| Candidate | Q 1. Urban Development
Remaining habitat and natural
areas in our region continue to be lost to expanding urban development. The
Integrated Planning Act (IPA) has ecologically sustainable development as its
core objective.
a. Do you believe the IPA is
delivering ecologically sustainable development in our region? |
Steve Wettenhall
| The
Bligh Government is committed to providing the necessary protection of
unique landscapes and environmental values across Queensland and
recognises that regional planning plays a key role in helping
Queensland communities meet the challenges associated with rapid
growth, population change and the increasing demand for public services
at a local level.
The Queensland Government commences implementing
a strategy to accerate regional planning in regional and rural
Queensland. This was supported through an accerlerated regional
planning programm following a three point plan:
- developing and implementing a consistent and contemporary framework for effective regional planning across Queensland
- accelerating implementation of the existing regional plans
- delivering regional plans in rural Queensland
The
Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA) provides a framework for
coordinating and integrating planning at the regional level to seek
ecological sustainability.
This commitment to sustainable
development is demonstrated in the recently released Far North
Queensland (FNQ) Regional Plan 1009-1031. Under the FNQ Regional Plan,
99.4% of the region is off limits to urban development. By constraining
development to less than 1% of the Far North, this Government provides
a guarantee to communities that population growth does not mean loss of
ecological areas within the region, nor does it mean that unique
characteristics or the region are compromised. The FNQ region has two
world heritage listed areas, which the FNQ REgional Plan supports and
protects.
Lawrence Springborg and the Nationals have said they
will throw out the FNQ Regional Plan and start again with community
consultation. Lawrence Springborg's Shadow Minister for Natural
REsources Andrew Cripps has said he doesn't support the FNQ REgional
Plan because of the restrictions it imposes on rural subdivisons. This
is a clear signal that the LNP will remove the strong environmental
protections included in the plan. Just as the Nationals do not support
stronger protections to protect the Reef from run-off, the Nationals do
not support the stronger environmental protections for the Far North
contained in the FNQ Regional Plan. |
| Wendy Richardson |
|
| Sarah Isaacs | No |
|
b. What do you consider to be key
aspects of IPA that need reform? |
| Steve Wettenhall | One of the first actions of the Bligh Government was to establish the Department for Infrastructure and Planning.
This is a clear indicaton of this Government's commitment to properly
integrated infrastructure planning and land use planning that delivers
sustainable and well-planned communities with social infrastructure,
public transport, parks and communities facilities.
As part of
this commitment, the Bligh Government has begun a major review and
reform of Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA). This reform program,
titled "Planning for a prosperous Queensland" was launched in August
2007 and includes the processes and policies that guide how development
applications are assessed.
The planning reform is much more than
just changing legislation. It is about changing the way planning is
undertaken. We will ensure that there is a greater focus on better
planning outcomes and less focus on the process. Other key reform
actions that will be implemented are; streaming and simplifiying the
Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS), improving community
engagement in planning scheme preparation, making clear and more
effective State planning instruments, better management of historic
approvals and development leases to reflect current expectations, more
accessible dispute resolution, better stakeholder communication and
supporting information; and greater stakeholder capacity and support.
A re-elected Bligh Government will continue with the reform agenda and will deliver key changes to IPA in 2009. |
| Wendy Richardson | |
| Sarah Isaacs |
As detailed in
Queensland Greens planning and development policy ( see www.qld.greens.org.au):
Reintroduce the
ability to prohibit some forms of development in particular areas (zones) into
the Integrated Planning Act (IPA).
Remove the injurious affection compensation
provisions of IPA, so that the threat of having to pay compensation does not
hamper steps by local government to undo planning mistakes incorporated in
earlier planning schemes and development approvals. Remove from IPA
the process of Preliminary Approvals, which circumvent community consultation
on the detail of development applications.
Amend
IPA so that any existing approval older than two years is taken to have lapsed,
and the holder of the approval must reapply for a new approval.
Amend IPA
to reduce the ability of Councils to ignore planning scheme provisions at the
behest of development interests who claim sufficient grounds exist for approving development which conflicts with the
town plan. Include
specific reference in IPA to addressing climate change and develop a State Planning Policy on reducing
greenhouse emissions and adapting to
climate change.
