DOCSLIB.ORG

Water Resources of the Howard River Region, Northern Territory: a Report on the Social and Cultural Values and a Stakeholder Assessment of Water Use Scenarios

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Water Resources of the Howard River Region, Northern Territory: a Report on the Social and Cultural Values and a Stakeholder Assessment of Water Use Scenarios Water resources of the Howard River A reportregion, on the Northern social and cultural Territory: values and a stakeholder assessment of water use scenarios by Emma Woodward, Sue Jackson and Anna Straton CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2008 © 2008 CSIRO To the extent permitted by law, all rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of CSIRO. Copyright and Disclaimer CSIRO advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such information may be incomplete or unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must therefore be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. To the extent permitted by law, CSIRO (including its employees and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. TRaCK brings together leading tropical river researchers and managers from Charles Darwin University, Griffith University, University of Western Australia, CSIRO, James Cook University, Australian National University, Geoscience Australia, TropicalEnvironmental Rivers Research and Institute Coastal of the Knowledge Supervising Scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science, North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance and the Governments of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. TRaCK receives major funding for its research through the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities initiative; the Australian Government’s Raising National Water Standards Programme; Land and Water Australia and the Queensland Government’s Smart State Innovation Fund. Emma Woodward CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Darwin NT EnquiriesPMB 44 Winnellie NT 0822, Australia Phone: (08) 8944 8409 Email: [email protected] www.csiro.au Woodward, E., Jackson, S., and Straton, A. (2008) Water resources of the Howard River region, Northern Territory: A report on the social and cultural values and a stakeholder assessment of water use scenarios. CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems: CitationDarwin, 175 pages. ISBN: 978 0 643 09666 0 Main image: Keith McGuinness Centre banner images: Sarah Bartlett Cover photographs First Class in Graphic Design, Darwin. Design and layout Water resources of the Howard River region, Northern Territory 2 CONTENTS Contents Executive summary................................................................................................. viii Acknowledgements............................................................................................................xii 1. Introduction....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project aims .............................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Project design and report structure........................................................................... 2 1.4 Methodology.............................................................................................................. 3 1.4.1 Desktop study....................................................................................................... 3 1.4.2 Literature and documentary sources .................................................................... 3 1.4.3 AAPA register of Aboriginal sites.......................................................................... 4 1.4.4 Consultation with indigenous representatives ...................................................... 4 1.4.5 Consultation with non-indigenous representatives ............................................... 5 1.4.6 Impact assessment workshops............................................................................. 7 1.4.7 Consultation regarding impact assessment findings ............................................ 8 1.4.8 Report compilation................................................................................................ 8 2. Social and cultural values in water resource management......................... 10 2.1 National water policy and the role of water planning............................................... 10 2.2 Defining social and cultural values.......................................................................... 12 2.3 Social and cultural values in NT water management.............................................. 15 3. Description of the Howard River region........................................................ 17 3.1 Introduction and delineation of study area .............................................................. 