WIN-WIN ON CURTIS ISLAND
Published Friday, 01 August, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
The Queensland Government has listened to community concerns and declared the vast majority of Curtis Island near Gladstone off-limits to industry.
Deputy Premier Paul Lucas today accepted the Coordinator–General’s recommendation that the Gladstone State Development Area extension go ahead, with 75 per cent of the land set aside as an environmental management precinct.
“Today’s decision safeguards the land most suitable for LNG activities, protects prime parts of the island for conservation and provides natural buffers from industry for South End residents,” Mr Lucas said.
“We have listened to the real concern voiced by the community and 4592 hectares of the State Development Area will be off limits to industry.
“That’s an area double the size of Gladstone’s urban areas that is now locked away and protected for good.
“The Coordinator-General will work with the Environmental Protection Agency, Gladstone Regional Council and community groups to study the best way forward for this environmental management precinct.
“Consideration will be given to rehabilitation of any degraded land, protection of areas of high ecological value and any other use, such as walking trails, that would be compatible.
“An important 290 hectare nature reserve and turtle hatchery on the east coast of Curtis Island has also been removed from the State Development Area and remains under EPA management.”
Only 1563 hectares, or around 25 per cent, of the State Development Area extension can be used for industry.
“This extension of the State Development Area is vital with $17 billion worth of potential Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects on the table for Gladstone and likely long-term benefits to the Queensland economy of $9 billion,” said Mr Lucas.
“To give more certainty to the local community we’ve amended the development scheme to specify that the only industry allowed on Curtis Island will be LNG and export wharf facilities.
“It is expected LNG companies will also have to include buffer areas within the industry precinct.”
Coordinator-General Colin Jensen said a decision to extend the SDA by 6345 hectares to include Kangaroo Island and the southern part of Curtis Island below Graham Creek was not taken lightly.
“The time to act is now to safeguard this strategic land for a major new industry using our coal seam gas reserves and to avoid incompatible future land uses,” said Mr Jensen.
“I proposed this extension because the area is a vital industrial and community asset and because nearly all the land is currently a grazing lease.
“We want to insulate Curtis Island from future population pressures by investigating an industry-only bridge and infrastructure corridor from the mainland.
“It does not rule out the possibility of a future Kangaroo Island airport as has previously been proposed by the council.”
The new part of the Gladstone SDA has been divided into three precincts.
The environmental management precinct will extend from east of the main ridgeline on Curtis Island to areas of high ecological significance and those closest to the community of South End.
The Curtis Island Industry Precinct of 1563 hectares on the south-west side of Curtis Island will cater for LNG processing operations and export wharf facilities.
A restricted development precinct will apply to Kangaroo Island’s 190 hectares to allow for potential transport or infrastructure corridors and to retain open space for vegetation and wildlife.
The declaration allows the Coordinator-General to assume planning approvals and develop a coordinated whole-of-government approach for the area.
Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868, Matt Klar 0437 435 223
Deputy Premier Paul Lucas today accepted the Coordinator–General’s recommendation that the Gladstone State Development Area extension go ahead, with 75 per cent of the land set aside as an environmental management precinct.
“Today’s decision safeguards the land most suitable for LNG activities, protects prime parts of the island for conservation and provides natural buffers from industry for South End residents,” Mr Lucas said.
“We have listened to the real concern voiced by the community and 4592 hectares of the State Development Area will be off limits to industry.
“That’s an area double the size of Gladstone’s urban areas that is now locked away and protected for good.
“The Coordinator-General will work with the Environmental Protection Agency, Gladstone Regional Council and community groups to study the best way forward for this environmental management precinct.
“Consideration will be given to rehabilitation of any degraded land, protection of areas of high ecological value and any other use, such as walking trails, that would be compatible.
“An important 290 hectare nature reserve and turtle hatchery on the east coast of Curtis Island has also been removed from the State Development Area and remains under EPA management.”
Only 1563 hectares, or around 25 per cent, of the State Development Area extension can be used for industry.
“This extension of the State Development Area is vital with $17 billion worth of potential Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects on the table for Gladstone and likely long-term benefits to the Queensland economy of $9 billion,” said Mr Lucas.
“To give more certainty to the local community we’ve amended the development scheme to specify that the only industry allowed on Curtis Island will be LNG and export wharf facilities.
“It is expected LNG companies will also have to include buffer areas within the industry precinct.”
Coordinator-General Colin Jensen said a decision to extend the SDA by 6345 hectares to include Kangaroo Island and the southern part of Curtis Island below Graham Creek was not taken lightly.
“The time to act is now to safeguard this strategic land for a major new industry using our coal seam gas reserves and to avoid incompatible future land uses,” said Mr Jensen.
“I proposed this extension because the area is a vital industrial and community asset and because nearly all the land is currently a grazing lease.
“We want to insulate Curtis Island from future population pressures by investigating an industry-only bridge and infrastructure corridor from the mainland.
“It does not rule out the possibility of a future Kangaroo Island airport as has previously been proposed by the council.”
The new part of the Gladstone SDA has been divided into three precincts.
The environmental management precinct will extend from east of the main ridgeline on Curtis Island to areas of high ecological significance and those closest to the community of South End.
The Curtis Island Industry Precinct of 1563 hectares on the south-west side of Curtis Island will cater for LNG processing operations and export wharf facilities.
A restricted development precinct will apply to Kangaroo Island’s 190 hectares to allow for potential transport or infrastructure corridors and to retain open space for vegetation and wildlife.
The declaration allows the Coordinator-General to assume planning approvals and develop a coordinated whole-of-government approach for the area.
Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868, Matt Klar 0437 435 223