there would be no dams on the Daly;

no cotton would be grown in the NT;

no further subdivision for agricultural blocks and no new land clearing will be approved in the Daly region until the Integrated Regional Land Use Plan had been completed.

The appointment of Rick Farley to head the Community Reference Group is an inspired choice, given his breadth of experience in land management issues.

However, we remain concerned that the CRG will not have enough time to properly consider all the issues involved in the development of the draft Land Use Plan. According to the CRG’s Terms of Reference, the first draft Land Use Plan is meant to be delivered to the Chief Minister in June next year.

Take away Christmas and that leaves CRG members just six months to do their work, with just nine months allotted for the completion of the final draft Land Use Plan, including all community consultations.

NLC Deputy Chairman John Daly

Mr Daly will join the CRG as the NLC’s representative and has promised to keep a close eye on the process.

There’s a lot of weight being given to the impacts of development on the region’s environmental, social and economic values, but Aboriginal people are just as concerned about disruptions to their cultural and heritage values, he said.

There are dreaming trails all along the Daly River and into the hinterland, and many sacred sites that are vitally important to local belief systems. Any future development plan must build in protection for these areas.