Getting Along with the Landholders and Neighbours

(See the activities page for landholder and neighbours news and events)

Who are the Area's landholders and neighbours?

The WHA includes about 200 freehold blocks or parts thereof (2 percent of the Area) and over 100 leases (10 percent of the Area, mainly due to some large grazing leases). There are more than 2500 individual blocks of land neighbouring the Area’s 3000 kilometre boundary and many more in the catchment areas. Neighbouring land is managed for a multitude of purposes including conservation, timber production, grazing, sugar cane and other agriculture, beekeeping, tourism and private residences. The Area’s largest neighbour is the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area which abuts the east coast, shares interests in the management of coastal fauna and flora and is affected by run off from river systems which pass through the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

The good neighbour policy

Many World Heritage Area landholders make a significant contribution to its management. Neighbouring landholders also play a particularly important role in conserving the World Heritage Area. Many of the major threats to World Heritage values occur along the extensive boundaries of the Area. The assistance of landholders and neighbours is vital for the retention and rehabilitation of habitat and wildlife corridors, fire management, weed and feral animal control, and care of water quality and flows – all of which can also benefit landholders. The Authority's policy is to be a good neighbour and work constructively towards addressing these issues. The Authority believes informed and supportive neighbours greatly enhance the management of the World Heritage Area. The Authority's statutory control does not extend outside the World Heritage Area boundary, so a cooperative partnership with neighbours is vital.

Government incentives

The Federal Government has introduced several initiatives to encourage environmentally sound practices in rural areas. The Australian Taxation Office booklet "A Guide to Tax Incentives for Landcare" is available by phoning the ATO on 1800-060-425 or Countrylink Australia on 1800 026 222 or by emailing countrylink@affa.gov.au.

Click here for the Taxation Office's information sheet on the Landcare and Water Facility Tax Offset.

 
Landholders and Neighbours Program

The Authority is establishing a Wet Tropics Landholders and Neighbours program to improve the participation of landholders and neighbours in WHA management and to inform the Authority about their issues. The program currently includes:

• a landholders and neighbours news and activties page on the website.
• landholders and neighbours within Douglas, Mareeba, Eacham and Johnstone Shires can borrow a weed spray trailer to help control weeds on their land. Please contact the relevant pest control officer at the Shire.
• Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service attendance at educational field days each year in the northern, central and southern regions. These may be organised by the primary industry groups, government agencies, landholders or the Authority.
• Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service attendance at shows and regional events ($10,000 is allocated for development of displays and $10,000 for attendance at regional events under the 2004-2005 service agreement).
• contributions from landholders and neighbours on the Community Consultative Committee.
• 2004-2005 funding for property management and rehabilitation planning and the establishment of nature reserves ($30,000 and $40,000 respectively under the current service agreement).