Queensland government: protect our desert rivers from fracking

The Queensland government is asking for community views on whether to protect the rivers and floodplains of the Lake Eyre Basin in South West Queensland from new gas developments.

The government has released a consultation paper which sets out a range of options for regulating new gas projects in the area: from allowing continued expansion of the gas industry through to banning all new gas projects.

We have drafted a submission below based on the strongest possible protections for the Channel Country - increasing the mapped protected areas, banning new coal and gas projects and expanding the definition of what needs ...

The Queensland government is asking for community views on whether to protect the rivers and floodplains of the Lake Eyre Basin in South West Queensland from new gas developments.

The government has released a consultation paper which sets out a range of options for regulating new gas projects in the area: from allowing continued expansion of the gas industry through to banning all new gas projects.

We have drafted a submission below based on the strongest possible protections for the Channel Country - increasing the mapped protected areas, banning new coal and gas projects and expanding the definition of what needs to be protected.

This is a historic moment. If we’re successful it will be the first no-go zone ever for gas in Queensland. But it’s only possible if as many of us add our voice. Please feel free to adapt the submission below by adding your personal experiences and views. You can see the full consultation paper at https://www.des.qld.gov.au/our-department/public-notices/lake-eyre-basin-consultation-ris

+

Send a submission to the Queensland government

4,820 emails sent

Please send a submission using our form below. Feel free to personalise the submission, but be sure to include the recommendations regarding the options - this will give your submission the most power.

Where do you live?

Compose your email

Name

Email

Phone

Invalid phone number

Subject:

Protection of Lake Eyre Basin rivers and floodplains
Submission on the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement

Dear Queensland Department of Environment and Science,

Thankyou for the opportunity to make a submission regarding the Queensland Government’s implementation of its promise to enact strong and lasting protections for the precious rivers and floodplains of Queensland’s Lake Eyre Basin.

This iconic area is one of the world’s last free-flowing river systems. It’s home to incredible biodiversity, including many vulnerable and endangered species. It’s also a special place for First Nations people, whose connection to country goes back tens of thousands of years and remains living and vital today. The floodplains are also home to a thriving organic beef industry.

The Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement released by the Department of Environment and Science clearly articulates the risks to this iconic area posed by any further oil and gas extraction.

Given all of this, it’s critical that the strongest possible protections are put in place. On that basis, I endorse:

Spatial Option 3 - This regulatory option provides the most appropriate level of protection, ensuring that regulations apply to the ecologically, economically and culturally significant areas of the rivers and floodplains

Regulatory Option 4 - It’s my view that no future oil and gas activities should occur in the regulated areas.

Environmental Attributes Option 2 - This option best recognises and protects the globally significant environmental values of the Lake Eyre Basin.

These three actions, appropriate spatial definition, regulatory protection and acknowledgement of appropriate environmental attributes, are required to preserve the unique ecological values of the area for future generations, and to meet the expectations of traditional custodians, graziers, local residents and the broader Australian public.

In addition to the urgent need to protect floodplains from the impacts of drilling and related infrastructure, it is clear further expansion of oil and gas is incompatible with Queensland’s stated emissions reductions targets and global efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Consultation is just the first step. I urge the Government to enact regulatory changes as soon as possible to protect the Lake Eyre Basin rivers and floodplains and avoid a rush of applications to extract oil and gas.

How we use the data you enter on this form

Do Gooder (the advocacy platform powering this online action) processes personal information from you that you enter on this form so that we can provide the functions and related services to you and The Campaigner (the organisation responsible for this online action) for their legitimate purposes, including possibly exporting it to other systems, and to effectively respond to enquiries and communications related to those services.

Specifically when you enter:

Your location data (residential address or postcode) it is used to locate your elected representative, to pre-populate your email signature and to provide The Campaigner with a visualisation of the location of the support for this campaign.
All other data you may enter, including your email address, name, telephone number, commentary and so on is used by The Campaigner to advocate for the campaign’s goals and where required may be sent to the target of the campaign.

The data collected by Do Gooder is also used by us in aggregate form to improve the service and may be held on your behalf outside your country of residence by our third party service providers. These providers are bound by contract to only use personal information on our behalf, in accordance with agreed terms. While the privacy laws of the country in which personal information is stored or transferred may be different from those in your country, we will always have safeguards in place when storing or transferring personal information. We will never sell, rent, loan or in any other way pass your information on to other parties other than to provide this service to you and The Campaigner.

The personal information collected by Do Gooder is held subject to a Data Processing Agreement between Do Gooder and The Campaigner in compliance with the EU's GDPR and Australian law.

Learn more about our privacy policy here

How is my data used?