Bimblebox Nature Refuge: sign the petition : work to save it from the coal predators and the resource buccaneers

The following missive has come my blogging mate, Denis Wilson of The Nature of Robertson, on behalf of the Australian Water Network:

Our colleagues at Bimblebox, Alpha, Queensland have joined with some 100 other Nature Reserve owners in Queensland to petition the Qld Premier, Anna Bligh to help them protect their Nature Reserves from the impact of coal mining and other mineral exploration activities which will destroy the very natural values which their agreements with the State Government is meant to protect.

I have adapted a petition (attached) which is currently on the Bimblebox website.

http://bimblebox.org/

Their petition is written from the perspective of the owners and signatories of the Nature Reserve agreements with the Government.

I have amended the wording suitably, to make it read that we (the undersigned) are writing in support of Bimblebox Nature Reserve.

If you wish to offer your support to Paola and her colleagues at Bimblebox, please print this off, sign it and send it to Paola.

Paola is collecting these letters to make a joint submission to the State Government,

so please send this signed petition to;

C/O Bimblebox Nature Refuge, Alpha Qld 4724,

or scan and email to

bimblebox@gmail.com.

Please demonstrate your solidarity with our Queensland colleagues by signing the petition.

Denis Wilson

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Premier Bligh,


I am writing in support of the undersigned, Queensland Nature Refuge landholders.  


They entered conservation agreements (category VI IUCN classification) with the Queensland state government for the purpose of securing high conservation value biodiversity on our properties and contributing to the national network of protected areas. With only a small proportion of Queensland land area held in conservation reserves, they believe that it is necessary to protect water catchments, carbon stores, and what remains of the state's biodiversity on private lands.


They are deeply dismayed that there is very little we can do to protect their nature refuges when faced with mineral exploration and exploitation. 


They consider it a serious contradictory flaw in state legislation that areas deemed worthy of perpetual conservation agreements between government and landholders, can be quashed by short-term mining ventures. As landholders they are encouraged to commit to securing the high conservation values on our properties, but there is no in-kind commitment from your government to ensure its perpetual protection. Currently there are around 100 Queensland Nature Refuges subject to mineral exploration permits. It is shamefully inadequate for the environmental values on our properties only to be ‘addressed on a case by case basis’ when confronted by mineral interests.


 With the smallest percentage of protected areas of any other Australian state or Territory, they urge your government to take seriously the task of maintaining and enhancing Nature Refuges in Queensland. It is unacceptable that destructive mining developments can have right of way over these special places. Many of us have invested considerable time, energy and resources in preserving these areas and we do not want to see them destroyed.


Please take this issue seriously. 


Yours sincerely,


Signature:  …………………………………


Name: ……… …………………………………………………….


I write in support of Bimblebox Nature Refuge, ALPHA, Queensland ………..


Date: ……………………………………………………………….


Address: ...........................................................................................