Queensland’s regional NRM groups have agreed on a position around minimising the impacts of development on Queensland’s natural resources.

Andrew Drysdale, CEO Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective said the position paper was developed as a result of community concern around managing land use change in an increasingly complex economic and social environment.

“The demand for Queensland’s natural resources is increasing in response to global population growth and associated energy and food requirements,” Drysdale said. “Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective has considered key pressures and challenges believed to lie ahead for Queenslanders and as a result, we feel strongly that land use change must be carried out in a manner that maintains the integrity and function of surrounding biological, aquatic and terrestrial systems.”

The position paper includes a set of operating codes and the Collective is hoping to work with industry for voluntary adoption of those codes. The operating codes cover areas such as vegetation and biodiversity; riverine, floodplains and wetlands; associated water; land and soils; and weeds and pest animals.

The release of the position paper is timely given the Queensland Government’s recent announcement of a Green Paper around conserving and managing strategic cropping land.

“In addition to working with industry, we will also be working with Governments to improve legislative frameworks for protecting our natural resources,” Drysdale said, “and we are seeking appointments with ministers in coming months to brief them on our position.”

Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective represents fourteen regional not for profit natural resource management groups across the state. A copy of the position paper is available for download below or by contacting Lane Pilon 07 4699 5000.