Queensland Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps has said the government will not release more water for irrigation, winding back Wild Rivers declarations in Queensland’s Channel Country.

The previous Wild Rivers declarations are now to be replaced by a new management framework for the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers and Cooper Creek. There is concern already from local graziers, who say new irrigation projects could potentially damage the environment.

But the state’s natural Resources Minister says they should not fear, as no new permits will be awarded without proper consideration.

“We'll be not allowing any further water to be released for irrigation purposes from the Georgina, Diamantina rivers or from Cooper Creek,” said Queensland Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps, “the existing licences that are in place will be allowed to continue their operations and we'll not be buying or removing any of those existing licences."

Queensland Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has labelled the rolling back the ecological management laws an act of “environmental vandalism”.

“We're yet to see those strict environmental guidelines but we do know that this is pristine areas - that's why the Labor government introduced these Wild Rivers,” said Ms Palaszczuk, “it was agreed to by everyone and once again, the Newman Government wants to wind back these laws.”

Environmental groups seem to agree, slamming the announcement too.

Pew Charitable Trust spokesman Rupert Quinlan said: “Advice from that panel said there should be no weakening of protections against mining in Channel Country - he's ignored that... he's also ignored calls from AgForce that there should be a moratorium on all oil and gas activities in Channel Country... he's ignored his local MP Vaughan Johnson and lastly he's ignored Aboriginal leaders. We will have to wait and see and trust that existing legislation that prevails throughout the remainder of Queensland is sufficient.”

But the Queensland Resources Council says the move will be good for jobs and investment in Queensland, CEO Michael Roche says: “What we're talking about here with oil and gas developments is very small footprints for drilling and other infrastructure... the news coming out of the companies that are exploring that part of the country, mostly as I say happening on the South Australian side of the border, talk about billions of dollars of potential production that can be generated in that part of Queensland... the vast majority of that area will remain untouched and protected, so I think this will be a good outcome.”