Ready to write to your MP, here's some help

[Chris Ryan]

Hi all,

Attached is a pro-forma letter written in MS Word that you can send to your local MP. Change the sections in red text (make sure you change the colour too!) and post it off. You can cut & paste to an email but a tangible written letter holds more weight as it holds your written signature and they must respond to you. Send another to the head bureaucrat of the EPA as a CC: receiver to your letter, that is send a copy of the letter you write to the MP to this person below.

The person within EPA to address this to is:

Terry Wall
Director-General
Environmental Protection Agency
PO Box 15155,
City East QLD 4002

Also once you have sent the letter, ring them a few days later and ask if they have read it and what their response is. Offer to meet with them to discuss your concerns and grab a few mates to go with you and make sure one of them is the local bait/tackle/chandlery/trailer/mechanic business owner.

Let's get cracking and send them hundreds and thousands of letters.;D

Any questions just holler. See you at the boat rally this Saturday.

Cheers,
Chris

p.s. to see who your local member is and how to contact them, look here at this link
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/legislativeAssembly/members.asp?area=members&LIndex=1&Subarea=members

and the opposition contacts are here
http://www.qgd.qld.gov.au/nma/nma005.html

[Lucky_Phill]

Thanks Chris,

Letter was printed off this morning, signed and posted.

I think I will even make an appointment to see my member as in his ' personal ' section of things listed in his profile, he has ' fishing ' as an interest. Therefore, I assume he will be concerned about the Moreton Bay issue.

Phill

[manchild]

I have it from the inside that a handwritten letter worth a 1000 emails.
George

[Et the et]

I have added a couple of points and am ready & keen to stick in mail ASAP but I need someone to explain to me the "economic cost figure of $1.2b - $2b - how is this calculated?

[Fafnir]

Good idea to add a few points. Makes it harder for the pollies to come up with a standard templated response. I would urge everyone to take the time to POST this letter, like manchild said it's worth a lot more than an email.

[Chris Ryan]

I can only go on advice of those involved in reporting the figures but most of the info used to get the numbers is publicly available I'm told.

The GBRMPA have had a "restructuring grants" system to pay what is effectively compensation to businesses affected by the closures up there. KMPG prepared the documents on behalf of the people submitting claims of which there is an edict of some sort from the Government to pay only 1/3 of the value of the claims received. So far there has been $222m paid. So the true value of the impact is $666m

SE QLD has an industry the same as that in NQ which is 3 times the size of that of NQ. So using this, $666m x 3 = $1,998m ($2billion). Using the number of registered boats however that number reduces down so that is why I made the range to cover both ends of the scale.

Hope that helps.
Chris

[Et the et]

Thanks Chris, got your email.
My letter in the mail on way to rally in morning!

[reelchippy]

Thanks chris mine on the way

[reelchippy]

Well got this back from MP

18089

[Chris Ryan]

Thanks Reelchippy.

The State Members have recently been given a fact sheet for responding to the publics questions on the draft plan in a way similar to the letter above. Here is the info from the sheet they were given so you can prepare or align your comments to it. Also shows how the Government are having to sell this hard to the MP's.

Chris

MORETON BAY MARINE PARK

DRAFT ZONING PLAN



Fact Sheet



1. Green Zones.

· Green zones were selected through a process that addressed scientific guiding principles.

· One of these principles was to minimise impacts on marine park users as much as possible.

· Data about recreational fishing came from many sources including:

o approximately 15,000 fishing trips reported in the DPI&F Recreational Fishing Information System Diary Program;

o Australian National Sportsfishing Association tagging records;

o Queensland Game Fishing Association competition records;

o EPA’s purpose designed on-line survey completed by 800 recreational fishers;

o input from the EPA Stakeholder Reference Group; and

o meetings with recreational fishing industry leaders.

· Analysis of the DPI&F diary information suggests only around 5% of fishing effort is conducted in the 15% of green zones.

· Many of the proposed green zones already excluded recreational fishing under DPI&F legislation (Flat Rock, Cherubs Cave, Henderson Rock, Coombabah Lake) or are only minor expansions to the current green zones (Tripcony Bight, Flinders Reef, Peel Island, Willis Island and Swan Bay).

· A long list of remaining fishing areas includes: Jacobs Well, Jumpinpin, Point Lookout, Scarborough, Woody Point, Pine River, Redcliffe, Bribie’s ocean beaches, Dunwich, Green Island, Amity Point and Tangalooma.



