Wetlands and coastal protection needs greater priority from Queensland government
15 Aug 2006
WWF today called upon the Queensland Government to legally protect wetlands and develop a 20-year Sea Change Plan to help protect the Reef and the coastline - where nine out of the top ten growth areas are in Queensland.
A new WWF report released today shows efforts across Queensland to conserve wetlands are failing, with over 70% lost in some Reef catchments.
"Queensland needs to legally protect wetlands from being drained, filled in, over-grazed or polluted. New South Wales legislated 20 years ago to protect coastal wetlands. It's time Queensland did the same," said Richard Leck, WWF-Australia Marine and Coastal Policy Officer.
The report A Case for Queensland Wetlands Law Reform, produced by the Environmental Defenders Office, proposes a wetlands Environment Protection Policy to prohibit very damaging activities, such as draining.
"No wetlands means no Reef. Wetlands are the kidneys of rivers and filter out sediments and pollution being washed onto the Reef," Mr Leck said.
The Noosa-to-Port Douglas coast needs a Sea Change Plan, to manage rampant growth by implementing existing laws and coastal plans.
"We are loving the coast to death. Queenslanders want to live near the beach because its beautiful and low-stress. They don't want to be hemmed in by tourist resorts, factories, golf courses and six-lane highways.
"With the massive amounts of population growth in Queensland's coastal areas, the coastline is increasingly resembling suburban sprawl with little of the uncrowded vistas and natural features that make a trip to the beach so enjoyable," Mr Leck said.
"If we don't act now, we'll see the sprawl and unsustainable growth of southeast Queensland creep further and further north."
Find out more
Download a summary of the report.
Richard Leck, National Marine and Coastal Policy Officer, WWF-Australia
Phone: 07 3839 2849
Mobile: 0439 814 847
Email: rleck@wwf.org.au
Angela Heck, Press Office, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1268
Mobile: 0421 053 023
Email: aheck@wwf.org.au
