 03:33 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Natural Resources and Water and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland
The Honourable Craig Wallace
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Rewards for rural landholders who improve State land: Premier
Hughenden: Farmers and graziers who lease State Government land will be able to get longer leases if they improve the condition of their land, under an innovative environment–focused land strategy affecting nearly 65% of Queensland, Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Ms Bligh was today joined by Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace, Australian Rainforest Conservation Society President Aila Keto and AgForce President Peter Kenny to sign the historic State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy at Greg and Bronwyn McNamara’s Delbessie, north of Hughenden.
“We are third behind China and Russia in the amount of State-owned land we have but we want to be first in looking after our land,” said Ms Bligh.
“Our progressive environment-focused strategy offers incentives that include allowing lease terms of 50, 40 and 30 years compared with the current maximum of 30 years.
“When renewing a lease, 40-year terms will be granted if lessees kept or returned their land to good condition.
“Fifty-year terms will be offered to lessees who also conserve high-value environmental areas and reach access agreements with local indigenous people.
“The strategy, which begins in January 2008, is a key State Government initiative under the Blueprint for the Bush plan and has us as a leader in the care of our land.
“This strategy is timely given over the next six years, 65% of the State’s leases will be eligible for renewal, providing an opportunity to rapidly implement the strategy across the State.
“The State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy will help protect the economic viability of Bush communities by providing more secure tenure for agriculture and grazing,” Ms Bligh said.
“The strategy rewards leaseholders who protect the natural resources and environmental values critical to their land’s long-term viability,” she said.
“This is a win-win-win for the landholder, the environment and the community
“It also will contribute to our efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change.”
The State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy was the product of an intensive consultation with the community and a partnership between the Queensland Government, Agforce Queensland and the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society.
State leasehold land covers about 63% of Queensland, with 99% of this land being used for grazing and agriculture, mostly in the State’s north and west.
Queensland has around 3000 leases affected by the Strategy, many in marginal areas with ecosystems susceptible to degradation.
Mr Wallace said the future of rural communities would be much brighter if grazing and agriculture were both more profitable and more sustainable.
“The strategy aims to support leaseholders to protect and enhance Queensland’s rural leasehold land,” he said.
Other strategy details are:
• A State Rural Leasehold Land Advisory Committee consisting of industry, technical and scientific experts will advise on standards for “good” condition that takes regional variability into account.
• An Indigenous use and access agreement can allow indigenous groups to pursue traditional activities – such as camping, hunting and gathering and performing ceremonies – on leased land.
• Leaseholders who wish to renew their lease can apply after 80% of the current term expires.
• The strategy assists lessees by more clearly defining their duty of care to the land and includes maintaining healthy pastures, managing pests and avoiding soil erosion.
• From January 2008, a land management agreement with the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) is required if renewing or converting a lease on rural leasehold land.
Mr Wallace said the Bligh Government had allocated $19 million to the State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy over four years. This funding includes research into land monitoring and sustainable land management practices.
“NRW officers will assist landowners to prepare land management agreements,” he said.
“Once agreements have been developed, NRW will again help by promoting more sustainable land management practices.
“The Bligh Government also will assist Agforce Queensland to establish an advisory service for landholders,” Mr Wallace said.
Media inquiries: Minister’s Office 3896 3689
Ms Bligh was today joined by Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace, Australian Rainforest Conservation Society President Aila Keto and AgForce President Peter Kenny to sign the historic State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy at Greg and Bronwyn McNamara’s Delbessie, north of Hughenden.
“We are third behind China and Russia in the amount of State-owned land we have but we want to be first in looking after our land,” said Ms Bligh.
“Our progressive environment-focused strategy offers incentives that include allowing lease terms of 50, 40 and 30 years compared with the current maximum of 30 years.
“When renewing a lease, 40-year terms will be granted if lessees kept or returned their land to good condition.
“Fifty-year terms will be offered to lessees who also conserve high-value environmental areas and reach access agreements with local indigenous people.
“The strategy, which begins in January 2008, is a key State Government initiative under the Blueprint for the Bush plan and has us as a leader in the care of our land.
“This strategy is timely given over the next six years, 65% of the State’s leases will be eligible for renewal, providing an opportunity to rapidly implement the strategy across the State.
“The State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy will help protect the economic viability of Bush communities by providing more secure tenure for agriculture and grazing,” Ms Bligh said.
“The strategy rewards leaseholders who protect the natural resources and environmental values critical to their land’s long-term viability,” she said.
“This is a win-win-win for the landholder, the environment and the community
“It also will contribute to our efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change.”
The State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy was the product of an intensive consultation with the community and a partnership between the Queensland Government, Agforce Queensland and the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society.
State leasehold land covers about 63% of Queensland, with 99% of this land being used for grazing and agriculture, mostly in the State’s north and west.
Queensland has around 3000 leases affected by the Strategy, many in marginal areas with ecosystems susceptible to degradation.
Mr Wallace said the future of rural communities would be much brighter if grazing and agriculture were both more profitable and more sustainable.
“The strategy aims to support leaseholders to protect and enhance Queensland’s rural leasehold land,” he said.
Other strategy details are:
• A State Rural Leasehold Land Advisory Committee consisting of industry, technical and scientific experts will advise on standards for “good” condition that takes regional variability into account.
• An Indigenous use and access agreement can allow indigenous groups to pursue traditional activities – such as camping, hunting and gathering and performing ceremonies – on leased land.
• Leaseholders who wish to renew their lease can apply after 80% of the current term expires.
• The strategy assists lessees by more clearly defining their duty of care to the land and includes maintaining healthy pastures, managing pests and avoiding soil erosion.
• From January 2008, a land management agreement with the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) is required if renewing or converting a lease on rural leasehold land.
Mr Wallace said the Bligh Government had allocated $19 million to the State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy over four years. This funding includes research into land monitoring and sustainable land management practices.
“NRW officers will assist landowners to prepare land management agreements,” he said.
“Once agreements have been developed, NRW will again help by promoting more sustainable land management practices.
“The Bligh Government also will assist Agforce Queensland to establish an advisory service for landholders,” Mr Wallace said.
Media inquiries: Minister’s Office 3896 3689