A case for Queensland wetlands law reform
Wetlands in Queensland are under threat from development, water extraction and infrastructure, invasive species, climate change and declining water quality. Yet these kidneys of the ecosystem are vital to water cycles and biodiversity, and Queensland has a special responsibility to protect and manage the 39 types of wetlands we have.
Queensland's obligations under the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan and the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) Two require the government to develop laws to protect and manage our wetlands. Current legislation is considered inadequate to provide effective protection and a comprehensive statutory approach is long overdue given the limited success of voluntary initiatives.
WWF-Australia recommends that Queensland government develop an Environmental Protection Policy ("EPP") for wetlands under the Environmental Protection Act that is linked into the Integrated Planning Act. The EPP would prohibit high risk activities in and around wetlands and regulate those activities in a larger buffer zone. The EPP must apply to all new and existing activities which may adversely impact on all types of wetlands in all of Queensland's catchments.
WWF also recommends that Queensland government make other legislative changes to existing laws to supplement and support the protection given to wetlands by an EPP.
This is a summary of a report commissioned by WWF and written by the Queensland Environmental Defenders Office.
