Conservation group welcomes commitment to protect Cooper Creek

The Wilderness Society (Queensland) Inc
Media Release
16 October 2009

The Wilderness Society welcomed today’s announcement by the Queensland Government of its intention to propose long term protection for the Cooper Creek and other Channel Country rivers.

Queensland Minister for Environment and Resource Management, Stephen Robertson, made the announcement Longreach today setting out a schedule for the long term protection of the Cooper Creek and Georgina and Diamantina Rivers. The Minister announced that a wild river declaration proposal for the Cooper Creek would be put out for public review in mid 2010, with similar proposals for the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers being released in 2011.

The Wilderness Society’s River Campaigner, Rupert Quinlan, said “the Cooper Creek and Georgina and Diamantina Rivers are an iconic part of the Queensland outback and their conservation values are of global significance. Their good condition is due to the stewardship of current and past landholders.”

“The Wilderness Society is committed to working closely with the local community to ensure that these rivers’ protection under the Wild Rivers Act is a win-win for these unique river systems for the local communities and which protect these rivers from the constant threats of irrigation and mining” said Mr Quinlan.

“Finally, I would also urge the Minister to once and for all rule out the release of any water for irrigation and rule out the activation of any remaining irrigation entitlements “concluded Mr Quinlan.