1 April, 2015
Environment movement stands ready to work with new ministers for a more sustainable NSW
The NSW Nature Conservation Council (NCC) has welcomed the appointment of Environment Minister Mark Speakman, Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair as an opportunity for the government to enhance environmental protection and give people a greater say in development decisions.
“The election result showed clearly that the environment is a top-level concern for many voters, and they expect the government to do more to protect Nature in NSW,” NCC CEO Kate Smolski said. “Protection of water resources, forests, and wildlife played a prominent part, with all the major parties responding to broad community concerns.
“The Coalition government’s performance in the planning and environment portfolios during its first term in office was disappointing, and the people are demanding more be done to protect communities and nature in NSW. We are ready and willing to work constructively with the new ministers to turn around the government’s poor record in these areas over the next four years.”
Ms Smolski acknowledged the contribution of the outgoing Environment Minister Rob Stokes during his one year in the portfolio. Mr Stokes was responsible for creating Everlasting Swamp National Park, expanding the Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area and Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve, including The Drip Gorge in the Goulburn River National Park, and substantially increasing penalties for polluters.
Premier Mike Baird Tweeted on February 21: “NSW is #1 for the economy. We want to make NSW #1 for the environment, too.” In order to realise that ambition, Mr Baird must adopt the policies outlined in the environment movement’s vision for NSW, Our Environment, Our Future, including:
- Protecting protect water, farmland and sensitive natural areas from coal mining and CSG development, as promised.
- Restoring balance to the Mining SEPP, whichstill puts economic factors ahead of community and environmental interests during the assessment of mining and gas proposals.
- Restoring power to the people in the planning system, as promised.
- Restoring full protections to the 10 marine sanctuaries still affected by the amnesty on illegal fishing.
- Declaring the Sydney region a marine park.
- Retaining full protections for wildlife in any new conservation law the Coalition proposes will replace the Native Vegetation Act, Threatened Species Act and National Parks and Wildlife Act.
- Enhancing controls on forestry operations to better protect threatened wildlife, forest streams and critical fauna habitat.
- Ending grazing and logging in the national parks estate.
“There are many ways the government can quickly improve its record on environment protection and planning reform, and we look forward to working constructively with the new ministers to achieve that,” Ms Smolski said.
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