17 3.2 Biophysical characteristics...................................................................................... 21 3.2.1 Landscape features, vegetation systems and biodiversity values ...................... 21 3.2.2 Lagoons and other wetlands and waterbodies ................................................... 27 3.2.3 Hydrology............................................................................................................ 32 3.3 Regional development context................................................................................ 38 3.3.1 Population........................................................................................................... 38 3.3.2 Land-use............................................................................................................. 38 3.3.3 Water use ........................................................................................................... 43 3.3.4 The NT’s statutory framework for water allocation planning ............................... 55 4. Social and cultural values of Howard River waterways and wetlands ....... 57 4.1 Indigenous use, cultural values and heritage.......................................................... 58 4.1.1 Sacred Sites – map and description................................................................... 61 4.1.2 Archaeological sites of significance.................................................................... 62 4.1.3 Military heritage .................................................................................................. 65 4.1.4 Register of the National Estate listings – Australian natural heritage sites......... 66 4.1.5 Recreational fishing ............................................................................................ 67 4.1.6 Motorbike and quad-bike riding .......................................................................... 69 4.1.7 Orienteering and rogaining ................................................................................. 69 i SOCIAL AND CULTURAL VALUES OF WATER IN THE HOWARD RIVER REGION 4.1.8 Off-road biking (mountain bikers)........................................................................ 70 4.1.9 Hunting................................................................................................................ 70 4.1.10 Aesthetics, nature study and appreciation .......................................................... 75 4.1.11 Bird watching ...................................................................................................... 75 4.1.12 Educational value................................................................................................ 76 4.1.13 Community cohesion arising from sense of place .............................................. 77 4.1.14 An ‘escape’ from Darwin ..................................................................................... 78 5. Identification of water bodies and wetlands of social and cultural significance ..................................................................................................... 79 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 79 5.2 Popular sites – their use and management ............................................................ 81 5.2.1 Black Jungle Swamp/Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve.......................... 81 5.2.2 Buffalo Creek ...................................................................................................... 82 5.2.3 Dutchies Lagoon ................................................................................................. 83 5.2.4 Fisher and Lyons Lagoons.................................................................................. 84 5.2.5 Girraween Lagoon............................................................................................... 84 5.2.6 Holmes Jungle .................................................................................................... 86 5.2.7 Howard River ...................................................................................................... 87 5.2.8 Howard Springs................................................................................................... 89 5.2.9 Howard Swamp and Hunting Reserve ................................................................ 93 5.2.10 Knuckey Lagoons ..............................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • FLOOD EXTENT and PEAK FLOOD SURFACE CONTOURS for 2100
