Mr KIELY - 2003-08-21
The Martin Labor government is committed to protecting Darwin’s wonderful harbour. Let me say, this is a great commitment, certainly to the people of Sanderson who drop into my office with a catch of crab or other fish fillets and give them to us. That is great, and they commend this government for their position. However, minister, I was wondering if you could please update the House on proposals to protect Darwin Harbour, not only for the people of Sanderson, but for all Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I was very pleased to receive the first draft of the Darwin Harbour Plan of Management by the chairman of the committee, John Bailey. I would like to thank him for the fantastic work he has done wit the members of the committee. Their work produced a fine document, which the government has now released for wide public consultation. The final draft is going to be delivered to us by November. The consultation period will conclude at the end of September.
The harbour, with its significant ecology, is used by people in Darwin. However, the harbour does not belong to any particular group; it belongs to all Territorians. It is a working harbour, it has significant cultural and historical values, and we have to balance environmentally and economically sustainable development for the harbour.
The committee consulted with people during the first round of consultation, and put in place what the community wants this government to do. This is the first time in the Territory that the government has produced a document like that, after wide consultation. It is the first time that this government is prepared to consider all recommendations when they come to us, because our purpose is to protect the harbour the way it is today.
If we destroy the harbour, if we do not take care of it, it will be impossible to rectify or to bring it back to today’s condition. Our harbour will be under continuous pressure from increased usage by the Defence Forces, new port, railway, and the LNG plant at Wickham Point. The harbour, as we are talking today, is not the harbour that it was two years. The harbour area has now been extended from Charles Point to Glyde Point. We are talking about a significant area of the sea. We should also include the areas that surround the harbour, because it contributes to anything that happens in the harbour, through run-off, erosion, or even mangroves.
I was very pleased, and I was also extremely impressed by the way people from different backgrounds, with different interests and agendas, managed to work together without any friction. We have the Friends of the Harbour, Mr Duncan Dean, who participated in the committee, as well as John Bailey. We had people from the shipping industry, AFANT, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry who worked together very well to make sure they produced a piece of work of high quality; and they have done just that.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I was very pleased to receive the first draft of the Darwin Harbour Plan of Management by the chairman of the committee, John Bailey. I would like to thank him for the fantastic work he has done wit the members of the committee. Their work produced a fine document, which the government has now released for wide public consultation. The final draft is going to be delivered to us by November. The consultation period will conclude at the end of September.
The harbour, with its significant ecology, is used by people in Darwin. However, the harbour does not belong to any particular group; it belongs to all Territorians. It is a working harbour, it has significant cultural and historical values, and we have to balance environmentally and economically sustainable development for the harbour.
The committee consulted with people during the first round of consultation, and put in place what the community wants this government to do. This is the first time in the Territory that the government has produced a document like that, after wide consultation. It is the first time that this government is prepared to consider all recommendations when they come to us, because our purpose is to protect the harbour the way it is today.
If we destroy the harbour, if we do not take care of it, it will be impossible to rectify or to bring it back to today’s condition. Our harbour will be under continuous pressure from increased usage by the Defence Forces, new port, railway, and the LNG plant at Wickham Point. The harbour, as we are talking today, is not the harbour that it was two years. The harbour area has now been extended from Charles Point to Glyde Point. We are talking about a significant area of the sea. We should also include the areas that surround the harbour, because it contributes to anything that happens in the harbour, through run-off, erosion, or even mangroves.
I was very pleased, and I was also extremely impressed by the way people from different backgrounds, with different interests and agendas, managed to work together without any friction. We have the Friends of the Harbour, Mr Duncan Dean, who participated in the committee, as well as John Bailey. We had people from the shipping industry, AFANT, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry who worked together very well to make sure they produced a piece of work of high quality; and they have done just that.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016