Resources

QCC Factsheets and Publications

 Conservation Groups Position Paper on the Review and Replacement of the Water Resource (Fitzroy Basin) Plan 198.42 Kb  - June 2009 updated October 2009
The replacement of the Fitzroy Basin Water Resource Plan is a once in ten year opportunity to examine if the provisions set in the existing plan adequately protected identified environmental values. How thoroughly the performance of the existing plan is examined and benchmarked against the objectives of the Water Act 2000 and Queensland’s NWI obligations is crucial to understanding which aspects of the existing plan should be discarded, and which parts can included in the new plan.

 Wild Rivers brochure 3.11 Mb

QCC Submissions

 SPP GBR Wetlands 124.00 Kb - June 2010
Queensland Conservation [QCC] welcomes this opportunity to provide our comments on the draft State Planning Policy to protect wetlands of High Ecological Significance in Great Barrier Reef Catchments... The SPP goes a long way to closing significant gaps in the legislative protection framework for wetlands as it will assist conserving wetland values, enhance the ecological health of waterways and estuaries as well as the Great Barrier Reef. However, some of the provisions of the draft SPP will still allow development to occur that will continue to cause significant adverse impacts to HES wetlands and designated buffer areas. While we broadly support the policy outcomes the SPP is intended to achieve, we believe it will need to be amended to remove a range of inadvertent legislative gap’s, inconsistencies and flaws that we believe have the potential to undermine the ability of the SPP to protect wetlands and designated buffer areas from development impacts.

 wet tropics wrp sub 211.50 Kb -April 2010

Preparation of the Wet Tropics WRP is a timely opportunity to address a wide range of issues that are either directly affecting water resources or causing adverse environmental impacts from the way water is currently managed in the plan area. The best way the plan can tackle these issues is by taking an integrated approach to managing water resources throughout the region. This would require that water quality optimisation, climate change, World Heritage Area management and other such issues are included and provided for in the Plan. We believe the upper most priority of the Wet Tropics WRP must be to ensure the way water resources are allocated and managed in the plan area does not compromise or cause any further degradation to the region’s environmental values.  

 Burnett Basin wrp 179.29 Kb - March 2010
The Burnett Basin Water Resource Plan is undergoing its statutory 10 year replacement. This provides an opportunity to critically review the existing plans performance, address any new and emergent issues and incorporate improved scientific knowledge and advancements in the new plan. A range of issues that are likely to effect water resource management have emerged since the existing plan was finalised in 2000. This issues include climate change, water quality, aligned planning frameworks and increased community expectations of sustainable outcomes being achieved. 

 Connors River EIS 69.06 Kb - March 2010
Submission to Connors River Dam and Pipelines project EIS. Queensland Conservation (QCC) and the Capricorn Conservation Council (CCC) have significant concerns about the inadequate approach taken in the EIS to addressing a range of potential broad scale environmental harm , which is likely to occur should the project proceed. The project has the potential to cause significant adverse impacts to a range of species that inhabit woodland, open grass areas and riparian edges within the proposed inundation area, which the proposed mitigation measures contained in the in environmental management plan fail to adequately address. Inundation of such areas will destroy essential feeding and breeding habitat along with causing fragmentation of what is currently an integral habitat. 

 Response to the EIS on Water for Bowen 71.83 Kb - December 09 (covering letter)

Details of issues raised in the cover letter here  Appendix 1 - Water for Bowen EIS 21.61 Kb

This submission is from a coalition of non government environment groups who have significant experience in sustainable water use and Great Barrier Reef protection.  

This joint submission is a consequence of the major concern held by conservation groups and concerned members who we represent over the inadequacies of this project EIS and the potential broad scale environmental harm that would occur if this project was to proceed.   

Issues not included in the EIS evaluation lead us to conclude that this would be a devastating project for the region and in particular the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef

 Joint Environment Groups Submission SDLs Paper 589.45 Kb - December 09
Submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority relating to the Issues Paper: Development of Sustainable Diversion Limits for the Murray-Darling Basin.

This paper and its appendices articulate the groups’ response to the ‘SDLs Issues Paper’. We recognise that development of the Basin Plan and its key component elements, in particular the environmental watering plan and sustainable diversion limits, represents a unique and unprecedented opportunity to reform the way that water resources are used in the MDB. Proper implementation of the Water Act 2007 and the Basin Plan will increase the likelihood of securing a viable future for important ecological assets in the Basin, putting irrigation industries onto a sustainable footing and enabling communities in the Basin to adjust to a new future based on ecologically sustainable water use and planning processes that can adjust to a changing climate

  Fitzroy Basin Water Resource Plan 80.26 Kb - April 09
The review of the Water Resource (Fitzroy Basin) Plan 1999 is an opportunity to critically assess whether the provisions of the existing plan were suitable to achieving its objectives, as well as critically assessing whether the existing plan did satisfactorily achieve its stated outcomes. To ensure transparency and provide stakeholders, the community and other interested parties with clear and unbiased information, it is our view that the review of the existing plan must be conducted by either an independent third party, or by utilising a recognised evaluation process, such as the MERI assessment framework

 Gold Coast Resource Operation Plan 53.31 Kb - March 09
Considering the highly degraded condition of waterways and modified state of flow regimes, it is critical for the ROP to have a priority focus on the rehabilitation of catchment degradation and returning flow regimes to natural states throughout the plan area.