    707500E 710000E 712500E 715000E 717500E 720000E 722500E 725000E 11 1 0 2 26 23 18 Middle Arm Road 19 22 BLACKMORE 17 19 27 25 18 1 NOONAMAH 2 19 ELIZABETH and BLACKMORE RIVER 23 3 5 24 20 CATCHMENTS — Sheet 2 25 4 20 4 COMPUTED 1% AEP RIVER 3 Aquiculture Farm Ponds 26 26 21 21 22 (1 in 100 year) 5 Middle Arm Boat Ramp 25 6 24 7 1 23 FLOOD EXTENT and 2 8 22 16 14 18 23 22 9 15 20 13 21 PEAK FLOOD SURFACE 24 10 1 19 12 17 20 23 CONTOURS for 2100 1 3 4 18 25 6 11 21 24 This map shows the Q100 flood and floodway extents caused by a 1% Annual 1.5 10 2 19 1.25 5 Exceedance Probability (AEP) Flood event over the Elizabeth and Blackmore 8600000N 8600000N 1.25 2 25 Keleson Road River Catchments. The extent of flooding shown on this map is indicative only, 17 Middle Arm Road 2 2 Strauss Field 26 hence, approximate. This map is available for sale from: 3 1.5 9 26 3 27 Land Information Centre, 1 1 8 27 3 1 2 Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment 3 1 3 7 16 1.5 1 3rd Floor NAB House, 71 Smith Street, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0800 28 29 29 Finn Road Finn 1.25 T: (08) 8995 5300 Email: [email protected] 6 30 2 28 31 GPO Box 1680, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0801. 3 31 15 4 5 14 27 33 This map is also available online at: 7 32 30 RIVER 6 7 8 10 35 www.nt.gov.au/floods http://nrmaps.nt.gov.au 9 13 11 12 8 26 32 Legend 2.5 4 5 25 34 3 24 6 Flood extent 3 7 24 8 23 Floodway, depth >2 metres (or velocity x depth > 1) 9 23 22 3 1.25 10 Peak flood surface contour, metres AHD 3 22 10.5 21 Creek channel / flow direction 21 20 Limit of flood mapping
    [Show full text]
  • Fishing the Tiwi Islands Welcome to Our Islands
    FISHING THE TIWI ISLANDS WELCOME TO OUR ISLANDS The Tiwi Islands are made up of Melville and Bathurst Islands and numerous smaller, adjacent islands. The Vernon Islands also form part of the Tiwi estate. The Tiwi Traditional Owners and custodians of the area welcome you to our islands and ask that you respect and recognise the cultural importance of our land and waters. CODE OF Conduct RESPect THE RIGHts OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS. • Understand and observe all fishing regulations and no fishing zones. Report illegal fishing activities to the FISHWATCH hotline 1800 891 136 or the Tiwi Land Council HQ at Pickataramoor - 08 8970 9373. • Take no more fish than your immediate needs and carefully return excess or unwanted fish into the water unharmed. • Be courteous to all water users and those who belong to local Tiwi communities. • Respect Tiwi cultural ceremonies. This may mean that a particular area is temporarily closed to access. • Do not land ashore without first obtaining a separate Aboriginal land permit, from the Tiwi Land Council and abide by alcohol restrictions for the area. • Respect sacred sites and do not enter any part of the waters containing identified sacred sites unless specifically permitted to do so by the Tiwi Land Council. • Do not clean or dispose of fish within the vicinity of a community. • Prevent pollution and protect wildlife by removing rubbish and dispose of correctly to avoid potentially entrapping birds and other aquatic creatures. TIWI AND VERNON ISLANDS zones PERMIT FREE access The Tiwi have agreed to provide permit free access to the intertidal waters of the Tiwi and the Vernon Islands in the areas as outlined in the attached map.
    [Show full text]
  • Entomologische Arbeiten Aus Dem Museum G. Frey Tutzing Bei München
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Entomologische Arbeiten Museum G. Frey Jahr/Year: 1963 Band/Volume: 14 Autor(en)/Author(s): Moore B. P. Artikel/Article: New or little known Australian Carabidae in the Frey Museum (Col.). 435-444 download Biodiversity Heritage Library, http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Ent. Arb. Mus. Frey 14, 1963 435 New or little known Australian Carabidae in the Frey Museum (Col.) by B. P. Moore (Canberra) The present report Covers a consignment of Australian carabids recently submitted to me for naming by the Frey Museum. The bulk of the material sent had been collected by Mr. H. Demarz in the extreme northern and northwestern portions of the Continent regions still relatively inaccessible to the general collector and therefore not at well documented from the ento- mological point of view. I have therefore thought it worthwhile to include Mr. Demarz's data from these areas for previously known species, so far as I have been able to identify them, in addition to the descriptions of inter- esting new forms which the consignment contained. The following notes thus Supplement those published by Dr. Straneo* in an earlier issue of this journal. In presenting them, I would like to thank Dr. Frey for the opportu- nity to study this material and for allowing me to retain duplicates and para- types for my collection. *) Ent. Arb. Mus. Frey, 11, 1960, pp. 416-423. Scaritinae Carenum devastator Cast. W. Australia: Perth City Beach (ix. 57); Dar- ling Range, near Armadale (vi.
