ALP to sell seven Queensland National Parks to property developers

Posted by admin on November 26, 2009

The Queensland Greens reacted angrily to the announcement by the Bligh government that private investors will be sought to build ‘eco-tourism’ holiday accommodation in seven Queensland national parks.

“It is outrageous to suggest that hotels and permanent accommodation facilities – just resorts by another name – can be built within these sensitive ecosystems without having massive environmental impacts,” said Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland, environmental lawyer Larissa Waters.

“This sort of activity is currently illegal under our nature conservation laws and for good reason. Construction and operation impacts from hotels would devastate national parks by creating edge effects which would see the natural values of the areas degraded and native wildlife utterly disturbed.

“National parks are not income streams for financially incompetent state governments – they are vital areas for preserving what little biodiversity we have left. National parks and profits simply do not mix.

“Our National Parks desperately need more management funding and more rangers, not to be prostituted to resort tycoons to boost state government coffers.

“By all means build eco-tourism facilities just outside of national parks to encourage more people to experience the beauty of Queensland’s diverse ecosystems – but not within the park’s boundaries,” concluded Ms Waters.