 Logan Resource Operation Plan 53.62 Kb 

Due to the highly degraded nature of waterways throughout the plan area, QCC does not support the taking of any additional water from the Logan River for any purposes. This is because existing water take and usage is already causing significant adverse environmental impacts throughout the plan area, consequently resulting in waterways in the Logan Basin consistently recording the poorest water quality ratings in South East Queensland. [Healthy Waterways Report Card]. As there are strong linkages between fresh water flow regimes and estuarine processes, there is irrefutable evidence that disturbance of freshwater flow regimes can cause adverse environmental impacts to receiving waters, which is likely to have caused adverse impacts to the fisheries resources of Moreton Bay

 Moreton Resource Operation Plan 62.71 Kb  - March 09
There is irrefutable evidence that water use and management practices are causing significant adverse impacts to the health of catchments throughout the plan area and to the receiving waters of Moreton Bay. The Moreton Water Resource Plan Technical Assessment Panel’s report clearly depicts the highly degraded state and extremely poor health of many waterways throughout the plan area. Many catchments in the plan area are over-allocated and require urgent restoration of flow regimes to restore ecological functions, processes and services. Rehabilitation of stream condition [chemical and biological characteristics], riparian and in-stream habitats must be the highest priority of the ROP to achieve.

 NWC submission 133.92 Kb - Feb 09
The most significant impediment to achieving ecological sustainable management of water resources in Queensland; is that water quality objectives and outcomes are not sufficiently embedded into water resource plans [WRP]. This is clearly evident as although the Department of Natural Resources and Water utilises an Integrated Quantity and Quality Modelling [IQQM] framework when developing water resource plans, there has been an overwhelming emphasis on identifying quantities of water available for consumptive allocation and environmental needs only – resulting in water quality issues being only considered superficially at best. In the absence of robust water quality objectives, it is our strong belief that many of the Queensland Water Resource Plans [WRP] fail to adequately fail protect environmental values and public benefit outcomes. 

 Burdekin ROP Submssion 184.49 Kb - Jan 2009
The Burdekin Basin is the second largest catchment on Queensland’s east coast, with a range of diverse river systems that are directly connected to the Great Barrier Reef. It is widely recognized that existing land-use practices in the Burdekin Basin have contributed to high levels of local and regional environmental degradation such as salinity, erosion, water quality decline, sedimentation, vegetation loss, decline of fisheries and altered flow regimes caused by in-stream storages. The net result of these impacts is that the environmental health of the Burdekin Basin’s rivers, wetlands and the Great Barrier Reef have been, and will continue to be adversely affected.

 Gulf ROP submission 156.74 Kb  - Jan 2009

Queensland’s Gulf region is a mosaic of differing ecosystems consisting of tropical wetlands, woodlands and savannas that are recognized as being nationally and internationally highly significant. The Gulf’s river and wetland systems, whose natural flows support these important ecosystems and are the lifeblood of communities and agricultural enterprises throughout the region, have largely been spared the destructive and costly impacts arising from land clearing, over development and intensive agriculture that has degraded entire river systems in southern Australia. 

 Mitchell ROP submission 85.58 Kb - Jan 2009

 The Mitchell River Basin is a mosaic of diverse ecosystems encompassing the rainforests of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, the open savannahs of the upper and lower Mitchell plains, and the vast mangrove and lagoon systems of the Mitchell River delta, which are recognized as having extremely high national and international environmental significance.

 Nathan Dam submission 44.18 Kb - October 2008
The most significant environmental consequence from dams such as the proposed project is the disruption and fragmentation of riverine ecosystems, which can isolate populations of species living up and downstream of the dam by cutting off migratory movements. Should the project proceed, flow regimes of approximately 60 km of the Dawson River between the Gyranda Weir and the upper reaches of th e proposed dam’s inundation area will be affected. 

 Wandoan Submission 52.97 Kb - September 2008
The Queensland Conservation Council is extremely concerned about a number of issues regarding the Wandoan Coal Project, which we believe are not adequately addressed in the EIS draft Terms of Reference. Of particular concern, but not limited to the following, are: 1. Insufficient focus on matters that will likely cause a wide range of adverse environmental impacts 2. Insufficient focus on measures that will avoid, reduce and mitigate all adverse environmental impacts 3. Implications of climate change impacts resulting from the project are not sufficiently focused on in context of the projects justification 4. Insufficient scoping about the project not proceeding. 

