Government goes backwards on Moreton Bay protection?

The dugongs of Moreton Bay need better
protection of the bay’s seagrass
meadows.
Photo AMCS/ C.Roelfsema

Wildlife Queensland, in alliance with other conservation groups, has denounced the proposed draft 2008 Moreton Bay Zoning Plan as a significant backward step on the 1989 draft plan put forward by the Queensland National Party, when key conservation values are considered.

During 1989, the Queensland National Party Government authorised the then Department of Environment and Conservation to seek commentary from the public and Moreton Bay user groups on the draft copy of the Moreton Bay Strategic Plan (1989). Proposals the National Party put forward then go further in protecting high conservation value areas than the current Australian Labor Party State Government is proposing in 2008 for the same area.

The 1989 Moreton Bay Plan stated:

High Priority Conservation Areas – are conservation areas of significant conservation value deserving of every effort for their protection. Remnant mangrove wetlands, mudflats, bait collection areas, seagrass beds, wading bird and fish habitats, dugong grazing areas.

Simon Baltais, speaking on behalf of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Bayside Branch, said, ‘It is a shame that while the 1989 plan clearly aimed to protect many of Moreton Bay’s high conservation values, the proposed 2008 plan leaves much of them out.’

In 1990, the Moreton Bay Review Team stated, ‘…the key to the management of the Bay lies in the maintenance of key ecological processes.’

The position of Wildlife Queensland and its allies in this campaign is that important dugong and turtle habitat and coral reefs were all identified in 1989 as high priority conservation areas. The 2008 plan gives very little protection to key dugong and turtle habitat on places like the Eastern Banks.

Mr. Baltais added, ‘While the 1989 plan is far from perfect, given it was developed in the age of coral extraction and the white shoe brigade, it blitzes the 2008 plan with respect to protection of key habitat. The rezoned Moreton Bay Marine Park needs to achieve comprehensive, representative and adequate coverage of marine areas.

WPSQ in action

Wildlife Queensland is campaigning, among
other improvements, for increased green zones
in the Environment Protection Agency’s draft
zoning plan for Moreton Bay Marine Park, part
of a 10-year review cycle.

In its submission to the review, WPSQ
supported the expansion of go-slow zones,
conservation zones and National Park zones
in Moreton Bay but criticised the expansions
as being too limited. National Park zones were
only boosted to 15% of total whereas
international standards consider 30% of total
as a minimum. Among other issues, WPSQ was
also concerned that too much fishing activity
would be allowed in conservation zones and
that enforcement would be inadequate in many
limited activity areas.

The alliance is campaigning for the following outcomes:

Coral communities need better protection including deep water and relic reef sites.
Dugongs need additional go-slow areas and better protection for areas where they are active.
Shark populations need green zones to protect them from fishing activity.
Sea grass areas need better protection.
Turtle populations require safe havens secure from boat strikes.
Migratory wader birds need better protection for feeding and roosting sites.

Read more about Wildlife Queensland and Moreton Bay

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, contact us by email or call +61 7 3221 0194