Lake Eyre Basin Stakeholders reach common ground on Wild Rivers Legislation

Media Release
The Wilderness Society (Qld) Inc
June 1st, 2010

In a show of community strength and participation, major stakeholder groups with interests in Queensland's Lake Eyre Basin catchment region met at a ground-breaking forum and reached consensus on a number of key issues relating to the Queensland State Government's Wild Rivers legislation.

In a communiqué submitted to the Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, the Hon Stephen Robertson, the stakeholder groups have outlined their concerns and solutions on matters as diverse as mining, irrigation, vegetation management and local government access to water, sand and gravel.

The communiqué was drafted at a forum held on May 4 in Longreach, hosted by the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD).

RAPAD is a regional organisation of councils covering the seven local government areas of Queensland's remote Central Western Queensland Lake Eyre Basin catchment region. Cr Ed Warren, Chairman of RAPAD and Mayor of the Winton Shire Council said that while there are mixed feelings amongst stakeholders on the need for the Wild Rivers legislation, the approach RAPAD facilitated was a pragmatic one.

"What we have done is to initiate a consultative and consensus driven process relating to this proposed legislation, with the result being a lot of agreement on many issues," said Cr Warren.

"We don’t want to just have a say in this legislation; we want to influence it in the most positive direction we can. There is a strong desire within the forum for the permanent protection of the rivers of Queensland's Lake Eyre Basin. Mining and irrigation are some of the greatest threats our region could face and there is genuine concern from within our region that either of these issues, without appropriate controls, could seriously affect the Lake Eyre Basins unique characteristics."

"The forum agreed that existing vegetation management practices should persist. Additionally, access to water for community and business growth is paramount as well as access to sand and gravel for not only local governments use but also the private sector," said Cr Warren.

"Ultimately, it should be recognised that the good condition of the rivers of the Queensland Lake Eyre Basin is down to the management and unique knowledge of past and current landholders," added Cr Warren.

Cr Warren said the stakeholder forum was attended by 8 Local Governments which between them cover approximately 25% of Queensland’s land mass; AgForce, Desert Channels Qld, the Coopers Creek and Georgina Diamantina Catchment Committees, the Aboriginal Advisory Group representing the thirteen indigenous groups of the Lake Eyre Basin region, and the Western Rivers Alliance representing the Pew Environment Group Australia, Wilderness Society Qld, Coopers Creek Protection Group, and the Australian Floodplain Association.