Continuation of fossicking in Queensland's State Forest areas

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
G Gosden
President, Queensland Lapidary and Allied Craft Club Association Inc
MORNINGSIDE QLD 4170
Total Signatures - 19
Sponsoring Member: Neil Roberts MP
Posting Date: 15/2/2006
Tabled Date: 15/2/2006
Responded By: Desley Boyle on 22/3/2006
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

The petition of residents of the State of Queensland and others draws to the attention of the House an urgent request that
the Queensland State Government ensure that there is no adverse impact on fossicking under Government plans to
reclassify a large number of State forests in South East Queensland. The areas are huge. Over 460,000 hectares of land in
Queensland will be affected. In an attempt to create greater protection, the Government wishes to reclassify many of the
State Forests as “protected areas” under the Nature Conservation Act, 1992. Fossicking with a regulatory licence is
currently allowed in State Forests. However, there are no plans to allow fossicking to continue in the newly
established “protected areas”.