AgForce is convening a public meeting in Georgetown in the wake of an outcry over the Etheridge Shire Council’s plan to register the shire as a geo-park.
As recently reported by the North Queensland Register, shire mayor Warren Devlin is championing the plan for the shire’s geological wonders to form the basis of a tourism push via geo-park registration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in what would be a first for Australia.
It’s a plan that has some residents fearing it will invite eventual control by international Green interests.
Linda Barns mines at Percyvale Station and she said it would completely change her way of life.
“We have been told by geologists who’ve experienced this before, that even something like lick blocks would be considered as contaminating the ground under these rules,” she said.
“Once locals have been made aware of the restrictions, they are white-hot with rage.”
She described it as a fourth and most prescriptive layer of government, and she feared the ultimate cost to council ratepayers.
John McFarlane is semi-retired at Mackay but has lived around Georgetown, where his parents were the original “sod-busters”, growing cotton and sending it to Rockhampton, and he describes UNESCO as like a spear grass seed.
“Their bedfellows are the UN, World Heritage and groups that are against mining and development and more importantly control of what happens in the defined area.
“You can bet your bottom dollar there will be a big cash grant from UNESCO to get the show on the road and it will be very attractive.
“Please take your time with this – the shire has the goods so control it yourselves and don't hand it over and lose your sovereignty.”
John claimed that simple operations like property roads, dams, fencing, farm/mine buildings and animal husbandry practices would come under the proposal.
“When you get it in writing in plain simple English a guarantee that World Heritage and fellow groups will have no input or control then and only then would it be worth a second look.”
He said the shire should put its efforts into travel agents, tourisms groups and universities to promote its assets.
A citizen’s petition telling council it opposes any agreement with UNESCO for a geo-park over the shire has gathered 111 signatures so far, from a shire with 574 on the electoral roll.
Much of the concern has landed in the lap of AgForce regional president, Russell Lethbridge, which he put down in part to a lack of information.
“AgForce hasn’t taken a stand one way or another – we are just providing the opportunity for people to talk openly,” he said.
“The people proposing this need to stand up and answer questions.
“We’re not trying to pre-empt anything – everyone will hear the same story and make their own minds up.”
He said that when people heard the word “UNESCO”, they immediately imagined a big stick coming down, sending them into defence mode.
“I guess I want to know why the whole shire should be implicated,” Russell said. “We have some wonderful structures but 98 per cent of the shire is beef cattle grazing.”
The public meeting will take place at Georgetown on June 16 at 2pm at the Georgetown Hall.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
