QLD: Minister blasts land management scare campaign

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-1999
QLD: Minister blasts land management scare campaign

Queensland's Environment Minister ROD WELFORD says rural leaders are using a scare
campaign to block property management guidelines under consideration by the state government.

Rural leaders have claimed property values will be slashed by up to 80 per cent if the
government's new plans for vegetation and water management are put in place.

United Graziers Association president NOEL KENNEDY says farmers who have invested heavily
in irrigation systems will lose out if water allocations are cut following protests by
environmentalists pushing for increased flows in rivers and creeks.

Mr KENNEDY says the government is also preparing to enforce vegetation clearing limits
applying to leasehold properties to freehold land as well.

But Mr WELFORD is urging the rural groups to play a constructive role, while the
Queensland Conservation Council says farmers will be better off under new river management and
vegetation protection laws, despite their claims.

AAP RTV geb/rsm/rp

KEYWORD: VEGETATION (BRISBANE)

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