THE RIGHT PLAN FOR QUEENSLAND’S FUTURE
- LNP to expand Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre’s program, with new rehabilitation centre on Green Island.
- $600,000 commitment to build facility and invest in ongoing rehabilitation work to heal turtles after serious injuries caused by fishing nets, boats or plastic pollution.
- Part of the LNP’s Supporting Wildlife, Preserving our Environment policy.
The LNP has today announced a new Green Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre to protect marine life and provide hands-on education and vital conservation for Far North Queensland.
The project will build upon the vital work being done by the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, with a Marine Program to give schools, university students, rangers and researchers access to cutting edge marine science; while monitoring and improving our turtle populations and habitats in real time.
The rehabilitation centre will be home to turtles for between 6 and 24 months as they recover from disease or serious injury caused by ingesting marine debris, entanglement in fishing nets or being struck by a boat.
LNP Leader David Crisafulli said the $600,000 commitment to build the Green Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre was part of the LNP’s Supporting Wildlife, Preserving our Environment policy.
“The LNP’s commitment to the Green Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre will save endangered turtles, boost conservation and protection for the Great Barrier Reef and enhance our world-leading marine research efforts,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“This commitment will boost scientific research into turtle diseases and injuries and provide critical training opportunities for marine veterinarians, marine biologists and ecologists.”
LNP Candidate for Cairns Yolonde Entsch said the project would cement Far North Queensland as a world leading voice in marine science.
“Not only will the LNP’s support of this project support conservation, it will also provide world-leading research opportunities and the chance for the next generation of scientists to get hands-on training,” Ms Entsch said.
“Volunteers and interns will care for injured turtles from Green Island, while tracking and monitoring colonies in the Great Barrier Reef; and educating our young Queenslanders about the importance of their conservation.
“Only the LNP has the Right Plan for Queensland’s Future, including investing in conservation, science and technology.”