Amend IPA to increase the concurrence role
of the Environmental
Protection Agency
in assessing the environmental impact of
development applications. |
| c. Do you support a two year,
use-it-or-lose-it, sunset clause to be placed on all Pre-IPA development
Approvals? |
Steve Wettenhall
| A
re-elected Bligh Government will complete a review of old development
approvals issued by local government withing 18 months. This review
will be undertaken with local governments, and will also include an
opportunity for the community to identify any old approvals they may
have specific concerns with.
At the conclusion of this review, the
Government will determine an appropriate mechanism for dealing with
each identified old approval on a case by case basis.
Options may include:
- a legislative sunset clause to the development rights
-
the use of a state planning instrument such as a regulatoy provision or
the declraration of a maste planning area to ensure a contemporary
planning approach to development; and
- continuing to allow the approval to stand in circumstances where it is appropriate to do so.
A central consideration in this determination will be contemporary planning and environmental standards. |
| Wendy Richardson | |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| Q2. What do you consider to be the
most important environmental issues
faced by our region over the coming decade? |
Steve Wettenhall
| Climate
change, releiving pressures on the Great Barrier Reef, vegetation
management and land clearing, and sustainable transport. |
| Wendy Richardson | |
| Sarah Isaacs |
climate change
water quality and
preservation of GBR
sustainable
transport and development to preserve biodiversity of both plants and animals
|
| Q3. Sustainability: When talking about a sustainable future of Queensland - the longer
term outcomes need to be considered against other short term interests. It is
our lack of application of sustainability principles that has led to many of
the current ecological, social and economic problems we now face locally and
globally.
a. How do you apply the concept
of Ecologically Sustainable Development to policy decisions? |
| Steve Wettenhall | It
is ver important for the government to base its decisions on sound
policy principles. The greatest envrionmental challenge of our time is
climate change, and there is now unequivocal scientific evidence tht
climate change is happening and that these changes are associated with
the release of GHG emissions from human activities, such as the burning
of fossil fuels.
Australia's average temperatures have increased by
0.90C since 1910, and associated changes in rainfall, wind patterns,
sea level, ocean temperature/acidity, extreme events (floods, drought
and fire) and many other aspects of weather and climate have been
observed.
In response the Bligh Government introduced a
requirement to include a Climate Change Impact Statement (CCIS) in all
Cabinet decisions. A CCIS will provide a succinct summary of the
climate change impacts associated with the relevant project, policy or
legislation. The CCIS will become a standard inclusion in all
submissions to Cabinet from 1 July 2008, similar to the existing
requirement to include a Rural/Reginal Impact Statement and an
Employment and Skills Development Impact Statement. The intent of a
CCIS is to inform decision-making, by enabling Cabinet to consider the
impacts of a proposal within the broader context of the State's
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile and future climate change risks.
The
CCIS will provides Cabinet with specific information on the potential
GHG emissions impacts or benefits of a proposal and the potential risks
to the proposal from projected changes in climate.
This information will enable indirect and longer termn climate-related implications of a proposal to be considered in decisions.
The
preparation of a CCIS will serve as an important mechanism to enable
Government agencies to better understand the climate change impacts of
their proposals - a key step in Queensland moving towards a low carbon
future and successfully adjusting to a changing climate. |
| Wendy Richardson | |
| Sarah Isaacs | This is the thread that runs through all our policies- see www.qld.green.org.au for details of all
policies. The Greens are a social justice and environment group. |
| b. What is your view on the
sustainability of ongoing population growth in our region (considering water,
sewerage and other waste, green-space and transport) and what policy measures
would you advocate to deal with the impacts of this increase, or to limit it? |
Steve Wettenhall
|
|
| Wendy Richardson | |
| Sarah Isaacs |
Queensland needs a
plan which acknowledges regional limits to ecological carrying capacity.
Unconstrained
population growth in the face of constrained
resources such as water and arable land is unwise and unsustainable.
Limiting
rezoning will help cap growth. |
| Q4. Climate Change: Please indicate which, if any, of the following you support:
a. By 2020, reducing Energy Deman by 30% and Support Renewable Energy by 40%.
Support/Don't support
|
Steve Wettenhall
| The
Bligh Labor Government was an early mover amongst Australian
Governments in introducing the Solar Bonus, a fee-in-tariff that pays a
premium return on electricity generated on rooftop PVs and fed back
into the electricity grid. In Queensland, that return is nearly three
times the standard tariff for electricity. Already, our Solar bonus
Solar HOmes and Solar Schools programs have delivered over a megawatt
of generation capacity into the grid, and over a thousand Queensland
families have received a Solar Bonus for elecricity they have generated.
