Cape York park purchase `double-edged'

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE -- The Wilderness Society has described the Queensland government purchase of the Silver Plains grazing property on Cape York to create a new national park as a double-edged sword.

TWS Cairns spokesperson Michael Winer said on November 3: “The state government should be praised for its movement to stop Cape York from becoming a haven for development-crazy cowboys.

“However, the state must extend good will to traditional owners.”

Aboriginal representatives have called for a majority of the area to be placed under indigenous freehold title.

Premier Wayne Goss had earlier rejected National Party opposition leader Rob Borbidge's claim that the acquisition was a step toward creation of a “black state” on Cape York.

Goss stated on November 3 that the $4.5 million buy-back of grazing leases was a historic step towards providing Australians with a 300,000 hectare national park.

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