EDITION 69, MARCH 2016
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Behana Gorge saved from quarrying
Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt has marked one year of the Palaszczuk Government being in office with the removal of the Behana Gorge Key Resource Area (KRA) from the Cairns Regional Plan. Mr Pitt said he was thrilled to have delivered on a hard fought election commitment for locals. “Officially removing the Behana Gorge Key Resource Area (KRA) from the Cairns Plan was the best way to celebrate one year of the Palaszczuk Government being in office,” he said. "Like many locals I've grown up going to Behana Gorge, and residents and visitors alike have swum, canoed, fished and bush walked there. “Locals now have the peace of mind of knowing that this iconic attraction will be forever protected for generations. "I want to congratulate campaigners Paul and Emily Rossi as well as Traditional Owner Clive Murray for their efforts. "People power has stopped this again - hopefully, finally for the last time. Let's hope that this issue is dead, buried, cremated. “I’d like to thank the Deputy Premier for recognising the negative impact that an extractive industry in this location would have on local scenic
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qualities, tourism value, biodiversity, recreation activities and importantly the aboriginal cultural heritage in our area. “We promised the Palaszczuk Government would be one of consultation and locals can look forward with confidence to the future liveability of our community.” Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Jackie Trad, said the council produced a planning scheme that sets a clear direction for the future of Cairns. “I made sure that community concerns had been properly taken into account before I decided to approve the planning scheme,” Ms Trad said. “One of the issues I know the community has been particularly concerned about is the potential for an extractive industry to happen in a Key Resource Area (KRA) located on the road leading into Behana Gorge. “In approving the planning scheme, I have decided that the Behana Gorge Road KRA should not be shown in the scheme and I have taken action to remove the KRA from the State Planning Policy so it no longer applies to the scheme.”
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