Community meeting held to decide future options

 A   community meeting was held at C4 on Saturday 23rd January to discuss  options   following the disappointing decision  of the Council to approve  the contentious helipad development.

​Ex Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor, Bill Shannon, attended the meeting and was able to answer questions and clarify points  brought up during the meeting.       Bill was reminded that his council  denied    an application in 2008 lodged by the then existing  Raw Materials  owner to expand the business.    Bill agreed the application for an expansion of the business  was refused on the grounds it was  inconsistent with the intent of the planning scheme  as was  the helipad,  commenting further, "It should not have been approved".  

The community  is  grappling  to understand how   a development  residents  say will have an unacceptable impact on their lifestyle, sense of place and  the  special  environment, could be  approved against  such strong community objection.

​They  also questioned why  their Division 3  representative's   case against the development was not given more  consideration.  Cr Tschui was not asked any questions from any of the councillors including   Cr Baines, who holds  the  environment portfolio and voted for the development.  ​ There was no discussion. Those councillors who spoke, only made statements about why they were voting a  certain way, giving  the public reason to believe   the decision had been made prior to the general meeting.

Environemnt Portfilio holder - Cr Baines

Cr Farinelli

Cr Millwood

Comments about cassowaries  "In my opinion that's because helicopters fly and cassowaries don't" by Cr Farinelli  were seen by the community as not only flippant but disrespectful of a very serious  agenda item about the be  voted on.

​It was also worrying  to hear   Cr Millwood believes  the numbers of cassowaries are increasing without providing  any supporting  evidence.

​Further,   Cr Barnes emphasising the claim that  once off the ground helicopters are not council responsibility, have been  quickly corrected by CASA.   You can read  correspondence with CASA here.     Are these rational reasons   for a decision to approve the  development?

​Adding to these concerns  is the   statement, which appears to  have been  written prior the  general meeting (21st January) and  read out by the Mayor at the end of that meeting. We can only assume the whole agenda item  was bought to the  general meeting with a  pre determined outcome. Had it already been discussed at length at the Information Session held the day before? 

Deputy Mayor Cr Barnes

Mayor Cr Nolan

Where was the “robust assessment process” boasted by the Mayor? It certainly wasn’t evident at the General Meeting (21st January).

Where was the tabling, report or even discussion about the properly made and lodged petition carrying 650 signatures against the contentious proposal to place  an intrusive development  on good agricultural land that  threatens to destroy the peace and quiet  amenity of local residents?   Are these affected residents of no account to this Council? 

Where was the discussion about the content of hundreds of emails  councillors received from  local, regional and   national   people outlining their concerns?
​
A development that obviously hits at the heart of  the community and will have a major impact on the future of Mission Beach,  took   just  fourteen and a half  minutes  for the councillors to cast a vote in favour.   (see meeting video below)

• There have  been no studies  to prove   a heliport  placed in the centre of  a comparatively    small high biodiversity area connecting two World Heritage Areas  at   the heart of Mission Beach, is low impact.  
• There has been no reports showing any economic benefits to Mission Beach or the shire.  
• There has been no report of    the noise  impact on  residents within the  impact zone,    of medium lift helicopters allowed to  operate  from 7am to 6pm  5 days a week and 8am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.  
• There has   been no report to show  the development will have  a low impact on cassowaries.

The council decision to approve the   amenity destroying  helicopter  project  has thrown many residents of Mission Beach into despair and a state of  anxiety.  Those who have chosen to live here have long responded to government planning processes to protect our natural environment and our village lifestyle. 

 The community now question how much  this council considers the  best interests of the public.  Most of the  councillors have demonstrated they have no  understanding of the fundamental importance of the intrinsic values of our shire to the health of our community, environment and economy.

This is not just a Mission Beach issue. The CCRC  is making decisions for the whole of the shire  using the same 'logic' and  decision making process.   A large part of that is carried out behind closed doors at pre meeting 'Councillor Information Sessions'. 

More information on  what actions  the community can  take to help, including  letter writing and fund raising for an appeal  will be distributed  soon. ​

Planners report starts at 136:00 Council 'discussion' starts at 144:40