    [Show full text]
  • Municipal Plan 2019-2020 Contents
    DRAFT Municipal Plan 2019-2020 Contents Mayor’s Opening ................................................................................. 3 Regulatory Services ....................................................................... 28 BUDGET OVERVIEW ..............................................................4 Finance ................................................................................................. 29 Information Services...................................................................... 30 Public Consultation and Submission Review ........................... 5 Community Development ........................................................... 31 Accessing the draft Municipal Plan ............................................5 Library Services ................................................................................ 32 Making a Submission ........................................................................5 Goverance and Risk ........................................................................ 33 Council Overview ................................................................................ 6 Thorak Regional Cemetery ......................................................... 34 Current Council’s Elected Members ........................................6 2019–20 Annual Budget Summary ............................................35 Litchfield Profile ................................................................................... 7 Operating Revenue increase 9.3% ..................................35 Our
    [Show full text]
  • Weddell Design Forum a Summary of the Outcomes of a Workshop to Explore Issues + Options for the Future City of Weddell
    Weddell Design Forum A Summary of the Outcomes of a Workshop to explore Issues + Options for the future City of Weddell 27 September - 1 October 2010 Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin A report to the Northern Territory Government from the consultant leaders of the Weddell Design Forum NOVEMBER 2010 Sustainable, Liveable Tropical, Contents Foreword By 2018, Palmerston will be at capacity, vacant blocks around Introduction 1 Darwin will be developed. Darwin is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia. While much of this growth will be absorbed by The Site + Growth Context 2 in-fill development in Darwin’s existing suburbs and new Palmerston suburbs, we have to start planning now for the future growth of the Community Input 4 Territory. Special Interest Groups 5 Our children and grandchildren will want to live in houses that are in-tune with our environment. They will want to live in a community Key Issues for Weddell 6 that connects people with schools, work, shops and recreation Scenarios 9 facilities that are within walking distance rather than a car ride away. Design Outcomes 10 Achieving this means starting now with good land use planning, setting aside strategic transport corridors and considering the Traffic + Streets 26 physical and social services that will be needed. Indicative Development Costs 27 The Weddell Conference and Design Forum gave us a blank canvas Conclusions + Recommendations 28 on which to paint ideas, consider the picture and recalibrate what we had created. Weddell Design Team 30 It was a unique opportunity rarely experienced by our planning professionals and engineers to consider the views of the community, the imagination of our youth and to engage with such a range of experts.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Territory) Act 1976
    Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 No. 191, 1976 Compilation No. 41 Compilation date: 4 April 2019 Includes amendments up to: Act No. 27, 2019 Registered: 15 April 2019 Prepared by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Canberra Authorised Version C2019C00143 registered 15/04/2019 About this compilation This compilation This is a compilation of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 4 April 2019 (the compilation date). The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law. Uncommenced amendments The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law. Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes. Editorial changes For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes. Modifications If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law.
    [Show full text]
  • Electorate Boundaries
    NT Por 3601 NT Por 4476 Wadham Lagoon Sec. 8 Sec. 1482 Sec. 4199 NT Por 6134 GIRRAWEEN NT Por 4732 Sec. 4857 ROAD ROAD 1 Sec. 2618 NT Por Sec. 3645 Sec. 447 Sec. 1595 6222 FREDS PASS Sec. RESERVE 2934 Sec. 397 Sec. 1801 Sec. Sec. NT Por 4419 Sec. 2639 317 HERBERT Sec. 4630 Sec. Sec. NT Por 4732 318 4631 3996 BLACK JUNGLE Sec. 30 Sec. 569 Sec. 568 Sec. 567 McMinns Sec. 1688 398 VIRGINIA Lagoon 29 Sec. 1732 Sec. 1603 Sec. 1530 26 PIONEER Sec. 1597 Sec. 1703 Sec. Sec. 316 3489 25 LAMBELLS Sec. 1605 Sec. 1611 LAGOON Sec. 1554 Reedy Sec. 572 Sec. 1724 Lagoon Sec. 1624 5 7 VIRGINIA Sec. 1606 Sec. 1610 FOGG 14 DAM Sec. 1609 Sec. 1608 Sec. 1607 4 Sec. 326 BEES CREEK Sec. Sec. Sec. 3433 3432 3431 Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. 325 324 Sec. 1555 3694 Sec. 471 470 469 Sec. 1580 HARRISON 2642 DAM Sec. 1849 HUMPTY DOO LAMBELLS LAGOON Sec. 1574 Sec. 1585 Sec. 1556 A STRANGWAYS ROAD Sec. Sec. 1704 GOYDER 3465 Sec. 12 34 Sec. 1621 Sec. 1580 35 Sec. Sec. 368 1543 Lily 3467 Sec. Sec. 3434 Sec. Pond DOXAS Sec. 3435 Sec. 1716 11 3466 Sec. 1655 Sec. 1654 2553 36 Sec. 1653 Sec. 1698 Sec. 1596 Sec. 1697 Sec. 1696 Sec. Sec. 4361 Sec. 1649 Sec. 3727 Sec. 491 1650 Sec. 1652 Sec. 1559 Sec. Sec. 1699 Sec. 373 1640 Sec. 1702 Sec. Sec. Sec. 1651 Sec. 3529 Sec. 1538 375 MIDDLE POINT 4588 Sec. Sec.
