An Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland for the Implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality
National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality
1 March 2002
PDF file
Statement of Intent in Signing this Agreement
Salinity and deteriorating water quality have the potential to seriously affect the sustainability of Queensland’s agriculture production, the conservation of its biological diversity and the viability of infrastructure and regional communities. We agree to address these threats in Queensland through the implementation of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and thereby prevent the many real and tangible problems that are occurring in southern and western Australia.
The National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality encourages us to manage Queensland’s valuable natural resources in a new way. Through a process of rigorous scientific assessment, identifying targets for natural resource health, planning integrated natural resource management and investing in priority activities, along with supporting natural resource management policy we seek to prevent and mitigate salinity and deteriorating water quality.
The active involvement and participation of rural and regional communities is the cornerstone of this Plan. Through this Agreement we seek to enable communities to take responsibility for planning and implementing natural resource management strategies, in partnership with all levels of government, that meet their priorities for sustainable development and ongoing viability.
We recognise that rural and regional communities cannot be expected to do this on their own. It will require all levels of government, communities and individuals working together to achieve the sound management and use of Queensland's natural resources. This includes a strong reliance on the scientific community. A science-based approach will allow for natural resource threats to be identified, solutions to be developed and investment to be appropriately targeted at preventative action. Capturing this knowledge and developing community capacity will be important for the implementation of this plan.
We sign this Bilateral Agreement to work together, in partnership to help realise the opportunity and benefits from developing and managing Queensland's natural resources in a sustainable way. Thereby enabling all Queenslanders to enjoy and profit from the widespread benefits of our natural resources for generations to come.
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