2. What has been done to assist the recreational fishing industry?

· All attempts to minimise impacts on the recreational and charter fishing sectors have been made during development of the draft zoning plan.

· Our analysis shows that the 15 percent of green zones only account for 5 percent of the fishing effort in the marine park.

· The recreational fishery will benefit from a range of activities associated with the draft zoning plan including:

o an artificial reef program;

o reduction in the “green tape” associated with mooring vessels in the marine park; and

o the establishment of Conservation Park Zones, which prevent most forms of commercial fishing, to protect the ecological processes at locations like Pumicestone Passage, South Passage and Jumpinpin Bar.





3. What is being done to assist the commercial fishing industry?

· All attempts to minimise impacts on the commercial fishing sector were made during development of the draft zoning plan.

· If the final plan next year impacts on commercial fishing activities, a Structural Adjustment Package will be introduced to minimise any potential effects of the rezoning, and in particular, the potential negative effects associated with displacing fishing effort into the areas remaining open to commercial fishing.

· This will include an allocation to buy-back licences with low-level use along the east coast to stop those licences being bought for use in the Moreton Bay Marine Park.



4. Impact on commercial fishing.

· The distribution of the commercial fishing effort within the marine park was extensively analysed by DPI&F and the EPA.

· Information accessed included: DPI&F Commercial Fishing Information System logbook data; DPI&F satellite vessel monitoring system records for the trawl fishery; input from the EPA Stakeholder Reference Group; targeted meetings with commercial fishing industry leaders; and input from the Moreton Bay Access Alliance research project.

· The Queensland Government acknowledges that the draft zoning plan includes potential impacts on the commercial fishing industry.

· To minimise impacts associated with lost fishing grounds and effects of displaced fishing effort the Government will establish a Structural Adjustment Package.

· This package will be administered by the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority.

· Remaining operators will benefit immediately from reduced competition within the open areas of the marine park and also an increased value of fishing licences.



5. Will there be an impact on local prawn supplies?

· We do not expect any noticeable change in the supply of prawns into the local market.

· The high resolution DPI&F satellite tracking information available for trawling has guided the placement of zones. As a result impacts on the trawl fleet are minimal.

· For example, the eastern border of green, yellow and dark blue zones from Bribie Island to Raby Bay predominately align with the existing DPI&F trawl closures for the otter trawl fleet. Satellite tracking information was also used to select green zones that minimised the impacts on the trawl fleet and provided continuity with other habitats.

· The modelled direct impact is less than the annual variability reported by the otter trawl fleet operating within the marine park.

· Because of the mobile nature of prawn stocks within the marine park, closures are likely to provide increased protection and hence larger prawn size and economic returns.





6. The Moreton Bay Access Alliance research project.

· Members of the Moreton Bay Access Alliance have been included in all components of the data gathering phase of the zoning plan review.

· The Alliance research project represents a significant endeavour and the range of industry involved in this process should be congratulated for their contribution.

· Long-term benefits will flow from this as the groups will have increased their levels of understanding of the issues each sector has for the ongoing sustainability of the marine park.

· The MBAA research report provides a map with green zones showing a 70 percent alignment with green zones proposed in the draft zoning plan.

· Of the remaining 30 percent, some areas are inappropriate for green zones, (e.g. oyster leases), others have constraints that reduce the integrity of green zones (e.g. ferry routes and moorings) and others have low environment values.



7. Why is the review necessary?

· The current zoning plan was put in place in 1997 and under the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 it must be reviewed every 10 years.

· This review has also considered the updated provisions of the Marine Parks Act 2004 and the Marine Parks Regulation 2006.



8. What will the impact be on land-based businesses including the boat building, sales and servicing industries and local seafood wholesalers and retailers?

· 85 percent of the Marine Park will remain open to recreational fishing, and as a result the impact is expected to be minimal.

· Recreational fishing participation is decreasing rapidly throughout Queensland, with SEQ angler numbers declining by 86,000 since 1996.

· The impacts for recreational fishing-related businesses associated with this decline are far greater than any decline that is likely to occur as part of the zoning plan review.

· Additional recreational fishing opportunities will occur with the introduction of an artificial reef program.

· Boating registrations have been increasing throughout Queensland at the same time as angler numbers have been decreasing.

· Boat registrations have continued to increase for regions adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park where green zones increased from 4 to 33 percent.

· External drivers like increases in petrol prices and interest rate increases are more significant threats to these businesses.

