The people of Western Queensland have had a chance to shape and mould the proposed Wild Rivers Legislation to recognise floodplains as a unique management area. As a result of a community advocacy process driven by key stakeholder groups, the state government has listened to suggestions that large areas of floodplains designated as High Preservation Areas would not be desirable. However, high impact future developments such as mining or large scale irrigation could have adverse consequences on impeding the flow of water in vast floodplain areas. So what is the proposed solution?
A new type of Wild River management area has been proposed, known as Special Floodplain Management Areas. A less restrictive regulatory framework will apply to these designated areas in the Queensland portion of the Lake Eyre Basin. These areas will cover an extensive area, however will have less restrictions than a high preservation area.
"The people of Western Queensland have had a chance to shape and mould the proposed Wild Rivers Legislation to recognise floodplains as a unique management area".
ReplyDeleteThe DERM seems to have abandoned it's consultation process with affected people, due rain early in 2010.
They may have consulted with your unrepresentative(of LEB inhabitants) organisation, along with TWS etc.
I have heard of people being actively barred from bringing up points at the few meetings that have been held.
The process is not/has not been consultative in any way shape or form.
You don't have to live with the consequences of this push(whatever they may be), as you live outside the basin.
I'll choose to remain anon at this stage.
Cheers(not).