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Taskforce fixation on irrigation ignores sustainable opportunities - 25/09/07
The Wilderness Society (TWS) today called for the Federal Government’s Northern Australian Land and Water Taskforce to end their fixation on irrigated agriculture and instead look at ecologically sustainable industries.
The Taskforce, headed by Senator Bill Heffernan and others such as Noel Pearson and Lachlan Murdoch, is currently touring Far North Queensland with a focus on promoting irrigated agriculture.
“Far North Queensland, like all of Northern Australia, is simply unsuitable for water-guzzling, polluting irrigation operations” said Larissa Cordner, Northern Rivers Campaigner for The Wilderness Society.
“The extreme climate variability, high risk salinity and distance to markets are a huge economic barrier. The unique wildlife and fish of the region would also suffer hugely from these sorts of unsustainable ventures.”
“Why is the Northern Australia Taskforce so fixated on irrigated agriculture only? We have to go beyond the narrow obsession on irrigated agriculture and instead focus on opportunities that don’t harm the environment.”
“Northern Australia is a global conservation treasure – we shouldn’t risk damaging it with ill-thought, destructive development.”
“There is enormous potential in sustainable fisheries, nature-based tourism, land management and the rapidly emerging carbon economy in Northern Australia. These are the kinds of environmentally and economically responsible industries that we should be strongly supporting” concluded Ms Cordner.
For further information or comment please contact:
Larissa Cordner, Northern Rivers
Campaigner, The Wilderness Society, 07 3846 1420