Media release
12 August 2011
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke,
and Queensland Minister for Environment
Vicky Darling today announced the release
of the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality
Protection Plan First Report Card.
This first Report Card
is based on 2008-09 data and establishes
the baseline for future reports. Progress
made towards the Reef Water Quality Protection
Plan (Reef Plan) – a joint agreement between
the State and Commonwealth to coordinate
actions that reduce runoff of sediment,
fertilisers and pesticides from broad scale
agriculture which are impacting on the health
of the reef – will be reflected in future
reports, the first due in early 2012.
Federal Minister for
the Environment, Tony Burke, said the Report
Card was an important step to monitoring
the impact of runoff and sediment on the
reef.
"What we do on
the land has a real impact on the Great
Barrier Reef, with run off of sediment and
fertiliser causing damage to the Great Barrier
Reef lagoon," Mr Burke said.
"Many landholders
are working to improve land management practices
to reduce impacts on the Reef and the Gillard
Government is supporting them to make these
changes.
"The Gillard Government
is investing $200 million over five years
through the Caring for Our Country Reef
Rescue initiative, which provides grants
to farmers to adopt improved practices."
Queensland Minister
for the Environment, Vicky Darling, said
this first report, based on data from 2008-09,
showed why the Bligh Government had acted
with landmark legislation protecting the
reef.
"The Report Card
shows the Great Barrier Reef is in moderate
condition overall," Ms Darling said.
"The first report
card shows that 14 million tonnes of sediment
are washed into the Great Barrier Reef annually
as a result of human activity.
"The annual load
of dissolved nitrogen is 31,000 tonnes –
this means potentially millions of dollars
worth of fertiliser is being wasted.
"The Queensland
Government is investing $175 million over
five years to implement Reef Plan actions,
including $50 million to implement a Reef
Protection package of legislation, research,
extension and support.
"The reef is critical
to tourism and while 13 per cent was exposed
to the effects of Tropical Cyclone Yasi,
it's still very much open for business."
The First Report Card
was produced as part of the Paddock to Reef
program which is a collaboration involving
the Australian and Queensland Governments,
agricultural industry groups, regional natural
resource management bodies and research
organisations.
It represents a world-leading
approach to integrate data and information
on management practices, catchment condition,
pollutant loads and the health of the Great
Barrier Reef.
For more information
on the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan
and the First Report Card, visit www.reefplan.qld.gov.au
.
+ More
Sustainable development
for the Perth and Peel regions
Media release
18 August 2011
The Australian and Western Australian governments
have agreed on a process to provide long-term
certainty and cut red tape in the Perth
and Peel regions, Environment and Communities
Minister Tony Burke announced today.
“This strategic assessment of the Swan Coastal
Plain under national environment law will
enable sustainable communities to accommodate
Perth’s growing population, while safeguarding
our environment,” Mr Burke said.
“Once the Strategic Assessment is complete
business will no longer have to go through
a year long process to conduct an Environmental
Impact Statement.
“The strategic assessment effectively establishes
an environmental docking station that developers
can plug directly into without having to
start the approval process from scratch
each time.
“Making sure that development is well planned,
well designed, and in the right place offers
great benefits to both the environment and
the community.
“This agreement will enable both governments
to map out long-term development, and conservation
and heritage priorities in the Perth and
Peel regions.
“It will identify areas suitable for future
development, and secure those needing protection
for their environmental and heritage values.”
No further federal assessment will be needed
for individual projects once the Western
Australian Government’s plan for the metropolitan
region is assessed and endorsed under national
environment law, provided the projects are
done in accordance with the endorsed plan.
“This process will reduce
red tape, and provide long-term certainty
to the community and developers for sustainable
urban development and improved housing supply.
“This is a sensible and flexible approach
to urban planning. It’s a logical way of
balancing the development needs of a growing
city with environmental protection.”
Mr Burke said the Gillard Government had
also committed $29.2 million which would
support strategic assessments of seven growth
and coastal regions.
“The Sustainable Regional Development initiative
will continue to improve environmental outcomes
while also giving certainty to state and
local governments and the private sector
to invest in housing, infrastructure and
resource development.”
