Qld Govt to relax land clearing laws for food production, jobs
TANYA NOLAN: Conservationists say the Queensland Government's moves to relax land clearing laws will open up environmentally sensitive parts of the state to farming and mining.
The Liberal National Party says the changes will boost food production and deliver jobs in areas that have locked away for more than a decade.
But there's concern vulnerable areas like Cape York will be threatened in the process.
Stephanie Smail reports.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: Cape York's wide and pristine landscape is home to thousands of species of native plants and animals.
For more than a decade much of the region has been locked away from development under land clearing laws.
But the Liberal National Party says jobs and food production have become a priority in the region.
Jeff Seeney is Queensland's Deputy Premier.
JEFF SEENEY: These changes will enable the development of high value agricultural enterprises - things like mango orchards, farming operations of whatever sort - in what are relatively small areas on Cape York, and it will allow those operations to develop so there can be jobs in the agricultural sector for communities such as Kowanyama and Aurukun and Weipa and all of the communities throughout the north.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: Will native vegetation need to be cleared to start up those enterprises?
JEFF SEENEY: Yes, it is the nature of the landscape that the better soils that are suitable for agricultural production almost inevitably carry native vegetation, so these changes will make it possible for a community or a proponent to put forward a business case for the development of those better soils for agriculture.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: Mr Seeney says large-scale agricultural projects will be considered in the region too.
JEFF SEENEY: It's certainly possible for agriculture to develop in that area.
The land and water assets are there. It will depend on the investments that are needed to make agriculture possible.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: The Federal Government is working with indigenous communities and local councils to secure a World Heritage listing for parts of Cape York.
Andrew Piccone from the Australian Conservation Foundation says the Queensland Government's push to develop the region could complicate that process.
ANDREW PICCONE: It seems like the Queensland Government has a set agenda for economic development regardless of where it is across the state, and despite Cape York's significant natural and cultural heritage values, is keen to see economic development in that region despite a world heritage nomination.
So it does put some pressure on getting a nomination ready by this year.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: Andrew Piccone says he doubts clearing large tracts of land on Queensland's northern tip will have much economic benefit.
ANDREW PICCONE: Cape York's an interesting case because it hasn't really taken off as an economic hub for north Queensland in the past and the agricultural potential for the region, I think, is fairly marginal as it is.
So the areas which are suitable for agricultural development have largely been developed.
You've got areas around Lakeland which have teak plantations, banana plantations, other crops in that region.
We've got cattle found throughout a fair bit of Cape York but its capacity to deliver much more than it's currently delivering is quite limited.
TANYA NOLAN: That's Andrew Piccone from the Australian Conservation Foundation, ending Stephanie Smail's report.
