Areas of intensive agriculture in the GBR catchment, used to identify NMZs. High priority NMZs are Wet Tropics coastal, Burdekin coastal, and Mackay Whitsunday.
The NMZ Discussion Paper was launched for public consultation by the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin MP on 19 March 2007. Copies of the Technical Report and the Discussion Paper were sent to approximately 60 interest groups and made available on the Reef Plan website.
Over the two-month consultation phase, meetings were held with a broad range of groups and individuals in areas identified as high priority NMZs: the Wet Tropics, Burdekin, and Mackay/Whitsunday regions.
As part of this process, policy officers from DPI&F in Brisbane met with a broad range of sugarcane industry representatives in Mackay. Coordinated by DPI&F FutureCane staff, the meeting included individual sugarcane growers and sugarcane industry representatives in the Mackay region, including the Mackay Area Productivity Services, Mackay Mill Board, BSES, and MWNRM. Each group presented their work on improving nutrient management, with the presentation on NMZs sparking strong interest.
A second meeting took place the following day with approximately 20 growers from the region interested in NMZs and the implications they would have for their businesses. The group discussed the issues raised by the NMZ presentation, particularly voluntary management and government regulation. Generally, growers agreed that looking after local waterways that flow to the GBR was important, and that new farming systems are the most efficient way to keep nutrients, sediments, and pesticides on the farm.
In the main, growers supported the voluntary self-managed approach recommended in the Discussion Paper. However, they also acknowledged that those in the industry not implementing Six Easy Steps or other good nutrient practices might be targeted by the government in the future.
The meeting was followed by a bus trip, which took place with a further 45 farmers from the region. Several farm trial sites were visited, enabling farmers to see first hand how to implement farming efficiencies on their own sugarcane farms.
Other groups consulted during the two-month consultation phase included:
Consultation closed on 11 May 2007, with 29 detailed submissions received via the online feedback form and in hard copy. The majority of submissions accepted the selection of the three priority NMZs and supported the proposed policy of an industry-specific phased approach, with emphasis on industry-led voluntary approaches. Feedback also supported the alignment of NMZ and WQIP management targets, to avoid duplication. Work to align and progress these processes will continue into the 2007–08 year.
Find out more about NMZs.
Last reviewed 03 March 2008
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© The State of Queensland (Reef Water Quality Protection Plan) 2007.
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