THE Department of Natural Resources and Mines has pre-empted this week’s vote on Labor’s controversial new vegetation management laws, issuing an email statement to landholders advising that more accurate mapping of Queensland’s high-value regrowth vegetation is now available online.
The department, which already describes the divisive Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 as “responsible” on its website, has previously come under heavy criticism for relying on flawed mapping in efforts to prosecute landholders.
“This email is to inform you the Department of Natural Resources and Mines has released more accurate mapping of Queensland’s high-value regrowth vegetation,” the email reads.
“This mapping is related to proposed changes to vegetation management laws, which are currently before the Queensland Parliament.
“To receive the most up-to-date information for your property, we recommend you submit a new request for a property report or vegetation maps before undertaking vegetation management activities on your property.”
The maps can be requested online at: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/vegetation/map-request/.
AgForce president Grant Maudsley said landholders would need time to compare the government’s latest version of the maps to what was actually on the ground.
“This in no way changes our view that the bill needs to be scrapped,” Mr Maudsley said.
“The inaccuracies of the government’s regional ecosystem and regrowth mapping has been known about for a long time, and this advice to landholders seems to be nothing more than a last ditch attempt to be seen to be doing something ahead of this week’s debate in parliament.
“The inaccurate mapping is also one of the reasons why the removal of the ‘mistake of fact’ defense in the proposed vegetation management laws is so offensive, as it means landholders cop the blame for the government’s wrong map.”
Opposition natural resources spokesman Andrew Cripps said it was never a bad thing to have a better maps. However, he questioned the timing of the release of the new mapping.
“There have been notorious discrepancies in vegetation mapping,” Mr Cripps said.
“What is interesting is the timing of the release of this new mapping, immediately before these ridiculous and vindictive laws are about to be put forward by the Palaszczuk government.
“Real people, in real communities, in real industries will be hurt if the Palaszczuk government’s legislation succeeds.”
Debate on the Palaszczuk government’s controversial new vegetation laws are expected to start at 7.30pm on Wednesday night and continue on Thursday. The sure to be fiery debate will be streamed live on the Queensland Parliament website. If the legislation is passed it will retrospective to March 17.
The department’s email also advises the updated mapping can be viewed through Queensland Globe, a Google Earth application. Alternatively, data covering all of Queensland can be downloaded via QSpatial, the Queensland Government's geospatial portal.
Email recipients wanting more information on vegetation maps, or Queensland’s vegetation management framework, were encouraged to contact The Vegetation Hub on 135VEG (135 834), by email vegetation@dnrm.qld.gov.au, or through the department’s website www.dnrm.qld.gov.au
