CEDUNA DISTRICT COUNCIL PROTEST AGAINST MARINE PARK
The new Ceduna District Council has authorised preparation of a submission
criticising the State Government's proposed marine parks bill. The
submission is to be developed based on councillor's comments on a draft
protest submission assembled by the Western Eyre Marine Consultative
Group. The Group represented aquaculture and commercial and recreational
fishing interests. Mayor Suter advises that in terms of opposition to the
bill there is no conflict of views between the three sectors. The stance
taken is that the bill as currently proposed will totally destroy
commercial and recreational fishing in SA, with the potential to make some
coastal towns unviable. The Mayor notes that none of the 19 proposed parks
are located near the densely populated areas around Adelaide. He also
describes some aspects of the proposed legislation as 'frightening', and
points out that there are no provisions for resources to be made available
to enforce boundaries. The Department of Environment and Heritage has not
completed a socio-economic study of the impact of the proposed parks as is
required. Currently only displaced commercial fishers can claim
compensation. Other sectors depending on access to areas which are
proposed as marine parks have no entitlement for compensation if put out
of business.

Regards
Shane Boese