A
re-elected Bligh Government will co-operate with CoAG and the
Ministerial Council on Energy, which are together investigating models
for a nationally consistent fee-in-tariff. We are committed to that
process, and its outcome, because consistency across State borders is
good for the renewable energy industry, which is good for Queensland.
In addition, Labor's Climate Smart Home Service will help 260,000 homes
cut their energy use and save 5.3 million tones of greenhouse gas
emissions over the lifetime of the installed products.
A re-elected Bligh Government has also committed to making Queensland Australia's solar state.
This
plan, which will create up to 500 jobs will deliver up to 200,000 solar
hot water systems to Queensland families for $500 each - a fraction of
the retail price of electric systems - over the next three years.
This
will give the average family free hot water after less than two years
of using the system and pensioners and concession card holders will
have free hot water in less than six months.
This Solar Hot Water
Program will more than double the number of solar hot water systems in
the State. It will cut Queensland household energy costs by up to $96
million and reduce carbon emissions by up to 640,000 tonnes over three
years. |
| Wendy Richardson | |
| Sarah Isaacs | Support |
| b. Adopting a Gross power model
for the payment of electricity generated through grid-connected household solar
systems, where households are paid for all the power they produce, rather than
the current Net model. Support/Don’t support |
Steve Wettenhall
|
|
| Wendy Richardson | |
| Sarah Isaacs | Support |
| Q5. Public Transport
a. How do you think public
transport services in the Cairns region can be improved? |
| Steve Wettenhall | Labor
does not believe upgrading Kuranda Range Road is required in the
foreseeable future. Under the draft Far North Queensland Regional Plan
- FNQ2025, the northern Tablelands is no longer considered one of the
priority areas to cater for population growth in the greater Cairns
area before 2025. Therefore the major four-lane upgrade is not
considered to be necessary in the short-term. However, we are committed
to continuing fieldwork investigations after the wet season as basis
for possible long-term future planning.
The Bligh Government's
priority is to make the Kuranda Range Road as safe as possible and that
is why the speed limit has dropped from 80 - 60km per hour. A dedicated
$3m program of safety works is also underway. We have installed 1km of
guardrail, new warning signs, and more curve warning and directional
signs, and replaced guide posts. A rain activated wet weather warning
sign alerting motorists to slippery road conditions was also installed.
As well an SMS service exists to assist motorists in planning their
trips.
In 2009, a key focus area will be curve widening works to
improve safety for heavy vehicles and all road users. Proposed works at
certain curves will involve earthworks. Therefore, the designs have
been sent to the Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) and the
federal Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
(DEWHA). Work will start as soon as possible after these approvals are
granted. A proposal for a heavy vehicle pull-off area a top of range
has also been forwarded to WTMA and DEWHA for approval.
Current
wildlife protection initiatives on the Kuranda Range include a large
culvert under Streets Creek which serves as a potential cassowary
underpass. On both sides of the road corridor, cassowary fencing has
been installed and recently maintained to guide cassowaries towards the
Streets Creek culvert. Also, the installation of rope bridges for
animal crossings is proposed in constitution with James Cook University.
In
relation to public transport, Labor is committed to delivering the
Cairns Transit Network, which would link Palm Cove to Gordonvale and
all neighbourhoods in between.
The Cairns Transit Network will
improve the region's public transport while protecting its unique
lifestyle and environment now and into the future. The transit network
will make public transport faster and more reliable because buses will
get their own dedicated space in the transport network. Buses take
priority in the network plan - either through bus lanes or on bus-only
roads, making it easier to move around Cairns on public transport.
The
network will connect all major centres in the Cairns area, including
the Northern Beaches, Smithfield, the airport, Earlville, Edmonton,
Gordonvale and the central business district.
Compromising three public transport spines, it will become the centre of Cairns' public transport system.
The three proposes spines are:
- Northern spine - from the Cairns Central Business District to Plam Cove via Smithfield
- Southern spine - from the Cairns Central Business District to Gordonvale via Edmonton
- Western spine - from Earlville to Smithfield via Redlynch |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs |
Improve frequency and reliability of buses and have
free transport for under 21s,students and senior citizens.
Look at introducing a tram system to service
Cairns, the airport and suburbs.
