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15 December 2004

Territorians urge Martin Government to reject Daly development proposals

More than one thousand people, the vast majority of them Territorians, have signed a petition calling for the NT Government to abandon plans for large-scale land clearing and irrigated agriculture in the Daly River region. The petition also calls for a 3-5 year moratorium on further land clearing and water allocation in the Daly Catchment.

The text of the petition reads as follows:

We the undersigned believe that:

»	The Daly River is a premier Territory tourism attraction worth millions of dollars to the region. It is central to the culture of the Traditional Owners of the region. It must be protected for the benefit of all Territorians.
»	The NT government should reject plans for new large scale subdivisions, land clearing and irrigation. Smaller scale, efficient farming of already cleared land, using minimal water and chemicals, is a sustainable alternative.
»	Funding is needed for long term planning based on scientific research and monitoring, and to fix existing environmental degradation in the Daly.
»	While the NT government’s announcement of a ban on cotton growing and dams in the Daly is welcome these policies need to be legislated.
»	We would strongly support a 3-5 year moratorium on further Land Clearing and Water Allocation in the Daly Catchment.

The Environment Centre’s Freshwater Campaigner Dr Gary Scott said: ‘This petition shows just how strongly many Territorians feel about the Daly and the need to protect it. The river is a Territory icon and the Martin Government needs to recognise that this will be a make-or-break issue at the Territory election next year’.

A delegation from the Environment Centre NT will be handing the petition to the Chief Minister at Parliament House at 11.30am tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

For more information contact Charles Roche on (08) 8941 7439
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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