Save the Daintree

  • Pressure is growing to develop parts of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. There are plans for a Gas Fired Power Station to supply reticulated electricity and pressure has been mounting to build bridge across the Daintree River and widening and straightening the Cape Tribulation Road.
  • The exceptional biological and scientific values of the Daintree Coast mean the conservation, presentation and transmission of those values to future generations must take priority.
  • A thriving tourism economy is also founded on conservation and presentation.
  • The Daintree Lowland Rainforest in North Queensland is the oldest rainforest on the planet, with an unbroken evolutionary history going back over 120 million years to the first flowering plants. Lets not change that now.

Will you sign?

 

To the Douglas Shire Council, Queensland Government and Australian Government.

Dismiss current proposals for further development in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest and work together and with other stakeholders to develop a conservation management plan for the area.

 

Background

Over 30 years ago a group of activists put their bodies on the line to prevent a road being built through the Daintree Lowland Rainforest from Cape Tribulation to Cooktown. The Bloomfield Track was eventually built, however, resulting from the protests known as the Daintree Blockade the Wet Tropics rainforests of North Queensland were inscribed on the World Heritage list. Many people assumed Australia’s most biodiverse rainforest would be protected forever.

“Within the region, the Daintree River to Cape Tribulation coast has a special status. It is the last surviving, essentially intact, tropical lowland rainforest in Australia. It has one of the highest diversity of plant families anywhere in the world. Its rarity, fame and superlative beauty make it one of the foundations of the region’s economy. It is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Areas meet.” - IUCN

Unfortunately, plans have resurfaced for further development in an area most Australians thought was secure from development. Only now the threat is even more significant. With plans for widening and straightening the main road comes calls for a bridge over the Daintree River as well as a gas fired power station to provide reticulated electricity. The Australian Government is even considering subsidising development – and right at a time when it has no money for conservation.

This is one place where conservation should come before development, yet there is no shared vision for the Daintree’s future and there is no conservation management plan for the area.

The Australian Government once protected the area by supporting its listing as a World Heritage Area yet it is now considering its support for widening and straightening the main road from the Daintree River through to Cooktown. The project will require extensive earthworks and clearing of significant rainforest and will result in a massive increase in traffic as well as a bridge over the Daintree River. That same government is supporting planning to build a gas-fired power plant on the Daintree Coast to reticulate mains power through the area. There are also calls for a bridge or second ferry to increase vehicle access to the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.

In the Mid 1980’s a pro-development State Government inappropriately rezoned leasehold and freehold in the Daintree Lowlands Rainforest, enabling a developer to subdivide it into approximately 1,100 blocks. This has resulted in inappropriate road building, clearing and development of high conservation value rainforest. IN the 1990’s and 2000’s the Douglas Shire Council, and the Queensland and Australian governments all contributed financially to the purchase or ‘buyback’ of freehold land aimed at preventing development and winding back the impacts of the subdivision. For 25 years, this has been complemented through acquisitions by local and national non-profit conservation organisations. These new proposed developments would give support for further rural residential development and must be stopped.

 

Letter            

Cr. Michael Kerr, Douglas Shire Council Mayor. 

The Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP, Queensland Government Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Australian Government Minister for the Environment. 

 

We, the undersigned, call on the Douglas Shire Council, Queensland Government and Australian Government to dismiss current proposals for further development in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest that include an upgraded coast road, a bridge over the Daintree River and reticulated mains electricity generated by a gas-fired power station.

The Daintree Lowland Rainforest is a place of extraordinary scientific, biological cultural values that are irreplaceable. It is a foundation of the regional economy and an icon that Australians thought was adequately protected. Yet it has no overall vision or management plan. The mix of world heritage, national parks, traditionally owned land and freehold title mean management responsibility is spread between agencies, local residents and traditional owners with poor co-ordination across key issues like clearing, weeds, pests, domestic animals, visitor facilities, presentation, community infrastructure, transport and access. It is therefore proposed the local, state and Australian governments design and fund a community-based Conservation Management Plan covering the entire ecosystem of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, regardless of tenure. Key interests are World Heritage Area, Daintree National Parks, Native Title and freehold land.

We call on the Douglas Shire Council, Queensland Government and Australian Government to work together and with other stakeholders to develop a conservation management plan before any further investment in infrastructure is considered in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.  

