Myth of Northern 'food bowl' finally put to rest

The Wilderness Society (QLD) Inc
Joint Media Release with Environs Kimberley
8 February 2010

The Wilderness Society and Environs Kimberley today welcomed key elements of the new policy blueprint for future development in Northern Australia released by the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce.

In particular the groups welcomed the recognition that the mighty tropical rivers and vast woodland savannahs of northern Australia should not be turned into an ecological wasteland of cleared forests and ruined rivers in support of an ill advised attempt to turn northern Australia into Asia’s food bowl.

The groups also supported proposals to significantly increase protected areas in recognition of the globally significant conservation values of the north.

However the groups maintained opposition to proposals for ongoing land clearing and over-development in key river catchments and the proposed extraction of large volumes of groundwater for future development.

Spokesperson for The Wilderness Society Glenn Walker said the science review report by the CSIRO vindicated the Queensland Government’s groundbreaking Wild Rivers initiative.

“The science shows just how healthy and special the rivers of Cape York Peninsula are. It also shows that the region lacks reliable year-round water and appropriate soils for irrigated development, and effectively rules out this type of agriculture for Cape York Peninsula.

“This sort of disastrous development is precisely what the Wild Rivers legislation is designed to prevent. Opponents to Wild Rivers should look closely at this report and recognise that the future of Cape York Peninsula is in protecting and promoting its spectacular natural and cultural values”

Environs Kimberley Director, Martin Pritchard said: “Environs Kimberley and Traditional Owners successfully stopped the damming of the Fitzroy River for a 200,000 hectare cotton project in the '90's because it was unsustainable. This report shows that we must learn from the mistakes of the south like the Murray Darling Basin and that large scale clearing and water extraction is not appropriate for the north.
 
"We hope the WA Premier and the Prime Minister makes use of this report and helps us protect the Kimberley environment by implementing large conservation areas and supporting emerging economies like managing carbon and biodiversity for credit and employing Traditional Owners to look after country."