Petition urges state government to halt Sandy Strait plans
The state government is being asked to step in over the controversial Sandy Strait overhaul as backlash against the plans continue to grow.
Gympie
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The spectre of a class-action lawsuit has been raised as the backlash over the Sandy Straits plan continues, but state government representatives say a “fair and comprehensive” compensation will be offered.
A looming legal challenge is one of several concerns raised in an online petition calling for the government to put the brakes on the plan which will “irreparably devastate” the region’s seafood industry.
The petition, launched one week ago by Urangan resident Karl Adolfsen, is urging the state government to stop the consultation process until an independent investigation is carried out into the creation of the draft plan.
This would “restore the public’s confidence” in the management of the seafood industry, as well as avoid “a potential class action” the government would have to defend “at the cost of the Queensland taxpayer”, according to the petition.
It has drawn more than 980 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.
A Department of Environment spokeswoman did not comment on the petition, which is still open, but said help would be at hand for those impacted.
“A fair and comprehensive financial assistance and retraining package will be available for eligible impacted commercial fishers,” she said.
“This package will be developed in consultation with the commercial fishing industry following public feedback on the draft zoning plan.”
The petition joins a growing chorus of criticism about the plans from members of the fishing industry across the Fraser and Cooloola coasts.
Fraser Coast councillor David Lee was among those to flag concerns about the wide ranging impact the changes and new restrictions would have.
Mr Lee, speaking on his own behalf, said the potential job loss from the changes would further harm a region already grappling with youth unemployment of 17.8 per cent and adult unemployment of “about 9 per cent”.
He said this had to be taken into account and was concerned the process was being funnelled towards a “predetermined outcome”.
“It seems the commercial fishing industry has been thrown under a bus,” Mr Lee said.
This was compounded by the lack of any commercial fishing representative as part of the team announcing the draft plan at a September 23, 2022, press conference.
“It’s put a perception out there that the commercial fishing industry hasn’t been consulted,” Mr Lee said.
He invited Environment Minister Megan Scanlon to come to the Fraser Coast and consult with the community given the potential impact of the changes.
“A (department) team meeting is not good enough,” Me Lee said.
The DES spokeswoman said public consultation remained ongoing.
“On top of the current public consultation on the draft plan, the Department of Environment and Science is carrying out face-to-face consultation with local fishers across the Wide Bay,” she said.
“Throughout this week, DES staff members have met with fishers from the Fraser Coast and Tin Can Bay.”
She “strongly encouraged” people to have their say on the proposal, which is open for feedback until midnight October 23, 2022.
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