State Member for Pine Rivers, Carolyn Male MP, said that a new plan has been drawn up to assist new planning and development decisions in light of the latest knowledge on climate change and other environmental issues.

Carolyn Male MP said it was important to have planning policies that provided for future development in coastal zones while protecting ecological values.

“We need to ensure that development - particularly urban and residential development - does not result in unacceptable risks to people or property from coastal erosion, sea level rise or storm tide which may accompany climate change,” Carolyn Male MP said.

“The plan focuses on four major policy issues for conserving coastal resources - urban settlement patterns, maritime development, protecting areas of high ecological significance and managing developments in areas potentially at risk from coastal hazards.”

“Pressures on the coast have increased and potential long term impacts of climate change now pose a real threat to the coast.”

“Changes are necessary now to meet community expectations for the future protection and management of our coastal areas.”

Carolyn Male MP said submissions from interested parties could be made before 31 October to guide the development of the final version of the plan.

“This is an opportunity for Queenslanders to contribute to a plan that will be crucial to the responsible management and protection of our coastline well into the future,” Carolyn Male MP said.

The Government was also undertaking targeting information sessions with interested stakeholders in many centres across the state.

For more details about how to make a submission call my office on 3205 6779 or email pine.rivers@parliament.qld.gov.au.