GRAZIERS say alarm bells are ringing over plans to declare the entire Etheridge Shire in Far North Queensland as a UNESCO 'global geo-park'.
AgForce Northern president Russell Lethbridge, who lives in the Etheridge Shire, said cattle production was the predominant industry in the shire. Graziers now wanted to know how a geo-park declaration would impact on their businesses, he said.
Mr Lethbridge said AgForce had organised a meeting to discuss the geo-park proposal at the Georgetown Town Hall from 2pm on June 16.
"The Etheridge Shire Council has announced they will seek a geo-park registration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), but haven't properly explained what it all means and how it will affect development opportunities," he said.
"Graziers have seen how the Queensland Government have used UNESCO as a justification for tougher vegetation management restrictions, so are understandably suspicious about a plan to declare a UNESCO 'Global Geopark' over an area of some 40,000 square kilometres.”
According to its website there are 127 UNESCO global geoparks in 35 countries.
“UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development,” the website reads.
“Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular.”
Mr Lethbridge said AgForce had been inundated with calls from far north graziers who wanted to know how a geo-park registration would impact on what they can and can't do on their land, while there are also concerns about how this will affect the Gilbert River irrigated agricultural precinct.
"This issue is generating a lot of heat and has united graziers in the Etheridge Shire like no other issue I've seen before, so it is important the council and proponents of the geopark explain the motivation behind the proposal."
"All landholders in the Etheridge Shire are invited to attend to tell us their views about the geo-park proposal, and to ask questions of council representatives," he said.
"Graziers currently have more questions than answers and the meeting is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the proposal and for proponents to outline their case.
"AgForce is committed to getting all the information to landholders so they can better understand the issue and make an informed decision based on all the facts."
