Marine & Coastal

15 July 2003

NT Government has hands off wheel on Darwin Harbour

The Environment Centre of the Northern Territory today accused the NT Government of relinquishing control over activities in Darwin Harbour. The illegal clearing that occurred at the Phillips LNG site at Wickham Point in recent weeks as well as the ongoing clearing and damage to mangroves at Palmerston dump and elsewhere in the Harbour raise questions about the Government's ability to manage Darwin Harbour effectively.

Environment Centre Coordinator Kirsten Blair said:

"The Government has asked the public to have faith in its ability to manage Darwin Harbour for the future. To this end the Environment Centre has dedicated a great deal of time and energy to the process for developing a Plan of Management for Darwin Harbour. While this process is going on, the Government has let Phillips off for illegal clearing at Wickham Point and damage to mangroves at Palmerston dump is continuing unchecked."

"Earlier this year Minister Vatskalis claimed the proposal to rezone the majority of mangroves in Darwin Harbour for conservation would lead to protection for the Harbour - something the public has been calling for for many years. Months later that zoning is still not enacted and it is now apparent that aquaculture will be allowed under such a zoning. This is not the protection we expected for Darwin Harbour and it is simply not good enough."

"The Government must come clean on what they're planning for Darwin Harbour so that we know now whether the Plan of Management will be worth the paper its written on."

For more information contact ECNT:
Tel: 8981 1984
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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