ABC Far North interview with Pedro O'Connor and Liz Gallie

​  Ministers' decisions unacceptable

​The Mission Beach community is bitterly disappointed  at the Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley and the Queensland Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Dr Steven Miles,  in deciding against using their ‘call in’ powers to reassess the helicopter facility development.

​ In his   response     to  requests to use his power under the Planning Act to call in the development, Dr Miles said the helicopter development wouldn't  impact any matters of state interests that would warrant his involvement. He also said the  court was the appropriate place to examine any technical assessment issues relating to this application".
​
Liz Gallie of Mission Beach Cassowaries said the Ministers decision is unacceptable, “How can the strategic intent of the planning scheme, High Environmental Significance mapping, cassowaries and community expectation not be of interest to the state?”  “The Helicopter facility development will impact on all of those things” said Liz

 What advice did the Minister receive to make that decision? Was the Minister fully informed of the facts"?
These and other  questions will be asked  in a Right to Information request by  Mission beach Cassowaries.

Pedro O'Connor,   Director of Australian Inbound - Private Epic Journeys agrees. “Mission Beach is one of the few places in Australia where you can enjoy a true nature experience. It attracts the same market as the Daintree. " said Pedro. ”Why would you bring in this noise factor when the iconic features of Mission Beach are the Dunk Island butterfly and the cassowary. It just doesn’t go hand in hand with current community and visitor expectations”.

Pedro said there was no evidence the helicopter development would bring any economic benefits  to Mission Beach. “Of course we need balanced growth. That is what everyone is looking for ".said Pedro, "but who is to benefit from this development?”  "It won't be employing a lot of people so it needs to be weighed up against who will not benefit" . The accommodation houses and other providers along the coast who are selling their region for its nature and that’s being interrupted”.

“What is the developer’s true agenda"?  Pedro asked? “There is no high end tourism industry at Mission Beach. It has developed as a low key boutique nature based tourism industry. 

"The council and the Minister has been made well aware of the community's concerns. There is no evidence to show there would be any benefits for the community said Liz  "But they have chosen to ignore it". 

 ​"How can we have faith in the assessment process”? The public feel they have been sidelined, let down and treated with contempt. Liz said “Council decisions are dividing communities and forcing some into costly court battles”.

“What is the point of council writing plans claiming to put “Community First’ and to “… listen to the people and support their quality lifestyle and unique natural environment", when council decisions, policies and actions are often in direct conflict to the vision in those plans? asks Liz.

"The community has been thrown into a state of anxiety over this decision".  said Liz "They are now unsure of their future.  Their lifestyle and  economy are threatened.  “What we want is sound future-focused planning, and state and local governments which defend that planning; not to play the double game of writing good things into policy and legislation and doing bad things on the ground”.

The  Mayor of the  Cassowary Coast Regional Council   told ABC Far North  he couldn't comment as the matter is in  the court. Cr Nolan said the submitters are exercising their right of appeal and confirmed  the ratepayers will be paying for the council to  defend the appeal.

"This is what the assessment process has come to" said Liz "The public   input during the consultation process is ignored, the planning scheme is ignored,  and the  planning department  recommendation is  skewed  in favour of the developer. The council will  then use  public funds to defend  themselves against any  appeal against the decision. A 'win win' for the developer and a 'lose lose' for the  community and public expectation of a  fair due process". said Liz. 

 “All of this angst could have avoided by the council sticking to their planning scheme and working in the public, not the developer’s interest said Liz. The helicopter facility belongs at one of the designated air services facilities in the Cassowary Coast".

The Community For Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) has filed an appeal in the Planning and Environment court against the helicopter development approval.

Mission Beach Cassowaries is helping raise funds for the appeal. Please go to nohelicoptershere gofundme if you would like to help.
Ends

More information
Liz Gallie
Mission Beach Cassowaries
​0414402315

Pedro O’Connor
Australian Inbound - Private Epic Journeys
0418 113 227