NO HELICOPTER BASE HERE
  • News
    • Media
    • Politicians addresses
  • Proposal
  • Helicopter Noise/safety

Friends of Ninney Rise May 2021 Newsletter -

12/5/2021

0 Comments

 
The  Friends of Ninney Rise  periodical newsletter (Click below) has a focus on planning following the  Mission Beach heliport  approval decision. 


Picture
FoNR Issue 2  May 2021 Different Drum
0 Comments

Mission Beach Community rejects Minister's decision

23/4/2021

0 Comments

 
Wet Tropics Times 23 April
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

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

8/4/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
​  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
3 Comments

Is the government determined to trash Mission Beach?

31/3/2021

0 Comments

 
It has been  confirmed. The people and the cassowary are of no interest to the State government and the cassowary and the World Heritage  areas are of no significance to the Federal  government.

First they take no notice  when the  council  puts together a shoddy planning report clearly skewed in favour of the developer and when it is bought to the Federal and State  governments attention by  hundreds of people they   say it is not of interest or of no significance.

The Federal Environment Department informed us   on 4th March "  I can confirm that the consultant working on behalf of Mission Helicopters Pty Ltd responded to the department advising that Mission Helicopters Pty Ltd is aware of its obligations under the EPBC Act but is focusing on finalising the Local Council processes at this point in time".
 Minister Ley  confirms in her response to our 'call in' request,  "The company has advised it is aware of its obligations under the EPBC Act  and will seek  advice  from the department when appropriate. "

The State Minister for Infrastructure and Planning/local government   has  decided against  using his power to call in the development for reassessment. He informs us   the  appropriate place for any community concerns to be heard  is in a costly court appeal. ,    "This is a reserve power that is used only in exceptional circumstances. In this instance, there are no state interests impacted by the development which would warrant my involvement. The Planning and Environment Court is an appropriate forum to examine any issues relating to the technical assessment of this application.

It's all in the  letters below.

The ordinary people, the ones  the governments are  supposed to be  working for, have been dismissed.

​
Picture
Response from Sussan Ley
Picture
Response from Dr Miles
0 Comments

How the Mission Beach aviation facility impacts YOU!

27/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Wet Tropic Times
​Feb  26 2021
Picture
0 Comments

Community and Cassowaries need your help again

26/2/2021

1 Comment

 
Thank you so much for taking the time.   Your letters do help!

At the Threatened Species Symposium held in Cairns last week, we handed  a   letter to   the Threatened Species Commissioner (TSC),   Dr Sally Box,  asking her to  send our concerns about the helicopter base  decision  to the  Federal Environment Minister.    Sally told us  she was aware of the development as the department has been receiving  a number of  emails - from you.

Sally   emailed us confirming she had delivered the letter to the Federal Environment Minister's department.  
We are still waiting to hear if the  development has been referred to be assessed under the EPBC Act.​
Picture
Dr Sally Box at Threatened Species Symposium
Can you help again please?

Together we can  show  the  Ministers there is enough community interest that they must take action.   
On the right are two letters.
  • One to the  Deputy Premier, Dr Steven Miles, asking him to  use his Call in power under   section 91 of the Planning Act 2016 (Qld) (Planning Act), which states that the Minister for the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning (DSDILGP) may call-in a Development Application for the purpose of re-assessing and re-deciding the Application where it affects a State Interest,   and;
  • One to the Queensland Environment Minister, The Hon   Meaghan Scanlon, asking her to consult with the  Deputy Premier in  Calling In  the development  to be reassessed under her environment portfolio.
​
You can download  the word documents to add the date, your  name, address and short personal reason for your letter. 

You can also opt to endorse  the   
MBC submission sent 22 January referred to in letter to  Deputy Premier  which outlines in detail the reasons for the Deputy Premier to call in the development.​
It will only take a few minutes  but can make the world of difference.
​
Thank you for your help.
Picture
Download letter to Deputy Premier

Picture
Download letter to Queensland Environment Minister
1 Comment

Wet Tropic Times - Letter to editor

10/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
0 Comments

Write to the Federal Environment Department

31/1/2021

0 Comments

 
We have  composed a draft  letter for you to send to the  Federal Environment Department asking them to remind the heliport proponent,  Ray Cronin of Mission Helicopters,  of his obligation to refer any development that is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of National Environmental Significance,  to be assessed under the EPBC Act 

