Marine & Coastal

13 June 2005

Gamba and Darwin Harbour major issues

Public needs to see policies before Saturday!The Environment Centre of the Northern Territory (ECNT) says two issues will dog whichever party forms government after Saturday’s election: gamba grass and the future of Darwin Harbour.

ECNT spokesperson Peter Robertson said there was increasing disquiet in the community over the mishandling by successive governments of the gamba grass plague.

“ Just like cane toads ten or fifteen years ago, no government wants to take the initiative in tackling this most serious of problems.

“ The combination of industry pressure to allow weeds like gamba to continue to be sown for cattle pasture, weak legislation, and interdepartmental conflict, means that once again the opportunity to take early and effective action is being lost.

“ Labor’s environment policy would see a ‘summit’ to address weeds and other invasive species in the NT, but without a big funding commitment, little action is likely to result. The CLP seems to be completely avoiding the issue. So far only the Greens have come up with policies for the election which, if implemented, would begin to turn the weed tide.

“ Darwin Harbour is also going to be an increasing source of conflict unless and until the next government seriously addresses the conflicting agendas over the long term future of this greatest of Darwin assets.

“ Development plans for the Harbour are not only increasingly in conflict with the ecological sustainability of the Harbour environment, but are in conflict with each other.

“ You have a big push for recreational fishing, tourism and residential development, all based around the natural beauty and species richness of the Harbour, and then you have a whole other agenda to do with fast-tracked large scale industrialization which will swamp all other uses and values if unchecked.

“ The major parties must spell out how they are going to resolve this conflict and how much further development can proceed without ‘killing the goose that laid the golden egg’.”

Further comment: Peter Robertson 8981 1984 / 0409 089 020
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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