    [Show full text]
  • TLR3 038 73038 NT Humpty Doo Barramundi Farm FACT
    FOOD WITH MIGUEL MEASTRE TOP END BBQ’D BARRAMUNDI Miguel heads to Humpty Doo Barramundi farm just outside Darwin to check out Australia's favourite fish. The farm raises 'barra' from the runt stage right through to the dinner plate! And that's exactly what Miguel is after, but he's was catch it first. That means into the pen with a cricket helmet and his bare hands. With his catch of the day, Miguel cooks up a delicious barramundi dish with a spectacular NT sunset to finish. FAST FACTS • Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and the most northern city in Australia and is located on the coasts of the Timor Sea. • Darwin is situated at the top of the state and known as the ‘Top End’. • The population of Darwin is estimated to be around 127,532 and represents half of the Northern Territory population. • There are more crocodiles in the Northern Territory than anywhere else in the world. • Darwin has two distinct seasons; the ‘Wet’ is from November until April and the ‘Dry’ season from May to October, with plenty of activities on offer during both seasons. • At 1,352,172 sQ km Northern Territory is the third largest state in Australia behind Western Australia and Queensland. • Darwin has been rebuilt twice; first after being bombed by World War Two and secondly from Cyclone Tracey in 1974. Hence the modern-looking city. Source: http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/corporate.nsf/home/ABS+Offices+-+Northern+Territory http://www.travelnt.com/travelling-in-the-nt/weather-and-seasons.aspx HUMPTY DOO BARRAMUNDI Humpty Doo Barramundi produce year round supplies of premium Saltwater Barramundi.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Date 28/09/2021 05:31:59
    Dugong Status Report and Action Plans for Countries and Territories Item Type Report Authors Eros, C.; Hugues, J.; Penrose, H.; Marsh, H. Citation UNEP/DEWA/RS.02-1 Publisher UNEP Download date 28/09/2021 05:31:59 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/317 Figure 5.1 – The Palau region in relation to the Philippines and Indonesia. used to give dugong ribs to a carver who had died performed mainly at night from small boats powered with recently. Locally crafted jewellery from dugong ribs was outboard motors (>35hp). Most dugongs are harpooned on sale at a minimum of four stores in Koror in 1991. At after being chased. A hunter who used to dynamite least two of the retailers knew that this was illegal (Marsh dugongs (Brownell et al. 1981) claimed that he had et al. 1995). This practice had stopped by 1997 (Idechong ceased this practice in 1978. The hunters interviewed in & Smith pers comm. 1998). 1991 maintained that nets are never used to catch The major threat to dugongs in Palau is poaching. dugongs, although some of them knew that netting is an Although hunting is illegal, dugongs are still poached effective capture method. All the hunters were aware that regularly in the Koror area and along the western coast of killing dugongs is illegal. Their overwhelming motive for Babeldaob (Figure 5.2). The extent and nature of hunting hunting is that it is an exciting way to obtain meat. The was investigated by Brownell et al. (1981) and Marsh et illegality adds to the thrill.
