Members of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland's (WPSQ) northern branches have called for more action on coastal conservation from government and the community as a whole.
At its annual meeting on 12-14 June, the members of the northern branches passed a series of resolutions to show their concern for the future of Queensland's coastal environments.
Among a raft of resolutions, six key points voiced a need for broad support for coastal biodiversity and referred to specific developments that impact on coastal habitats.
The resolutions are summarised below:
- The Queensland government should pass a State Coastal Protection Act to build on the Coastal Management Plan (similar to the Californian Coastal Protection Act).
- The Queensland government should complete stream order mapping at a finer scale for all watercourses with defined banks that carry water at any time.
- Opposition to all inappropriate coastal development, in particular the proposed Stage 2 Port Hinchinbrook and Muddy Bay and the eastern end of the main street at Airlie Beach:
- The proposal will destroy important marine and intertidal habitat including seagrass beds that are used by dugong.
- The floating marina project for Shute Harbour is a more sustainable proposal.
- WPSQ should restate its opposition to canal development in principle, including the 'lake' in the Stage 2 Port Hinchinbrook proposal.
- WPSQ should lobby the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) to continue work on water quality and coastal development.
- WPSQ should lobby government ministers and opposition spokespeople for the environment to reinstate support and funding for the Reef and Rainforest cooperative research councils.
WPSQ's Northern Queensland Branches are:
For more information about the poultry shed grant scheme and other activities, contact Wildlife Queensland by email or call +61 7 3221 0194.
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