BIAQnews
01-09-2006, 09:24 AM
BOATING INDUSTRY CALLS FOR BIPARTISAN
POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR MORETON BAY PLAN
The Boating Industry Association of Queensland has called for bipartisan support from all political parties for a six-point plan to ensure future marine park rezonings in Moreton Bay consider social and economic impacts, along with the environmental aspects.
Speaking at the official opening of the Brisbane International Boat Show, BIAQ President, Barry Jenkins, said the boating industry would oppose any rezoning of Moreton Bay that unfairly locked the public out of their traditional boating and fishing grounds.
Mr Jenkins warned if a zoning process used on the Great Barrier Reef in 2004 was transposed to Moreton Bay, it would be a disaster for the fishing public of south east Queensland and catastrophic for the economy of the bayside communities of Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
“The North Queensland rezoning impacted negatively on 600 businesses, cut marine industry turnover by 40 per cent and caused financial trauma, legal disputes, marriage breakdown, reduction in school enrolments, mental anguish and local unemployment,” Mr Jenkins said.
“GBRMPA’s initial industry restructuring estimates of $1.5 million - now expected to cost taxpayers $200 million - is proof governments can get it seriously wrong.”
He said the North Queensland experience made the BIAQ wary of the proposed rezoning of Moreton Bay by the State Government in 2007/08.
“BIAQ has no problem with a strategy that looks at the long term health and well being of Moreton Bay. In fact, we strongly encourage such a move,” he said.
“But simply drawing lines on a map and excluding human activity is nothing more than Band-Aid treatment, while other serious problems, such as pollution of rivers and storm water run off, goes unchecked.
“The boating industry is pro-environment, with a proven track record that includes phasing out of plastic bags, clean marinas, low emission engines and on board treatment of sewage.
“So, if there are to be rezonings in the future, then this is a great opportunity for the government of the day to take a long hard look and get it right by creating a magnificent marine resource in Moreton Bay to be shared harmoniously by wildlife and the public for all time.
“We need to look at all the options such as the possibility of the boating industry contributing to the cost of permanent mooring buoys in sensitive parts of Moreton Bay. This would eliminate use of anchors and chains in seagrass or coral, allowing people to visit beautiful areas of the Bay without causing damage.”
The BIAQ proposes any future marine rezoning by any government should be based on:
scientific verification
full consultation with resource users
an economic impact study
public accountability
suitable resource allocation, and
appropriate penalties.
Mr Jenkins said the guidelines, which have been adopted by other state boating industry associations and, at a national level, by the Australian Marine Industries Federation, had been sent to Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Peter Beattie and all their relevant ministers as a suggested blueprint for the future.
POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR MORETON BAY PLAN
The Boating Industry Association of Queensland has called for bipartisan support from all political parties for a six-point plan to ensure future marine park rezonings in Moreton Bay consider social and economic impacts, along with the environmental aspects.
Speaking at the official opening of the Brisbane International Boat Show, BIAQ President, Barry Jenkins, said the boating industry would oppose any rezoning of Moreton Bay that unfairly locked the public out of their traditional boating and fishing grounds.
Mr Jenkins warned if a zoning process used on the Great Barrier Reef in 2004 was transposed to Moreton Bay, it would be a disaster for the fishing public of south east Queensland and catastrophic for the economy of the bayside communities of Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
“The North Queensland rezoning impacted negatively on 600 businesses, cut marine industry turnover by 40 per cent and caused financial trauma, legal disputes, marriage breakdown, reduction in school enrolments, mental anguish and local unemployment,” Mr Jenkins said.
“GBRMPA’s initial industry restructuring estimates of $1.5 million - now expected to cost taxpayers $200 million - is proof governments can get it seriously wrong.”
He said the North Queensland experience made the BIAQ wary of the proposed rezoning of Moreton Bay by the State Government in 2007/08.
“BIAQ has no problem with a strategy that looks at the long term health and well being of Moreton Bay. In fact, we strongly encourage such a move,” he said.
“But simply drawing lines on a map and excluding human activity is nothing more than Band-Aid treatment, while other serious problems, such as pollution of rivers and storm water run off, goes unchecked.
“The boating industry is pro-environment, with a proven track record that includes phasing out of plastic bags, clean marinas, low emission engines and on board treatment of sewage.
“So, if there are to be rezonings in the future, then this is a great opportunity for the government of the day to take a long hard look and get it right by creating a magnificent marine resource in Moreton Bay to be shared harmoniously by wildlife and the public for all time.
“We need to look at all the options such as the possibility of the boating industry contributing to the cost of permanent mooring buoys in sensitive parts of Moreton Bay. This would eliminate use of anchors and chains in seagrass or coral, allowing people to visit beautiful areas of the Bay without causing damage.”
The BIAQ proposes any future marine rezoning by any government should be based on:
scientific verification
full consultation with resource users
an economic impact study
public accountability
suitable resource allocation, and
appropriate penalties.
Mr Jenkins said the guidelines, which have been adopted by other state boating industry associations and, at a national level, by the Australian Marine Industries Federation, had been sent to Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Peter Beattie and all their relevant ministers as a suggested blueprint for the future.