Political columns from local members, such as Leslie Williams, keep us informed about important changes and improvements about new legislation, opportunities and policies affecting our region.
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Mrs Williams engages with community groups such as the Koala Hospital (including the visit of the Japanese Consul General to Billabong Zoo Koala Centre), the Yarranabee Creek and Port Macquarie Landcare Groups and the Cattai wetlands and advances their causes with local media.
Consequently, I, and no doubt voters, would be interested in Mrs Williams' views expressed in Cabinet and in party room meetings to the recommendations of the National Resources Commission's Land Management and Biodiversity Conservation Reform Review. Her views are important.
The Review, which is of the reporting mechanisms, not the impact of the reforms, never-the-less makes for sober reading: native vegetation land clearance approvals jumped 1300% from pre-reform average annual levels of 2,703 ha to 37,745 ha in less than 2 years.
Our region was among 9 of 11 regions with regional biodiversity risk ratings of high risk; 'set asides' and conservation areas fell below recommended levels of 75,000 ha by 37,000 ha.; review processes are inadequate; major reforms to approval processes are urgently needed.
Will Cabinet adopt the comprehensive NRC's recommendations and will legislation be revisited?
After all, taxpayer grants for wildlife, photo opportunities and spruking won't help biodiversity if land clearance continues at this rate.
Peter Buckley
Port Macquarie
