There is a review currently in place for the Lake Eyre Basin management plan.
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The Basin is shared across four states and territories but this review covers the Queensland section and was announced by Minister for the Environment Leeanne Enoch just before Christmas.
Ms Enoch said it was is essential to balance the long-term health of the rivers and floodplains, and the cultural, social and economic priorities of the region.
"The proposed framework will increase protections for streams and floodplains in the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin, since those protections were removed by the former LNP Government," Minister Enoch said.
Ms Enoch did not reveal how the framework would work but said it would increase protections for streams and floodplains in the Queensland section of the Basin.
Pastoralists and other stakeholders fear the move will lock up vast tracts of prime mining and agricultural land, stifling growth and economic opportunities in remote communities. They are also worried about the timing of the consultation during the holiday period and the limited details on offer.
The Queensland Lake Eyre Basin includes the Georgina, Diamantina and Cooper catchments so any changes to its management will affect western and north west Queensland.
A Department of Environment spokesperson told our sister paper, the Queensland Country Life, they had undertaken targeted consultation in 2018 and 2019 with First Nations groups, the scientific community, the conservation sector and local governments through the Remote Area Planning and Development Board.
However, Diamantina Shire Council Mayor and RAPAD director Geoff Morton said details about proposed changes were scant.
There is also no published discussion paper or facts about the consultation process and the government media release of December 19 gave no links to any website where people could find out more.
I'm all for the preservation of one of Queensland's greatest natural resources but the lack of detail about the plan is deeply concerning and the government needs to lift its game quickly. Derek Barry