The review of the Great Sandy Marine Park zoning plan is all but dead in the water according to the Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett.
Mr Bennett said time is running out for Baffle Creek residents and businesses who have already been waiting on the plan for more than two years.
“We have real concerns about what this plan will mean for the community; our biggest fear is that a Green Zone will be inevitable for Baffle Creek,” he said.
“People with investments in the area can’t continue to operate their businesses unless we know the full impacts of what this review will mean for the region.
“I’ve pleaded with the Minister for Environment to release the Draft Revised Zoning Plan and we’re still getting the run around.
“Submissions to the review of the plan closed more than two years ago! This delay is beyond a joke and it a complete slap in the face for our community.”
The Burnett MP submitted a Question on Notice to the Minister for Environment on the 15th of June, asking Ms Scanlon to advise when the Draft Revised Zoning Plan will be released for public consultation. *
In response, Minister Scanlon said:
‘The economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the communities surrounding the Great Sandy Marine Park are also considerations that need to be factored into this zoning plan review process… A draft zoning plan and Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement will be released for broad community consultation as soon as possible.’
Mr Bennett said this is simply not good enough.
“Our community deserves to know what’s in that report, they deserve transparency and honesty.
“I’m calling on the Minister to stop making excuses and get on with the job.”
* Question on Notice: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/750-2021.pdf
ENDS.
19/07/21