After three years of being kept in the dark, the draft Great Sandy Marine Park zoning plan has finally been released.
“Since 2019 commercial fishers, local anglers, tourism operators, and small businesses were left in limbo and unable to plan,” Member for Gympie, Tony Perrett and Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett said.
“It’s taken three years to get to this and no they are only giving people one month for consultation.
“While we welcome some sensible changes, the plan has some serious red flags,” they said.
Member for Gympie, Tony Perrett, said that commercial fishers are again expected to carry the burden of changes.
“The Government admits that 60 to 70 commercial fishers will be impacted, and that figure could be much higher,” Mr Perrett said.
“Of course, it is important to protect our marine parks.
“Queensland’s fishing industries are already bearing the brunt of regulatory changes without adequate compensation or government assistance.
“This announcement yet again reinforces why the government needs a regulatory impact statement (RIS) to understand the full effects changes will have on our commercial fishing industry.
“The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mark Furner, continually refuses to commission an RIS.
“Solutions of retraining and restructuring work for commercial fishers is absolute nonsense.
“These are people who work outside with their hands.
“Thinking they can simply retrain for jobs in the communities in which they live is ignorance at best.
“It’s the ‘Jackie Trad’ solution – ‘go find and retrain for a new job’.
“Minister Furner is again silent as another cohort of commercial fishers will be impacted by state government decisions.
“There is no regard for commercial fishers, for the businesses they support, for their families, and the communities where they live.
“Commercial fishers are the ones who put the fresh locally caught fish in local shops,” he said.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said there’s a lot of work still to be done to ensure viability of the fishing industry, but he welcomes a recommendation to change the Fish Habitat Area at Flat Rock Picnic Area, Baffle Creek.
“For years the community and I have been asking for this change that will permit beach nourishment works,” Mr Bennett said.
“These works will bring the beach back to its former glory and allow small businesses to operate once more.
“Thank you to everyone who helped advocate for this change.
“Finally, I cannot stress how important it is to provide feedback to the plan now.
“This plan will shape numerous industries into the future.
“It’s vital everyone understands just how serious some of these consequences could be for the tourism industry, and recreational and commercial anglers.
“I have real concerns around some of the new Green Zones, and how they will impact small businesses in the Burnett and out to K’Gari Fraser Island.
“It’s vital everyone speaks up to provide expert information, local knowledge, and feedback on their concerns.
“There is no room for error.
“Consultation must be genuine and not slated to one agenda,” he said.
Link to consultation which closes on 23 October: https://www.qld.gov.au/greatsandymarinepark