DEBATE has erupted over the potential impact of the Queensland government’s vegetation legislation on the Rookwood Weir project.
While ALP members maintain “most” of the land involved will not fall under the legislation, LNP members said any impact was too much.
“Most of the land that could be irrigated as a result of the proposed Rookwood Weir is either a category of vegetation that can be cleared, or is generally free of vegetation,” Queensland natural resources minister Dr Anthony Lynham said.
“Landholders will still be able to maintain their land.
“They can still clear fodder trees to feed their stock, for firebreaks and along fence lines. We are meeting our election commitment to retain the accepted development codes that allow landholders to maintain their land.”
Meanwhile ALP federal shadow minister for agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon did not respond to questions regarding his stance on the Queensland governments laws, nor on his opinions on how it could impact Rookwood Weir.
Instead, he provided a statement which simply said “I note the recently released business case took into account all regulatory regimes” and then went on to comment on the status of the funding of weir project.
Queensland shadow minister for natural resources, and shadow minister for northern Queensland, LNP’s Dale Last, is a staunch supporter of the weir project and said the laws introduced into Parliament last week were a “massive hit” for farmers.
“There is no doubt that these laws, if passed, will have a significant impact on the viability of this (Rookwood) project,” Mr Last said.
“If you take away the agricultural development option you are only left with urban usage which would make it difficult to stack up.”
Mr Last said the legislation was “ridiculous”.
“To prohibit the development of high value agriculture around the Rookwood Weir is like putting a bag of lollies in front of a kid and saying you can’t eat them,” he said.
“They (Labor) travel around Queensland talking up the importance of these water infrastructure projects and the jobs they will bring, and then go back to Brisbane and introduce laws which prohibit agricultural development.”
LNP’s Member for Gregory Lachlan Millar also weighed in, and said the issue of the legislation impacting the viability of Rookwood Weir was real.
Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow also commented, and said council has been a key supporter of the Rookwood Weir project for a decade.
“Council does not usually take a position on state legislation,” she said.
“That said, we can certainly see the importance of our agricultural industry being able to do its job and would urge the state government to consult widely and to listen to producers who understand their land and have an interest in its long-term sustainability.”