QLD MINISTER for Natural Resources, Stephen Robertson, has extended the controversial moratorium on clearing endangered regrowth vegetation by a further three months.
Mr Robertson made the announcement following a meeting on Friday with peak rural and conservation groups that discussed the way forward for the long-term protection of Queensland's endangered regrowth vegetation.
"It became clear at the meeting that considering the number and complexity of submissions received and the diverse range of issues to be examined, the moratorium needed to be extended," Mr Robertson said.
"Under the Act I can make only one extension to the moratorium for a maximum of three months, from 7 July to 7 October 2009.
"We want to get this right and so I advised stakeholders today this extension will occur.
"Department of Environment and Resource Management staff are currently evaluating 363 submissions from the public and rural and conservation groups.
"Taking the extra time is necessary to ensure our consultation with stakeholder groups is thorough and we are able to establish workable solutions for the long term.
"I want to make sure that we give the balanced consideration required between the need for effective protection of high-value regrowth as well as the contribution that land managers currently make to sustainable management of the environment."
Mr Robertson said that recurring themes in the submission are issues about the regrowth mapping, the importance of recognising the contribution of current good land management practices, and the protection of high value regrowth regional ecosystems and vulnerable landscapes.
"We had a very productive meeting today, however it was clear there were a number of complex issues that we need to resolve. Further consultation will be held in coming weeks to ensure we get the long-term solution right, including any mapping that may be used," he said.
"We will use this time to develop a practical framework that will improve the protection of critical vegetation, and recognise existing sustainable land management practices."
Mr Robertson said he had advised stakeholders at today's meeting that he intended to progress reforms to streamline the administration of vegetation management laws and to release a Regulatory Impact Statement next week that proposes new fees for vegetation related applications.
"The proposed new fee structure will be more equitable and will not result in fee increases for applications for routine activities by rural landholders, like thinning, fodder harvesting, and fence construction," he said.
"The proposed changes will mainly affect applications related to complex assessments and large developments."
The moratorium legislation came into effect on April 8. It covers more than one million hectares of land, including all native vegetation within 50m of a watercourse in the priority reef catchments of the Mackay/Whitsunday, Burdekin and Wet Tropics catchments and endangered regrowth vegetation on freehold and leasehold land.
"The government is committed to providing adequate protection of high value regrowth ecosystems and vegetation that protects our reefs and recognises that the good land management practices adopted by many landholders need to be acknowledged," Mr Robertson said.
* Guides to help landholders better understand the moratorium are available on the DERM website at www.nrw.qld.gov.au/vegetation/reg rowth_moratorium.html
* Landholders wanting more information can log onto the department's website at www.derm.qld.gov.au or phone 13 13 04.
Email a friend