My letter from the Office of the Hon Jeff Seeney MP

on the 26 October 2012, I wrote to the Deputy Premier, in response to his media release which stated:

Mr Seeney said the assessment showed that well-managed development could co-exist with a healthy environment. “It illustrates that we can have bulk export ports and they can operate with no threat to the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Seeney said. 

Mr Seeney seems to have completely missed the point.  The greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef are not from the port operations but from accumulative impacts of the continued combustion of fossil fuels.

On  26 November 2012, I received the following response from:

Office of the Hon Jeff Seeney MP
Deputy Premier
Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning


Our ref: MC12/399

23 NOV 2012

Mr Rowan Barber
Street Address
Address QLD XXXX


Dear Mr Barber

Thank you for your email of 26 October 2012 to the Honourable Jeff Seeney MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, about the voluntary Abbot Point Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA).  The Deputy Premier has asked that I respond on his behalf.

As you are aware, the voluntary Abbot Point CIA has focus on 16 study areas, and is taking a holistic look at the cumulative effects of the future port related expansion proposals at the Port of Abbot Point.

The CIA scope is about port expansion itself.  Emissions associated with the transport of coal to the port are not within the scope of the CIA.  It was a voluntary cooperative exercise between the three proponents of the existing or proposed facilities at Abbot Point.  It was coordinated by the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation.

I suggest you provide comments to the Abbot Point Working Group through the formal consultation process on this matter.  The following link provides information on making a submission  http://www.abbotpointworkinggroup.com.au/comment.html.

Please ensure your comments are submitted prior to 5pm, Tuesday, 4 December 2012.

If you require any further information, please contact Mr Phillip Kohn, A/Director, State Development Areas, Office of the Coordinator General, Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, on 3405 6674, who will be pleased to assist.

Yours sincerely


Dimity Elson
Acting Senior Policy Advisor

Office of the Hon Jeff Seeney MP
Deputy Premier

Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

Eff Seeney vs Green Groups

Here is a press release from the Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney.  It is a great example of the current Queensland Government's contempt the Environment movement.

Media Statements

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney

Friday, October 12, 2012

Coastal Plan under review

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said today the World Wildlife Fund and the Wilderness Society were being deliberately alarmist in their claims about changes to the Queensland Coastal Plan. 

Mr Seeney said Queensland’s coastal planning regime today is the same as it was for more than a decade up to February this year. 

In February, on the eve of the state election, the discredited Bligh Labor Government rushed through changes to the Queensland Coastal Plan. 

A draft State Planning Regulatory Provision (SPRP) introduced by the Newman Government this week removes the hasty policy change which was made without consultation with local government or other property industry parties. 

Mr Seeney said the draft SPRP would be in effect for 12 months while a new Single State Planning Policy was prepared. 

“We gave a clear commitment in our Property and Construction Strategy during the election campaign that we would revisit the Bligh Government’s last minute changes to the coastal plan and that we would reform the entire planning regime in Queensland,” Mr Seeney said. 

“My department is working with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and various stakeholders to review the Queensland Coastal Plan. 

“What the government has done in the meantime is to return coastal planning policies back to the regime that existed prior to February this year and was in place under the Beattie and Bligh Governments. 

“By introducing a draft SPRP we are providing a sensible basis for consideration of proposals in the coastal zone while the coastal plan is reviewed. 

“This will allow the Queensland Coastal Plan and State Planning Policy to be debated and consulted upon in a way that should have happened last year. 

“The unravelling of the Bligh Government saw normal consultation processes dispensed with. Instead Labor did a last minute backroom deal to pander to their Greens allies and shore up their support for the looming election. 

“Local government faced chaos and confusion in attempting to interpret and implement the new planning laws. 

“We have removed that uncertainty and will now proceed in a measured and professional manner to reform planning regulation. 

“We have informed local government organisations, property, planning and development industry bodies, the Environmental Defenders Office and the Queensland Conservation Council of this course of action. 

“Claims that the draft SPRP lowers environmental protections are nothing more than the usual baseless, sensational rantings of radical green groups which will do or say anything to further their aims.