Carry bikes free on public transport.
Look at
using existing rail for freight and passengers to and from Tablelands and at
upgrading the rail system |
| b. What do you think is a
reasonable target for public transport use by commuters? For example, 20% of
commuters on public transport by 2015. |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | At least this |
| c. Do you support the creation of
a regional public transport coordination body to oversee a regional approach to
public transport planning and investment? |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | A regional approach is needed- yet allowing for devolving decisions
locally to those who use the services rather than those sitting in offices. |
| d. What alternative transport
solutions do you support for the Kuranda Range Road? |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs |
Freight and
passengers on to rail in long term - either existing, upgraded or new.
Better bus service
Traffic
management policies in short term- decreasing size of truck allowable, curfew
on trucks at peak times, encourage flexi time and teleworking |
| Q6. Protecting Our Coasts:
The failed False Cape
development remains an open sore on the gateway to Cairns, and provides a prime
example of the failure of State Government regulatory apparatus in adequately
controlling coastal development. Investigations into the safety of the rocky
slopes above the development have yet to be carried out, despite being
identified as "essential"
by experts advising council.
a. Will you support the State
government intervention to prevent any further work until the safety of the
entire site has been investigated? |
| Steve Wettenhall | The release of the FNQ Regional Plan 2009-2031 in February
by the Bligh Government is part of the ongoing commitment to stopping
adhoc and inappropriate developments occurring outside of preferred
growth areas. The designation of an urban footprints will constrain
development to appropriate growth areas.
Under
the provisions of the current FNQ Regional Plan, False Cape would not
be approved if a development application were lodged today.
The 2001
and 2004 approvals for False Cape were granted by Cairns Council as a
result of historic zonings imposed by the Nationals in the 1980s.
Labor
supports the decision of the Commonwealth Environment Minister in
September 2008 to suspend the project's approval for 12 months pending
an environmental audit. |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| b. Will you support the concept
of a whole-of-government buy back and rehabilitation of the site? |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| c. Canal developments continue to
be approved along the Queensland coast, despite ALP promises that no more will
be approved. Will you support the banning of canal and lake-based coastal
developments, including those utilising land reclamation? |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| Q7. Habitat Protection:
The FNQ Regional Planning
process represents a missed opportunity for a significant increase in the level
of protection of remaining habitat networks Coastal development has
heavily impacted on species such as the cassowary and Mahogany glider, to the
point some coast populations of these species are now at risk of local
extinction. The FNQ Regional Plan provides only limited, non-binding,
protection important habitat areas.
a. What is your position on the
FNQ Regional Plan in its current form? |
| Steve Wettenhall | The
FNQ Regional Plan, which was released by the Bligh Government in 2008,
delivers the underlying principles of ensuring that development across
Queensland is ecologically, socially and economically sustainable. The
urban footprint restricts development to designated areas and controls
the encroachment of urban development into areas of high ecological
significance. The Desired Regional Outcomes for biodiversity
conservation of FNQ Regional Plan focus on protecting ecological values
from potential adverse impacts of urban development.
The
preservation and maintenance of key regional environmental resources is
an improtant element of the regional plan. Decision making processes
under IPA must take account of short and long-term enviornmental
effects of development at local, regional, state and wider levels. They
must also apply the precautionary principle and avoid, if practicable,
or otherwise lessen any adverse environmental effects of development.
A
re-elected Bligh Government will continue to ensure the envioronmental
values are protected and will work with Local Governments to amend
their planning schemes to reflect the biodiversity conservation
policies and mapping constraints on development released in the
Regional Plan. The establishment of the FNQ Regional Plan by the Bligh
Government commits both levels of Government to appropriately manage
areas of high ecological significance across the region.
The Bligh Government continues to improve the environmental outcomes
the Vegetation Management Act is set to achieve. Following the release
of the SLATS report in February 2009 the Premier announced consultation
would commence with stakeholders to examine the findings of the latest
SLATS report.
