Marine parks bill passes SA upper house

A Bill to change some of the boundaries of South Australia’s proposed marine parks has passed the State Parliament’s Upper House.

The bill proposes to exclude some of the Labor Government’s marine park sanctuary zones from taking effect on the 1st of October this year.

Liberal Environment spokeswoman, Michelle Lensink, introduced the Private Members Bill following consultation with regional communities, including commercial fisherman.
“It’s a vote for common sense really,” Ms Lensink said.
“We’ve been saying for many years that the sanctuary zones will cost jobs, will cost export income for the State, and at the same time they have absolutely no proof that there will be any environmental benefit so the Legislative Council has made a sensible decision.”
Not all agree though, with the Conservation Council of South Australia voicing its concern about the bill.
Chief Executive Craig Wilkins says that the sanctuary zones are a very small share of the states waters, and says that commercial fishermen have already been paid millions of dollars to retire fishing areas.
“It has been 10 years of the community talking about this… we feel that this debate could be on again now, and we felt that where we’d reached (before this bill was passed) was a reasonable point of compromise.”
Ms. Lensink says she’s hopeful the bill will now pass the lower house, and says she’ll be meeting with key independents Geoff Brock and Martin Hamilton-Smith to discuss the idea, as will Mr. Wilkins.
Article source: ABC