General News
26 November, 2024
New AgForce president wants land law changes to prevent more fires
Shane McCarthy wants the new Crisafulli government to listen to the practical needs of landholders.
New AgForce president Shane McCarthy has pledged to lobby the Crisafulli government for improved land management rights after years of ideologically driven policies that have reduced fire preparedness capabilities across the North West and turned the region into a tinderbox.
As reported by North West Weekly, some community leaders believe massive fires that have engulfed rural properties and threatened communities across the North West in recent months have been made worse due to restrictions in vegetation management laws, which have hampered the ability of property owners to prepare their land ahead of the fire season.
Richmond mayor John Wharton said a combination of several good wet seasons, low cattle stocking on properties and Brisbane-based decision-makers favouring ideologically driven green politics over landholder-driven property management have conspired to provide the heaviest fuel load in more than four decades across the region.
Current Flinders Shire councillor and fifth generation Hughenden grazier Shane McCarthy was formally installed as the new president of Queensland rural lobby group AgForce earlier this month.
He said the top of his agenda would be to lobby the new Crisafulli government to listen to the practical needs of landholders when determining policies that impact how they manage their own properties.
“Landholders live there and work there every day and are more attuned to what is happening along their bit of dirt than anyone else – so they should be the first people to be listened to,” Cr McCarthy said.
“There has been an increased fire load for the exact reasons that John Wharton has said – we should not be continuing to lock up land – we need to give local people the ability to make relevant and locally-based decisions that are specific to the needs of the land they are standing on.”
Cr McCarthy said he wanted the state government to increase funding to manage crown land and national parks, including providing additional staff and reduced green tape to allow workers to clear fire breaks and reduce cgrowing risks along access roads and along fence lines that border private properties.