Our Living Outback recently put out the call to our supporters to contact their local papers and write a letter to the editor to express their views on keeping nature healthy in Queensland. Some examples of letters sent are here for you to share.
Contact: [email protected] if you'd like to send a letter too.
Queensland: beautiful one day, perfect the next
To: The Gold Coast Bulletin
Dear Editor,
I’m disappointed to hear that the Queensland Government hasn’t released a funded plan to keep our nature healthy and protect it for future generations.
Living on the Gold Coast, I take pride in our beautiful natural landscapes - our stretching beaches, our lush hinterland rainforests and the smaller patches of bush in between. Nature is naturally (pardon the pun) part of the fabric of our lives as Queenslanders. Our much loved national parks like Springbrook National Park and Lamington National Park, are already and will continue to be a powerful drawcard for tourists as our city's economy recovers from COVID-19.
I also admire landholders who care for Queensland’s environment with their nature refuges. To see the passionate farmers right here on the Gold Coast who are protecting and managing their patches for future generations is something that should be rewarded.
With the Queensland election creeping closer, I hope all sides of politics adopt a well-funded plan to protect Queensland’s nature through national parks and nature refuges. It’s time to ensure our state is left perfect for our grandchildren.
Linda,
Elanora,
Gold Coast
Nature may be our saving grace
To: The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
Dear Editor,
Living in Mount Morgan, I have so much of Queensland’s natural heritage at my fingertips.
Our national parks bring life and light to our area of Capricornia - from Mount Archer National Park to Eungella National Park and all of the areas of bush and beach in between. They’re havens for wildlife, they’re escapes for Queenslanders, and they provide jobs taking care of threats like fires, weeds and feral animals. Our nature is the very thing that may be able to save us during these uncertain times.
Living so close to the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, it has been good to see the Queensland Government starting to invest in programs that support both people and nature. New projects under the Reef Assist program will connect people with nature by employing locals to keep our precious landscapes healthy for future generations.
As Queensland grapples with COVID-19, we mustn’t lose sight of what’s important to us and continue to protect and care for Queensland’s native plants and animals for the generations to come. That means properly funding national parks, nature refuges and land management jobs as a priority.
Trish Mathers,
Mt Morgan
Look to sustain natural heritage with recovery
To: The Townsville Bulletin
Now is the time to be protecting and celebrating our natural heritage and not destroying our precious environment – we should be creating more new parks and nature refuges to attract visitors alongside more local jobs for weed and pest control and particularly fire management. Our native animals are disappearing. I have observed the absence of willie wagtails and flycatchers here currently – their numbers have been severely affected by the fires this year.
It’s our natural assets that attract the tourism dollar but they are often overlooked when it comes to state government investment. Visitors come north to see this amazing bush, reef and wildlife. Queensland has the lowest percentage of land protected than any other state or territory. I am disappointed that in Queensland we still have not achieved 17 per cent protected areas to be consistent with the minimum target set by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010.
I have been a frontline health worker for over 40 years and I strongly believe that nature is good for our health and vital for our wellbeing. Our Earth is sick and has a raging temperature – the Earth’s biome has changed and this pandemic is just another symptom. We are wiping out our normal flora and wildlife and tipping the balance. Right now we are facing a health crisis and I want to see investment in nature as part of our recovery so we can all benefit as we build a better future for people and wildlife.
Rose Gordon,
Nelly Bay
Funding our protected areas and conservation jobs to uncover more about our natural heritage
To: The Westender & Courier Mail
Dear Editor,
One of the things I appreciate about our country is just how much we have yet to learn about it. By properly funding our protected areas and conservation jobs, we can uncover so much more about our natural heritage and ensure that ecosystems and threatened species thrive into the future, all the while providing the much needed boost to the economy to bounce back from COVID-19.
Stephen Molan,
Highgate Hill, Brisbane
I’m glad to see a plan to for our national parks and private protected lands
To: The Gold Coast Bulletin
Dear Editor,
In a world threatened by biodiversity loss and climate change, it’s good to hear some positive news for nature! It’s a relief to see the Queensland Government has finally released their plan for preserving Queensland’s natural and cultural heritage. Us Gold Coasters appreciate our natural environment - for weekend destinations, for jobs and for our wellbeing - so, I’m glad to see a plan to expand and care for our national parks and private protected lands. Now is a key opportunity to invest ambitiously in Queensland’s nature-based jobs, so we can both keep our special places healthy and resilient for future generations but provide jobs in areas like ours which have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Julie Schuch,
Bundall, Gold Coast
The policies all parties should be looking at
To: The Queensland Times
Dear Editor
From our coastlines to our rangelands, my life is centred around getting out into nature for either recreation or work.
It was good to see Queensland Labor announce their long awaited Protected Area Strategy for national parks, protected areas of private land and land management jobs like Indigenous ranger positions.
With sufficient funding these programs could be part of the answer to keeping our country healthy and resilient for future generations, especially as we continue to recover from the disastrous impact of bushfires and COVID-19.
As Queensland heads to the polls this October, I look to political parties of all stripes to commit to expanding and funding Queensland's protected areas and conservation land management jobs.
Tom Cotter,
Annerley
Natural Environment
To: Glasshouse Country and Maleny News
Dear Editor
The Queensland Governments Protected Area Strategy is a step in the right direction and I really hope we see more actions and care for nature and culture like this!
As a Queenslander, I love our wildlife but I think there is so much more that we could do to protect and look after our natural environment.
As we tackle the challenges of COVID-19, we need to remember that the decisions we make now to protect our nature and wildlife affect the next generation of Queenslanders.
I'm calling on all sides of politics to support better funding for Queensland's national parks, nature refuges and on ground conservation jobs.
Let the next generation have the same amazing opportunity we do to explore and discover Queensland's national parks and wildlife now and into the future.
Lily Hamilton,
Bulimba & Maleny
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Our natural beauty comes to fore in crisis
To: The Queensland Times
Since COVID-19 restrictions have eased in Queensland, the community value of our national parks and natural areas has never been clearer.
It is now difficult to get a car park at previously quiet areas such as Mount Glorious and Springbrook, demonstrating the demand for more accessible, and pristine national parks and natural areas.
We know that nature contributes hugely to the economy, our physical and mental health and they make up a large part of our national identity.
These essential ecosystem services are exactly that - essential.
As a Queensland resident, I'm glad to see David Crisafulli raise the stakes for national park and nature refuge funding in the lead up to the Queensland election and I look to Queensland Labor to show similar ambition.
More funding is needed to expand the existing protected land, employ more rangers and restore damaged or depleted land.