3.5 Natural Resources
- Natural resources throughout Mount Isa are managed in a sustainable manner.
- Extractive resources of State, regional and local significance are protected from development that could potentially prevent or severely impact possible future utilisation.
- Key resource areas are identified and protected from fragmentation or activities likely to adversely impact current or future resource extraction.
- The continued contribution of agriculture and other rural activities to the City’s economy, as well as the sector’s importance to the social and historic character of the City is recognised and protected.
- Potential conflict between rural activities (and in particular, intensive animal industries, animal keeping animal husbandry, and the use of the stock route network) and non-rural activities is minimised by location, design and management of potentially conflicting uses.
- The use and capacity of the stock route network within the City is maintained for the primary purpose of travelling stock on hoof.
- The fragmentation of rural land holdings for uses other than rural activities is generally not supported.
- Water resources and water resource areas, critical to the sustainability of all activities in the City, are protected and conserved.
- The quality of water in drinking water supply catchments (in particular, the catchment areas of Lake Moondarra, Rifle Creek, Lake Julius, Camooweal Caves, Gregory River and Georgina River) is protected from inappropriate activities.
3.5.2 Element 1 - Extractive Resources
Specific Outcome 1
Key resource areas (KRAs) are identified and protected.
Land Use Strategies
LS 1.1
KRAs and haulage routes are identified within the Extractive resources overlay as identified in
Extractive Resources Overlay Map 1 (OM-ER-01).
LS 1.2
Existing or planned sensitive land uses do not unreasonably constrain or adversely impact on the safe and optimal operation of existing and planned key resource areas and haulage corridors that are important to the efficient functioning of Mount Isa.
Specific Outcome 2
Extractive industries do not adversely impact on public safety and amenity.
Land Use Strategies
LS 2.1
Extractive industry is managed so as not to adversely impact on amenity and safety.
LS 2.2
Development avoids emissions or discharges from contaminants located on any site; or where avoidance is not feasible, minimise impacts.
Specific Outcome 3
The long term impacts of extractive
industries are managed.
Land Use Strategies
LS 3.1
Development shall insure that when the extractive industry operations cease the land is rehabilitated.
3.5.3 Element 2 – Rural land
Specific Outcome 1
Development will ensure the ongoing protection and capacity of traditional rural activities on rural land.
Land Use Strategies
LS 1.1
Development with the Rural zone preserves the viability of rural activities.
LS 1.2
Development for non-rural activities is separated from and located, designed, constructed and managed to ensure existing rural activities are not compromised.
Specific Outcome 2
The ecological values of rural areas are maintained and enhanced.
Land Use Strategies
LS 2.1
Development shall incorporate, and where possible, promote best practice environmental management
measures and processes.
LS 2.2
Rural activities minimise impacts on waterways by avoiding earthworks and vegetation clearing within waterway corridors.
LS 2.3
Vegetation clearing is minimised.
3.5.4 Element 3 - Water Resources
Specific Outcome 1
Ensure the natural environment (and in particular, significant waterways, wetlands and water supply catchments) are suitably protected from development. In addition,
biodiversity, ecological processes and quality of water resources are maintained.
Land Use Strategies
LS 1.1
Land uses incompatible with the protection of potable water supply avoid the catchment of Lake
Moondarra, Rifle Creek, Lake Julius, Camooweal Caves, Gregory River and Georgina River, unless demonstrating that potable water quality will not be impacted.
LS 1.2
Hazardous and waste materials are not stored within areas at risk of flood inundation.
LS 1.3
Activities resulting in the production of excess nutrient is avoided.