How do you define ecologically sustainable development?
As the most senior Elder Larrakia Traditional Owner - Ask the Traditional Owners first before you going doing things on Traditional lands.

What do you want the EPA to consider when establishing principles of ecologically sustainable development for the Northern Territory?
That the Traditional Owners of their land, seas and wildlife are consulted before making frameworks that are culturally inappropriate by people who do not understand the cultural importance of sacred sites, places, seascapes and landscapes.

Other Comments:
As the named most senior Larrakia Traditional Owner for Larrakia land I ask that you respect me, my family of Traditional Owners and my country and ask the Traditional Owners to be part of the planning and development over our country.

Raylene, Media
12 November 2008

How do you define ecologically sustainable development?
Development that does not disrupt environmental services to the extent that critical biodiversity resources or quality of life are impaired.

What do you want the EPA to consider when establishing principles of ecologically sustainable development for the Northern Territory?
1. Baseline information.
2. Subsistence economic values.
3. Strategic planning.
4. Paradigm shift away from fossil fuel dependance and road transport.

Ian, Environmental Consultant
21 October 2008

How do you define ecologically sustainable development?
Taking full advantage of what our tropical environment has to offer with as little damage as possible.
Walking softly, without leaving footprints.

What do you want the EPA to consider when establishing principles of ecologically sustainable development for the Northern Territory?
Would like to see legislation introduced so that all future building developments have to include use of solar power, use of climatically friendly materials & design eg; louvres/skylights/wide verandahs.

Other Comments:
Clean water costs & we are very careless in our use so educate/charge more???
Before we can reduce our vehicle use we need better public transport

Fran, General Public
24 September 2008

How do you define ecologically sustainable development?
Development that produces the lowest possible detriments in ecological, visual, physical, social cultural and environmental effect upon the region in which it is being established.

What do you want the EPA to consider when establishing principles of ecologically sustainable development for the Northern Territory?
World's best practice, fully researched and enforced for each and every new development application from any source, industry or government with any added costs paid for by the developer and not the public purse.

Other Comments:
Current EPA practice appears to be weak on ensuring world's best practice is mandated in every new development in the Northern Territory and even weaker when endorsing new industry or government development proposals.

Dean, Tourism
13 September 2008

How do you define ecologically sustainable development?Systems that encourage and enhance human activities with the least adverse impact on our natural environment (flora and fauna).

What do you want the EPA to consider when establishing principles of ecologically sustainable development for the Northern Territory?
Holistic development - not just building application by building application. For example, it sould be compulsory for any future housing development to have water re-use systems, rainwater tanks, native flora, wildlife coridors, wildlife friendly design - not as a stand -alone but who that development will interact/impact on surrounding suburbs (future or existing). There should not be a Development CONSENT Authority - EPA should have the legislative teeth (and willingness) to assess any proposed activity and enforece change to comply with stringent guidelines (by builders/developers).

Toni, General Public
9 September 2008

How do you define ecologically sustainable development?
While I've seen many of the definitions, and watch them evolve to incorporate triple bottom line imperatives. To me, ESD means "Not using or removing renewable assets and resources from the natural environment at a greater rate than can be replenished naturally over successive human generations, and not removing renewable and non-renewable natural resources such that it creates significant or permanent deleterious effects on the natural and human environment; especially in close proximity to where the natural resource is being used or expoited".

What do you want the EPA to consider when establishing principles of ecologically sustainable development for the Northern Territory?
Provided the concept of ESD is not breached,I believe that future generations have the same rights as our current generation to use and positively utilise our natural resources, otherwise the concept of ESD is meaningless. ESD is not about our generation pre-emptively locking-away or prohibiting the use of specific natural resources based on our current imperatives or beliefs. However, this is what we tend to do under the name of ESD when we don't understand all the factors. This is actually protection and not ESD. Protection should only be used when a natural resource has not been managed in an Ecologically Sustainable manner, or is too small or unique to make its use or utilise sustainable; and of course ESD protocols and safeguards should be strong enough in this regard.

While this basic tenement of ESD may seem obvious, it is often neglected, often for political expediency. A resouces is only a resource if it is intended for the use (hopefully for the betterment) of humanity.

Other Comments:
WRT "Unique Territory Lifestyle", because of our low population base and our vast natural areas and resources make us unique, we need to manage the utilisation of our natural resources in a Territory specific (and not generic) "triple bottom line" sustainable way.

Included in this is the acknowledgement that Indigenous cultures are alive and current. So the social needs and development of Indigenous Territorians need to be considered in a sustainable context as part of an ESD.

Ted, General Public
8 September 2008

How do you define ecologically sustainable development?
social change that improves people's quality of life whilst reducing society's impact on the environment

What do you want the EPA to consider when establishing principles of ecologically sustainable development for the Northern Territory?
development should be targeted at those least well off in society.

Other Comments:
the nt economy is not constrained by a shortage of jobs, rather there is a shortage of people to fill existing jobs. by encouraging and subsidising large scale development like impex, the government is exacerbating the staff shortage that local businesses face whilst also increasing the cost of living e.g. housing for local territorians, construction costs etc as employees are lured away to large developments and new immigrants from interstate put pressure on overstrained social services.

James, Project Management
4 September 2008

How do you define ecologically sustainable development?
A balance between environmental, economic and social/cultural health that allows all living things to coexist in harmony as we protect the environment for the well-being of future generations

What do you want the EPA to consider when establishing principles of ecologically sustainable development for the Northern Territory?
I'd like the EPA to genuinely balance the three criteria - not simply give in to economic pressure. While environmental protection decisions we make presently may not necessarily be justified in the future, the precautionary principle should always be applied.

Other Comments:
It is essential that you convince the NT government of the urgency of a strong Environmental Protection Act and Integrated Planning Act to support your considerations. Those of us who have lived in the NT for more than 30 years mourn for the beautiful natural environment that has sustained us until recently. I would like to be able to trust you to use your powerful positions to stop the degradation as far as is practicable. I would like future generations of the human species in this neck of the woods to share healthy tropical savannas and rainforest fringed coastlines with other species.

How about it, eh? Can I trust you to try?

Diana, Environmental Law
28 August 2008