DEREK TIPPER

The Queensland LNP Government has set a March 25 deadline for public comment on controversial changes to land use in Cape York, creating the impossible task of properly consulting with remote communities over the wet season.

Wilderness Society Cape York campaigner, Kerry Trapnell, said more time was needed to avoid uncertainty, division and bad land use decisions.

Cape York has widely recognized very high environmental values, including World Heritage values.

“This Cape York land use plan ignores the wishes of landowners, creating uncertainty and with it division and bad land use decisions,” Mr Trapnell said.

“As many people with an interest in Cape York need the opportunity to be consulted and have their say, if this plan hopes to properly reflect the interests of the region.”

Mr Trapnell said the draft plan failed to set aside areas wholly for environmental protection, as promised by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney at the start of the Cape York Regional Planning process in 2012.

He said there was widespread agreement at a recent regional land use forum to slow down the process so that the plan was truly inclusive of Cape York residents and landholders.

“The promise of this Draft Plan to give a voice to the people of the region will not be realised given the timing of the limited consultation to coincide with the wet season,” Mr Trapnell said.

“The people of Cape York are being let down by a government process that promised much but is failing to deliver.

“There was widespread agreement from all sectors and representatives at a recent Cape York Forum in Cairns that the current consultation process was likely to leave residents and land owners without a say on the draft.

"‘Not only is the consultation process seriously inadequate, the plan itself is ambiguous and missing critical information needed by anyone wishing to make an informed decision.”

Mr Trapnell said experienced ecologists and ecotourism experts had been approached to overview Cape York’s world class environmental values and ecotourism potential, in order to provide some sensible balance to future discussions.