Governments urged to plan land use better in face of CSG controversies
Tuesday, 08/11/2011
-
Print page
-
Email this -
Permalink
-
The Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture has added its voice to the widespread concerns over the development of the coal seam gas industry.
But it’s not CSG itself the council is worried about, so much as what it says the debate reveals, which is serious flaws in policy development.
Professor Rick Roush says Australia’s politicians need to make decisions and set policy in a more sophisticated way.
He says the current fragmented approach of dealing with natural resources development is short sighted, and he wants more science brought to the debate.
“The coal seam gas is one example of a range of environmental management problems that really require that we take a step back and plan out our risk assessment strategies in more detail,” he said.
“(We need to) make sure that we have good, scientific involvement, and public sector involvement, and the general public as a whole, and try and make these decisions before we rush into things.”
The Council of the Deans of Agriculture has been joined in its call for greater planning of natural resources by the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors.
Between them, the two bodies represent departments at 36 Australian universities.
Professor Roush, from the University of Melbourne, says other areas that need addressing on national policy issues are coastal development, urban and peri-urban growth and non-urban land use planning.
The Councils have called for an improved approach that will take a wider and longer view of major developments and take into account their cumulative impact.
They are also calling for the integration of environmental, social and economic aspects of development.
Related posts:
Views: 0