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
  • Nancy Hatch
    signed 2021-11-06 20:18:16 +1100
  • Dorottya Fabian
    signed 2021-11-01 06:11:54 +1100
    One of my greatest outdoor experience was a visit to the Daintree Rainforest. Hearing about its shrinking size makes me shudder. When are we humans learn to leave some place for trees, plants and animals? When will we learn to protect forests, especially such unique and ancient ones? All developments, including road building should stop in the Daintree. Please! in the name of future generations, save the Daintree!
  • Emma Mcauliffe
    signed 2021-10-30 19:40:48 +1100
  • Katrina James
    signed 2021-10-30 11:58:22 +1100
    Biodiversity is essential to keep our planet healthy!
  • Jeff Urquhart
    signed 2021-10-25 00:01:22 +1100
  • Margaret Lucas
    signed 2021-10-24 23:39:10 +1100
  • Barry Marshall
    signed 2021-10-24 18:20:28 +1100
  • Ross Walker
    signed 2021-10-24 16:56:07 +1100
    Politicians who promote the development of this precious natural resource will never receive my support, nor vote.
  • Stephen Oo
    signed 2021-10-24 14:02:04 +1100
  • Rebecca Chapple
    signed 2021-10-24 12:49:34 +1100
  • White Tammy
    signed 2021-10-24 12:21:10 +1100
  • Rosalie Miles
    signed 2021-10-24 10:34:49 +1100
  • Wendy Miller
    signed 2021-10-24 10:27:24 +1100
  • Jen Bashford
    signed 2021-10-24 10:21:45 +1100
  • Angela Eads
    signed 2021-10-24 10:02:15 +1100
  • Violaine Gabriel
    signed 2021-10-24 09:47:41 +1100
  • Riley Williams
    signed 2021-10-24 09:43:49 +1100
  • Tracey Vonarx
    signed 2021-10-24 09:42:05 +1100
  • Spero Tsapaliaris
    signed 2021-10-24 09:18:02 +1100
    Please protect, conserve and expand the Daintree forest for future generations.


    There is only 1 daintree and god is not making any more, so it’s importance for science, biodiversity and humanity cannot be overstated. We should not destroy what we cannot recreate.
  • Colin Ward
    signed 2021-10-24 09:07:51 +1100
  • Haydn Burgess
    signed 2021-10-24 07:57:00 +1100
  • Robyn James
    signed 2021-10-24 06:29:09 +1100
    Please ensure the last remaining areas of lowland rainforest habitat are preserved for all generations who will follow us.
  • Mark Thorpe
    signed 2021-10-24 00:52:23 +1100
    This unique environment must be saved.
  • Ruth Rogers
    signed 2021-10-18 06:23:16 +1100
  • Carolyn Stone-Reynolds
    signed 2021-10-17 10:43:45 +1100
  • John Rimmer
    signed 2021-10-15 23:50:18 +1100
  • kym tregenza
    signed 2021-10-13 22:51:06 +1100
  • Richard Amyouni
    signed 2021-10-13 08:36:39 +1100
  • Helena Smetana
    signed 2021-10-12 09:07:19 +1100
  • Victoria Schmidt-Muller
    signed 2021-10-11 21:15:02 +1100