· Commercial fishing operations in Queensland are currently faced with a number of pressures including rising fuel and labour costs, labour shortages and decreased product prices.

· Decreases in product prices are associated with cheap imported seafood and competition from alternative cheaper protein sources like poultry, pork and beef.

· The effects of the zoning plan after the removal of licences as part of a Structural Adjustment Package will be less than other external pressures.



9. How were the green zone by habitat type areas allocated.

· The guiding principle of including at least 10 percent of each habitat type in a green zone was not met for four habitat types because of high economic impacts in doing so.

· Two of these habitats are within 9%, one within 8% and the inshore algal/sponge habitat was significantly less at 5.9%.

· The independent scientific panel accepted this outcome because of the significant economic impacts in covering more of this habitat, and the expected protection to be gained by the exclusion of trawl fishing activities from a large area of this habitat type south of Peel Island.

· The Expert Advisory Panel has endorsed the draft zoning plan as a conservative outcome for biodiversity protection in light of the need to limit the impacts on marine park users.



10. What is the Government doing to address other issues facing the marine park e.g. run off and pollution, mangrove destruction, sand extraction, port expansions, and ship anchorages for cargo vessels.

· Issues such as pollution are being addressed and remedied by other strategies such as the SEQ Healthy Waterways water quality monitoring and research programs involving local governments in the catchments adjacent to the marine park.

· This year’s State Budget included $20 million over the next four years to improve and maintain the health of waterways in south-east Queensland.

· The funding includes:

o $8 million for planning and delivering waterway restoration projects in high-risk catchments, and to helping landowners adopt sustainable land use practices to minimise water pollution loads entering our waterways;

o $4 million to reduce sediment and nutrient loads from development-related land clearing and stormwater run-off;

o $1.6 million to better manage and prevent coastal algal bloom hazards that deplete water quality and marine biodiversity; and

o $6.3 million for targeted communication and education programs, and investments in the vital science required to monitor progress.

· The review of the zoning plan and its associated monitoring program will enhance linkages between the management of land based activities and the management of the marine park, promoting the importance of integrated catchment management to the wider community.

· Activities like dredging and spoil disposal can generally only occur in general use and habitat protection zones of the marine park, and are managed by strict permit conditions.

· Although outside of the boundary of the marine park, activities conducted at the Brisbane port and airport, like other activities within the marine park, are planned to ensure the benefits they provide to the state are far greater than the effects on the environment.



11. Introduction of go slow restrictions for vessels greater than 8 metres in the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

· Analysis of the dugong carcasses found in the southern Moreton Bay islands have identified deep lacerations and compression injuries consistent with the animals being hit by large high speed vessels operating in shallow channel areas.

· University of Queensland research has identified boat strikes as a principal cause of death for turtles.

· Go slow provisions in these areas will help reduce the potential for boat strikes by giving the dugongs more time to move away from vessels.

· We recognise that ongoing consultation must occur to determine the best way to deal with this issue.



12. What protection do yellow zones offer?

· Fishing is just one activity that occurs within the marine park.

· Yellow or conservation park zones are areas where most forms of large scale extractive use, direct disposal into the area, private structures and development are prohibited.

· Limited fishing activities are allowed to continue in yellow zones in recognition of the importance of historical fishing activities within the area, where the implementation of green zones would have significant impacts on fishing activities.



13. How will the benefits of the new zoning plan be defined?

· Funding has been received to develop a monitoring program to collect and monitor information on the condition of the marine park and businesses that rely on the marine park.

· This monitoring program will determine the environmental, social and economic costs and benefits associated with the zoning plan review.

· The EPA will be seeking partnerships with universities and other organisations to undertake the research.

· The research will commence early next year to collect baseline information.



14. Can registered aquarium fish collectors still carry on business?

· The small size of this fishery and strong reliance on areas that are already covered by some forms of fishing restrictions lead to a draft plan that has implications for the aquarium fish collection fisheries.

· To reduce the effects on this fishery, it is proposed this fishery would be provided with a 3-5 year transitional period.

· The fishery is also expected to benefit significantly from the introduction of an artificial reef program which will support the colonisation of coral reef fish.

· The structural adjustment package will also be available for operators not wanting to be involved in the fishery into the future.

· The Environmental Protection Agency will continue to work with aquarium fish collectors about future options.

[Tangles]

Thanks for the info, makes interesting reading , especially this quote as a self serving bone as it illustrates the mentality of we are lucky to get what we get.