    [Show full text]
  • Collection Name
    J S Battye Library of West Australian History Private Archives – Collection Listing MN 2553 Acc. 6811A MacPherson, Cedric William. C.W. MacPherson was born in Scotland and arrived in Western Australia as a boy. His father worked near Baandee. Since his early 20s he travelled much of Australia and South-East Asia gaining work as a fitter & turner, diesel driver, and engineer. He subsequently wrote about 80 articles for magazines such as “Walkabout”, “Australasian Post” and “Countryman” which he illustrated with photographs taken during his travels. He died, aged 60, of lung cancer on 8 September 1966 as a result of living in Wittenoom for six months. The Papers The papers were donated by Maidie Smith in March 1996 (Acc. 6811A). Holdings = 0.24m Access The J S Battye Library provides access to original material. In some situations, this may not be possible and alternative formats such as microfilm, microfiche, typescripts or photocopies are supplied for researchers’ use. Where alternative formats are available, these must be used. Copyright Restrictions The Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968 regulates copying of unpublished material. It is the user’s legal obligation to determine and satisfy copyright. Summary of Classes ARTICLES DIARIES HISTORY PHOTOGRAPHS POETRY SCRAP BOOK ARTICLES 6811A/1 November 1965 The Tragedy at Dalbercutting Spring Station by C.W. MacPherson published in ‘Parade’ magazine pages 12 and 13. The spearing of Edward Clarkson , Doodlakine, 1865. 6811A/2 10 March 1966 N.W. pioneers walked over a fortune, by C.W. MacPherson published in The Countryman, page 60. Early exploration and settlement of the Hamersley Ranges.
    [Show full text]
  • Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae
    Zootaxa 4695 (1): 001–025 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4695.1.1 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:54231BE1-08B9-492E-8436-3A3B1EF92057 Caridina biyiga sp. nov., a new freshwater shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) from Leichhardt Springs, Kakadu National Park, Australia, based on morphological and molecular data, with a preliminary illustrated key to Northern Territory Caridina JOHN W. SHORT 1, TIMOTHY J. PAGE 2 & CHRISTOPHER L. HUMPHREY 3 1 BioAccess Australia, PO Box 662, Burpengary Qld 4505, Australia. E-mail: [email protected] 2 Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia. E-mail: [email protected] 3 Supervising Scientist Branch (Heritage, Reef and Marine Division), Department of Environment & Energy, PO Box 461, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Caridina biyiga sp. nov. is described from Leichhardt Springs, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, based on morphological and molecular data. The new species is highly distinctive among its congeners in having the dactylus of pereiopod 5 similar to the dactyli of pereiopods 3–4 and lacking the comb-like row of spiniform setae typical of the genus. The branchial formula is also distinctive for the genus in lacking an arthrobranch at the base of pereiopod 1 and in having a vestigial epipod on maxilliped 1. Despite the distinctive morphology of the new species, the molecular data did not provide strong support for the recognition of a new genus.
    [Show full text]
  • 28 August 2020 to Whom It May Concern, Submission
    28 August 2020 NT Planning Commission GPO Box 1680, DARWIN NT 0801 Via email [email protected] ​ To whom it may concern, Submission - Planning for Gunn Point Peninsula The Keep Top End Coasts Healthy (KTECH) is an alliance of environment groups including the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Environment Centre of the Northern Territory. We welcome the opportunity to comment on the Planning for Gunn Peninsula and Glyde Point. Glyde Point is an area of significant cultural importance with high conservation, tourism, fishing and cultural values, including mangroves, coral reefs, rainforest and woodlands. The area is a feeding ground for endangered turtle and dugong species; it is a highly valued recreational fishing area for the Top End community and sustains other fishing areas nearby; and it contains significant cultural sites and areas of ongoing use for the Traditional Owners. Clearing thousands of hectares of land, dredging a port, and installing heavy industry here would destroy what the Top End community holds dear about this place. The NT Government recognised this in October 2007 when, after a sustained period of broad community opposition to a similar massive land clearing and port dredging proposal, it designated the area Public Open Space and protected it from more inappropriate development. Reversing this protection now makes no sense for the environment or for our community. Our submission below focuses on the harmful impacts that this massive industrial development would have for our coasts and the people who love them. This proposal to develop a massive port and industrial estate and a town of 36000 at Gunn Peninsula and Glyde Points will undo over a decade of protection of this area.
    [Show full text]