Marine & Coastal

21 February 2001

Thousands Call For Protection for Darwin Harbour

Petitions Presented to Party Leaders at Parliament House.

Members of the Darwin Harbour Alliance will present Chief Minister Denis Burke and Opposition Leader Clare Martin with almost 8000 signatures today. Thousands of Territorians have signed the petition which calls for legislative protection and no dams for Darwin Harbour as well as a public review of the 1990 Darwin Land Use Structure Plan.

"The Government finally appears to be acknowledging the true community opinion about the future of Darwin Harbour. Following the announcement to abandon plans to dam Elizabeth River, we are now reminding our politicians that they must go one step further and ensure protection of Darwin Harbour for all time. It is time to consider enacting legislation to declare a Darwin Harbour a National Park, or to investigate other means of permanently protecting areas within our harbour. Larrakia people are keen to be involved in any negotiations regarding future developments within the Harbour catchment" Larrakia Nation Office spokesperson Donna Jackson said today.

"We are presenting half of these signatures to each party leader in the hope that they will develop a bipartisan position on this most important issue. Currently, there is no commitment from either the CLP or the Labor Party to make Darwin Harbour a National Park, yet it is something that almost 8000 people have called for. We know this is a proposal that Territorians support and we believe the time for Government to act is now." Environment Centre NT Coordinator Kirsten Blair continued.

"Darwin Harbour is an important place to many people for many reasons, we still have the chance to protect and preserve it in this relatively intact state. We urge NT parliamentarians to work together to give Territorians a lasting souvenir to remember this Centenary of Federation year by" Litchfield Shire President Gerry Wood concluded.

For further information contact ECNT on 8981 1984
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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