By Hilary Tilton
BRIBIE ISLAND — Queensland environmentalists have been alerted to a possible attempt by the Goss Labour government to fast-track legislation to replace the current Queensland Local Government (Planning and Environment) Act. There are fears that the forthcoming legislation will undermine present environmental safeguards, and that opportunities for public input will be extremely limited.
It is alleged that the new legislation, being written in response to the demands of large developers, will be fast tracked through parliament and result in the downgrading of current planning requirements.
Under the new proposals, it is feared that development will become a private arrangement between developers and local councils. Developers will be able to gain approval much more easily for projects considered "appropriate" to a region, and will only have to meet planning criteria set by individual councils.
It is only too easy to imagine the loosely-framed criteria that would be set by some councils in an effort to attract development, and the disastrous effect this could have on the environment.
In a style reminiscent of the Bjelke Petersen era, it seems that the minister for housing, local government and planning, Terry Mackenroth is attempting to fast-track the legislation through parliament.
Usually governments, whether federal or state, follow "due process" before enacting a major piece of legislation; they publish a green discussion paper representing a range of views for public comment, a white paper setting down views supported by the government, and, finally, the bill. The white paper stage is vital as major changes can still be made if certain proposals are found to be unacceptable.
It is alleged that Mackenroth directed that a "sanitised" version of the discussion paper be released for public comment and that no green or, more importantly, white papers are to be presented.
The Goss government, through its "SEQ 2001" report is already encouraging further population growth in south east Queensland. If our fears are correct the proposed new legislation will facilitate further investment in the housing and construction industry there.
If we are to have any hope of preserving remnants of the envrionment along Queensland's eastern seaboard where the destructive effects of development can already be clearly seen, we must demand our right to a white paper. Only in this way can we have any input into legislation which will affect the environment for years to come. The motives of a government which denies that right to those it allegedly represents must be seriously questioned.