Yours faithfully,

1,972 signatures
  • Paula Camboni
    signed 2022-01-24 08:51:35 +1100
  • Mark Allaway
    signed 2022-01-20 14:10:36 +1100
    As a Victorian who has visited the Daintree, I rely of the local communities to decide what is best for development based on conservation and ecology. I trust the knowledgeable people to make the right call on energy and infrastructure to protect the region’s values for the long term. And I support R4F to voice any concerns about planning for the benefit of people and the environment. Govt needs to heed the risks of going down the ‘development at all costs’ path and I have signed this petition to add my voice of caution.
  • Julie Fauchelle
    signed 2022-01-20 12:58:40 +1100
  • John Penhallow
    signed 2022-01-17 16:10:23 +1100
  • Elliot Thevathasan
    signed 2022-01-16 11:51:42 +1100
  • Stephen Gray
    signed 2022-01-10 23:28:36 +1100
  • Stephen Laan
    signed 2022-01-09 11:45:25 +1100
  • Monica Hersburgh
    signed 2022-01-03 16:18:13 +1100
  • MAtthew L
    signed 2022-01-02 13:00:12 +1100
  • Sue Strodl
    signed 2021-12-31 09:26:31 +1100
  • Gemma Wilby
    signed 2021-12-30 10:32:30 +1100
  • Richard Benett
    signed 2021-12-24 22:42:32 +1100
  • Sarah Garvey
    signed 2021-12-24 10:27:03 +1100
  • Katy bowman
    signed 2021-12-23 21:10:45 +1100
  • Rachel Broderick
    signed 2021-12-23 18:33:06 +1100
    I am a proud member of the Kuku-Yalanji people, that has exclusive rights and non exclusive rights to many ‘native title’ claims posed and accepted on the 09/12/2007 by Justice Allsop of the Federal Court of Australia.


    The Daintree Forest and the Kuku-Yalanji people roughly translate to the same meaning. The people of the Forest. The Daintree Forest for the most part is a 180 million year old, World Heritage listed site.

    It can not be replaced.


    Please view this link:

    http://www.nntt.gov.au/News-and-Publications/latest-news/Pages/NativetitlerecognisedinDaintree.aspx


    I am perplexed and horrified by this callous decision making regarding the construction or any type of corruption to this site.


    In these turbulent times, rainforests, such as these, are frankly, the reason why we can live and breathe on this beautiful planet we call Earth. 80% or more of the world’s biota exists in these places. The amount of carbon emissions they absorb is staggering.


    If this is native title land, unless otherwise stated (link above) isn’t it solely and wholly preserved, conserved and managed by the Eastern Kuku-Yalanji people? Please advise otherwise if this is not the case?


    Whether or not it is protected under ‘native title law,’ why do you see fit to destroy my culture and a World Heritage Listed Site that you, as a sentient being, need also to survive?


    The fact that we need to buy our land in order to protect it from destruction is abhorrent.


    Think first before you act. This forest holds many species, with no record, due to the complex diversity, within every different niche, that only exist here.


    Do not destroy this world. In order to make a change, be the change you want to make.


    Sincere regards,


    Rachel Mary ‘Midge’ (Monaghan) Broderick
  • Samantha Hardy
    signed 2021-12-23 01:14:55 +1100
    Important we save Daintree Rainforest
  • Bruce Hill
    signed 2021-12-15 11:43:35 +1100
  • Celina Cacho
    signed 2021-12-15 06:44:13 +1100
  • Noah Bruce-Allen
    signed 2021-12-12 17:15:21 +1100
  • tam ryan
    signed 2021-12-01 17:38:57 +1100
    thanks
  • Jodi Shepherd
    signed 2021-12-01 14:17:35 +1100
  • Dr Susanne Armstrong
    signed 2021-11-30 00:35:57 +1100
  • Paula Keegan
    signed 2021-11-29 09:59:22 +1100
  • Ewa Walczuk
    signed 2021-11-27 11:42:06 +1100
  • Laura Grawert
    signed 2021-11-19 17:52:17 +1100
  • Nathan Pring
    signed 2021-11-18 19:16:48 +1100
    I realise running an economy has it’s challenges, but anyone that believes it’s acceptable to continue eroding and ultimately destroying the Daintree ‘especially people in a position of power’ don’t belong on this planet! The oldest rainforest in the world needs our protection!
  • Grant Nicholson
    signed 2021-11-10 11:50:32 +1100
  • Eleni Gotsis
    signed 2021-11-08 20:38:29 +1100
  • Holly Brown
    signed 2021-11-08 17:08:39 +1100
  • cathy hall
    signed 2021-11-08 11:10:48 +1100
    Future human thriving is dependent upon the Daintree’s unique biodiversity.