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It’s time to implement the Plan to protect our coasts

Sign the petition calling on the NT Government to get on with the job and deliver their promise to implement the Plan to protect our Top End coasts.

    This message will be sent to the Chief Minister, Environment Minister, Parks Minister, and copied to your local MLA. We will only use your details to send this email to the people listed above, and to forward you campaign-related material. Your details will not be passed on to any third party entities.

    Thanks to the support of Territorians just like you, the NT now has a comprehensive plan to safeguard our coasts.

    This widely welcomed plan is titled the NT Coastal and Marine Management Strategy 2019 - 2029. 

    Our coasts are the heart of our Top End lifestyle. They contribute $2billion to the Territory economy each year, supporting more than 6,000 jobs. But their health is under threat. Our fishing in places like Darwin Harbour is not as good as it used to be. Mangroves are being destroyed, our rivers threatened by dams, and pollution is damaging our Harbour. We need to act now if we are to safeguard our marine life, jobs, fishing and culture.

    Territorians have been calling for action to protect our coasts. The community, stakeholders and Traditional Owners invested two years into the development of the Plan and expect it to be delivered. 

    It's time to get on with the job. 

    It's time to implement the plan to protect our coasts including delivering two regional coastal plans this term of government.

      Read the email that we'll send  


    Dear Territory leaders (cc my MLA),

    Healthy coasts and rivers are central to our Top End way of life, our economic success and our culture. They contribute $2billion to the Territory economy each year supporting more than 6,000 jobs, and are a powerful drawcard for tourists from around Australia and the world. They underpin one of the most important economic and cultural pursuits – the Top End fishing experience. 

    While our coasts are mostly in good shape, they are under threat. Many Territorians have observed that things on the water are not as good as they used to be. Industrial development is expanding along the coast, destroying mangroves, polluting Darwin Harbour and damaging our fishing.  Our precious rivers are under threat from proposals for industrial-scale dams, cotton and water extraction. Territorians want action to protect our coasts and fishing lifestyle.

    The Territory has its first ever comprehensive plan to safeguard our coasts and lifestyle. However, since the widely welcomed NT Coastal and Marine Management Strategy 2019-29 was released, little has been done. With threats on the rise, we’ve no time to waste. 

    Protecting the Territory’s unique and valuable coastline and the jobs that depend on it was a high profile issue in the 2020 NT election. Now that the Gunner Government has been re-elected on the promise to put in place the Plan to protect our coasts we need to get on with the job. This starts with the commitment to develop two regional coastal plans using spatial marine planning with Traditional Owners and stakeholders during this term of government.

    We have proven solutions on offer that can be tailored to the Territory, like sea country Indigenous Protected Areas, recreational fishing areas, more marine parks like Limmen Bight that deliver jobs for tourism and Indigenous rangers. Importantly, our tropical rivers must continue to flow, supporting our fishing lifestyle and helping sustain our regional economies. 

    Protection of our coasts is important for me. Therefore, I urge you to act swiftly and put the Plan for our coasts into action, to help recover our Top End economy and safeguard our fishing, culture and lifestyle.

    Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you about how you will deliver the protection and management that our Top End coasts deserve.

    Yours sincerely,
    (Your name and suburb will be added here)

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    Keep Top End Coasts Healthy operates on the land and sea country of the Larrakia people. We acknowledge the Larrakia people as the Traditional Owners of the Darwin region and pay our respects to their elders past and present. 


    Keep Top End Coasts Healthy is an alliance of environment groups including the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Environment Centre of the Northern Territory.

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