  Fitzroy WRP review submission 88.94 Kb  - July 2008
In this submission, we have commented on a range of issues associated with the review and renewal of the Fitzroy Basin Water Resource Plan 

 Water for Bowen submission 16.71 Kb - April 2008
QCC has identified several significant issues regarding the Water for Bowen project, which QCC believes cast doubt on the proposals overall environmental sustainability. In addition, QCC considers the potential environmental impacts of increased water availability and resultant agricultural and industrial usage in the Bowen region, directly conflicts with other government initiatives, primarily Reef Plan and the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan [RWQPP]. The Bowen region is an identified Nutrient Management Zone hotspot, which poses a recognised high to medium risk to marine ecosystems [GBR]. 

 FNQDRWSS Submission 91.92 Kb - October 2007
We consider the intended purpose of using non-statutory Regional Water Supply Strategies (RWSS) to direct and inform the development of statutory regional Water Resource Plans (WRPs) contravenes the Water Act 2000. The Water Act 2000 regulates the development of regional WRPs which require statutory consultation with all stakeholders who have an interest in water management and supply, as well as comprehensive scientific consideration of environmental objectives. We are concerned that the RWSS are primarily focused on securing long-term water supplies for urban, industrial and irrigated agricultural use without due community consultation or engagement, nor adequate assessment of environmental factors.- October 2007

 EPBC NPI submission 25.68 Kb - September 2007
The proposed project should be declared a controlled action due to the highly likely impacts of the proposal on matters relevant and protected under the EPBC Act, which include: · Ramsar wetlands of international importance – Great Sandy Strait (including the Marine Park); · World Heritage Areas of Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef · Commonwealth Marine Areas · Migratory Species protected under international agreements, and · Nationally threatened species 

 Bribie Island submission 44.44 Kb  - August 2007
QCC has significant concerns regarding the proposal to increase aquifer extraction from BI in a period of prolonged drought, and the highly likely resultant impacts on Bribie Islands finely balanced ecological communities, in particular the following: · Ramsar Listed wetlands · Migratory species · Essential habitat · Endangered, vulnerable, near threatened or rare species · Groundwater dependant ecosystems · Potential of unidentified new species [stygafauna] 

 NSI EIS submission 26.58 Kb - July 2007
QCC has identified a wide range of significant concerns and issues regarding the potential [and likely] environmental impacts of the EPI – NSI Borefields and Pipeline project on North Stradbroke Island’s fragile ecology As the potential depletion of NSI aquifers by increasing the extraction of groundwater has significant ecological ramifications, QCC strongly advises that the Precautionary Principle must be exercised and must guide all levels of the proposals planning, as the result of “getting it wrong”, will be irreversible degradation to NSI iconic natural and cultural heritage 

 Calliope ROP submission 40.26 Kb   - July 2007
The Calliope River displays exceptional natural river values in an area where there are many stressed river systems. There are no major dams or weirs, the riparian vegetation is well preserved, the channel form is intact and aquatic species are thriving. It has one of the highest conservation values of all the rivers on the QLD east coast, and therefore warrants specific consideration on maintaining and enhancing the Calliope’s high conservation values.

 D8 Submission 566.46 Kb - May 2007
The Reef shouldn’t have to wait any longer for protection from pollution. Yet DPIF’s Discussion Paper provides neither urgency nor protection. In fact the paper reveals a chilling disregard for the Great Barrier Reef, the millions of Australians who want it protected and the 63,000 people whose jobs depend on its health. Pollution and its consequences have been linked to greater disturbance and loss of coral than any other current threat to the Reef, including climate change and coral bleaching. 66% of coral cover between Townsville and Cooktown was lost in the last outbreak of crown of thorns starfish – a species now linked to elevated nutrients from the land. 

 Emu Swamp submission 31.11 Kb - May 2007
QCC has a particular interest in the Emu Swamp Dam proposal, and has identified a number of key issues of concern with the draft Terms of Reference that may have resultant impacts on environmental values and viability of the proposal. As climate change is now factually recognised, QCC is of the opinion that resultant climate change impacts, such as decreased rainfall patterns, should be a key component of the Terms of Reference guiding the necessary Environmental Impact Statements for projects such as the Emu Swamp Dam proposal. 

 Wild Rivers Submission 1.20 Mb
We strongly support the Queensland Government's initiative to introduce standalone legislation to protect Queensland's wild rivers and we welcome the opportunity to comment on the Wild Rivers Policy: Explanatory Material & Draft Wild Rivers Bill 2005. This submission simultaneously addresses the Wild Rivers Policy Consultation Paper, February 2005, and the Wild Rivers Policy: Explanatory Material & Draft Wild Rivers Bill 2005.