"Limited fishing activities are allowed to continue in yellow zones in recognition of the importance of historical fishing activities within the area, where the implementation of green zones would have significant impacts on fishing activities." Thanks!

Another classic is:

"The EPA will be seeking partnerships with universities and other organisations to undertake the research." do you reckon it will include fishing groups?

But leaving the biggie to last:

10. What is the Government doing to address other issues facing the marine park e.g. run off and pollution, mangrove destruction, sand extraction, port expansions, and ship anchorages for cargo vessels.

· Issues such as pollution are being addressed and remedied by other strategies such as the SEQ Healthy Waterways water quality monitoring and research programs involving local governments in the catchments adjacent to the marine park.

IE no hard facts: so its a sell job to fisho's but we are looking at pollution, which was worthy of only a few lines with no facts or indication of whats going on.

Great info Chris, funniest thing is the classic use of vague english in front of various asserted facts, its a fact sheet any pollie could get out off if pinned down but yet put up as a statement of ideological fact. But we may rest assured they are looking at the issue of pollution,

Another media grab:

Recreational fishing participation is decreasing rapidly throughout Queensland, with SEQ angler numbers declining by 86,000 since 1996. Ie they dont see it as a vote issue therefore forget us so that leads to issues of use of personal water craft in green zones.

And the final political out with no facts is: drum roll

· The impacts for recreational fishing-related businesses associated with this decline are far greater than any decline that is likely to occur as part of the zoning plan review.

cheers
mike

[craftycarp]

Has anyone sent little grey mans cartoon to the head of the EPA. Might give him food for thought.

[mowerman]

I received the same letter from Choi. Along with the EPA submission papers.


Will fill them out and send them off.


Rod

[Lapras]

I just filled out the survey at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au (http://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au)

http://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/eSurveys/surveyfb4/index.cfm?SID=90

Although the written letters will get attention, statistics definitely will help the cause so I urge everyone to spend the time and give it a go. I basically asked for all green zones to be changed to yellow, it takes a bit of time because you need to do each one individually (cut and paste is a help).

Dave

[Heath]

Reply I got from the minister...... thinking of replying and advising his policy advisor to remove his head from his ass....
=========================
Dear Mr Zygnerski
Thank you for your e-mail of 4 December 2007 concerning rezoning of the Moreton Bay Marine Park (MBMP). The Minister has asked me to respond on his behalf.
The draft zoning plan for the MBMP was released for public comment on 2 December 2007. The draft zoning plan, including the Regulatory Impact Statement and Draft Public Benefit Test, may be viewed online at: www.epa.qld.gov.au/moretonbay (file://///www.epa.qld.gov.au/moretonbay).
Scientific principles and stakeholder feedback have been used to develop the draft zoning plan, which aims to protect the marine park’s unique values while minimising the impacts on those who use it.
Significant efforts have been made to minimise impacts on recreational anglers based on data provided in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries recreational fishing diary program, Australian National Sportsfishing Association tagging records and by the angling public through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) on-line survey.
Under the draft zoning plan, the Queensland Government has also committed to establishing an artificial reef program for south-east Queensland to provide alternative fishing opportunities for recreational anglers.
Everyone with an interest in MBMP is encouraged to provide a formal public submission on the draft zoning plan. Submissions may be made via the EPA’s website or by using a printed submission form. This form may be downloaded from the EPA’s website or requested by e-mailing moreton.bay@epa.qld.gov.au or calling the EPA toll-free on 1800 105 789.
The Minister thanks you for bringing this matter to his attention and hopes this information is of assistance. Should you wish to discuss the matter further, please contact the EPA’s Planning team on toll-free 1800 105 789.
Yours sincerely




Simon Munro
Policy Advisor

[castlemaine]

· Recreational fishing participation is decreasing rapidly throughout Queensland, with SEQ angler numbers declining by 86,000 since 1996.

·

This is at odds to what this article has to say (it may be different in Qld) ...

http://travelaustralia.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=345767

Cheers

[bondy99]

I'll be doing both, online as well as hard copy delivered in person to my local member Desley Scott, but she may not act on it. most documenst goes into a pigeon hole and conveniently lost.

[countbaysea]

MP's have been told they need letters of protest before they can do anything about it. Strenght in numbers.

[Scalem]

Needless to say life moves too quickly, and submissions close next week. ( Can't beleive that!!) Another letter sent!!

Scalem