The Nationals have committed to repealing the current
FNQ Regional Plan and going back to the drawing board. This puts at
risk the significant environmental gains made under the FNQ Regional
Plan. |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Pleased Myola urbanisation and Kuranda Range Road put on hold. Short
term development atrocities have not been stopped. Also wildlife corridors not adequately protected and
the minister can change land use category anywhere, anytime. |
| b. Do you support statutory
measures to protect important habitat and wildlife corridors? |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| c. Do you support a strengthening
of the Vegetation Management Act to include protection and management of
remnant vegetation in Queensland? |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| Q8. Water and Rivers:
CAFNEC is concerned about the
lack of water efficiency and water reuse and plans to build new water
infrastructure that impacts heavily on our environment.
a. Under what circumstances would
you support the construction of the Nullinga Dam? |
| Steve Wettenhall | Any future decision on the Nullinga Dam in the Tablelands REgional
Council area will be made in the context of the Far North Queensland
Regional Water Supply Strategy which will require effective demand
management and increased re-use before further investigations into
infrastructure options.
The Queensland Government is committed to
protecting and securing our unique environemnt, as part of our vision
for Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland.
Our Wild Rivers legislation aims to preserve the natural values of Queensland rivers for Queensland and future generations.
In June 2008 the Bligh Government committed to finalise the declaration of all 19 original wild rivers by the end of 2010.
So
far, Settlement Creek, Mornington Inlet and Gregory and Staaten Rivers
as well as streams on Hinchinbrook and Fraser Islands have been
declared Wild Rivers. In addition, The Lockhart, Stewart, Archer and
Wenlock Rivers were nominated for wild rivers listing in 2008.
It is
clear only a Labor Government will continue to deliver on the Wild
Rivers initiative - under a National Party government it is clear this
initiative would be lost.
The National Party have never supported
the Wild Rivers Act and continue to demonstrate their lack of
environmental leadership through their inaction and lack of policy in
this important area.
In contrast, the Bligh Government has outlined
a program to progress all remaining Cape York Wild Rivers that have
been committed to by 2010. This program was developed in consultation
with the Wilderness Society, Queensland Resources Council, Cape York
land Council, Balkanu, Cape York Development Association, Agforce, and
the Australian Conservation Foundation. This consultation is ongoing. Futher Wild
River declarations in other parts of the state are currently under
consideration.
In addition to our commitment to implementing the
Wild Rivers Act 2005 the Bligh Government has delivered on the Wild
River Rangers Program, employing 20 Wild River Rangers across Cape York
and the Gulf as part of the first stage of the roll out of the Wild
River Rangers program. Rangers working across the region include:
- Two rangers working with the Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation (based at the Wenlock Outstation)
- Four rangers based at the Pormapuraaw Land and Sea Centre
- Three rangers at Mapoon
- Six rangers based in the GUld of Carpentaria at Doomadgee and Burketown
- Three rangers working with the Carpentaria Land Council, based at Normanton.
- One ranger working from the Kowanyama Aboriginal Land and Natural Resource Management Office.
The Bligh government remains committed to employing the total 100 Wild River rangers as new Wild Rivers are declared.
A
re-elected Bligh Governmet will also extend our ground-breaking WIld
Rivers protection program to south-west Queensland's channel counry.
Three rivers in south-west Queensland would be declared as wild rivers if labor is reelected. |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | None |
| b. Do you support the Wild Rivers
legislation and, if elected, would you work towards the declaration of Queensland's
remaining Wild Rivers? |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes if Indigenous agreement |
| c. Do you commit to providing
ongoing funding of the Wild Rivers Indigenous Rangers Program?
Yes/No |
| |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| Q9. Cape York Peninsula:
a. If elected, will you support
World Heritage nomination for identified areas of Cape York Peninsula with the
free, prior and informed consent agreement of Traditional Owners? Yes/No |
| Steve Wettenhall | Yes |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| b. If elected, will you commit to
appropriate and ongoing resourcing of Indigenous employment to support the
return of country to Traditional Owners? Yes/No |
| Steve Wettenhall | Yes |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| Q10. Uranium Mining:
Do you support a legislative
ban on uranium mining in Queensland? Yes/No |
| Steve Wettenhall | Labor will maintain its oppsotion to urnanium mining in Queensland. |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | Yes |
| Q11. Campaign Transparency :
Can you provide a
list of the top five individuals, organisations or corporations that have
donated to your campaign? |
| Steve Wettenahll | Donations will be disclosed in accordance with the Electoral Act. |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | No large donations but many small ones, often of time and work rather
than money. No donations over $500 to my knowledge to date |
| Q12. Could you provide us with your published environmental policies (web
reference if possible)? |
| Steve Wettenhall | www.anna4qld.com |
| |
| Sarah Isaacs | www.qld.greens.au-and click on policies |