 Download the  document below.
​​Please read  the document and write  a letter in your own words    using any of the points  in our draft.
Your letter will  have  more weight if it is written in your own words.
Picture
Thanks for taking the time.
0 Comments

Community told "You have the right of appeal"

31/1/2021

2 Comments

 
In Oct 2017   the   50th Anniversary of the saving of   Ellison Reef from lime mining was celebrated at Ninney Rise'. Guest speaker, Prof  Bob Pressey  of   ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies - JCU Townsville,   began his address,   titled  'Death by a thousand cuts' with,   "The development assessment process is broken, it's been broken for a long time and it is kept broken deliberately."
With the approval of   a heliport allowing  three medium lift helicopters to operate early morning to late afternoon, 7 days a week,  in a tourism destination known for its quiet and peaceful amenity, the community  has  become painfully aware public interest is not at the forefront of  council decision making.
The community voice  is being   ignored during the public consultation process. Decisions are made  at closed meetings   that undermine  the planning scheme, allow  destruction of the natural environment and threaten strong community held values.  The community is then   told  they have a right of reply through  court when it is unlikely   the public has the expertise, motivation or ability  to raise enough funds to launch a legal appeal  against a council decision.​
"If you don't like it,
take us to court"
​ attitude
Not just about Mission Beach - a Cassowary Coast issue
​
Council decisions  bely the  rhetoric reinforced in   their own policies, strategies and plans. Following is  from  the CCRC Corporate Plan . (below right)
Goal 2
Community FIrst
"We will listen to what people in the community are asking for, share our learnings, innovate and continuously improve to deliver sustainable facilities and services that support our vibrant communities, where health, community safety, education, arts, culture, sport and recreation enhance our lifestyle and
respect our unique natural environment.

We will continue to build social networks and provide for more engaged  community involvement in Council decision making.
​"We will listen to what people in the community are asking for and deliver  sustainable facilities and services that support our quality lifestyle and our   unique natural environment"
Future Assured
​
The approval of the  Helipad on  zoned  good agricultural land  undermines the strategic  intent of  both  State and local planning and  is a symptom of Federal and State Government devolving broad discretionary powers to local governments across Australia. ​
Picture
Community First - Goal 2 Corporate Plan
The lack of Federal and State Government oversight has resulted in Planner’s reports being produced using shallow reasoning, blatantly justifying support for developments despite conflicts with local and State planning. When Planning department recommendations or councillor decisions are questioned, the public are informed they have the right of appeal. The council’s “ If you don’t like it, take us to court” attitude treats public interest with contempt.

If the communities of the Cassowary Coast thought  they could go back to  some 'normality' after  a resounding rejection of  a  council that ruled in secrecy with  a bias embracing  speculators and developers ahead of the public interest,  the heliport decision has   given a sobering reminder that  is not the case.    A culture  was introduced  with the former council that remains entrenched  in the  operations of the so called  democratic process of our present council.

Feel secure    and watch this space. There is a heliport,  or something equally  as inappropriate or shocking,  coming to a place near you soon!​

Liz Gallie
Mission Beach Cassowaries  Inc
​0414 402 315
2 Comments

GO FUND ME  - PROTECT THE MAGIC OF MISSION BEACH

28/1/2021

2 Comments

 
We have just set up a Go Fund Me account to  raise funds for an appeal
Please send/share this  throughout your networks.

THANK YOU!
In the hope of  saving the magic of Mission Beach
For the people and the cassowaries

​Your support means the world to us

2 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>
    Picture
    Post your helicopter sightings on the No Helicopters Here facebook page

    Picture
    This website is managed by Mission Beach Cassowaries inc to share information about the No Helicopters Here campaign against  the approval of  A HELICOPTER BASE   on 2224 Tully Mission Beach Road.

    Latest  on court appeal  orders 
    Picture
    On 3rd Dec the appeal was reviewed.  Judge Morzone ordered  (above) the appellant (C4) to provide a list of matters they wish to be considered for inclusion in the proposed conditions attached to any approval  of the development application.
    Picture
    On the 3rd September  an      Order (above) was made  by his Honour Judge Morzone QC.
    ​
    The appeal will be reviewed on 3 December 2021

    Picture
    On the 6th August the court ordered MH to  respond to  C4 correspondence by  August 15th.
    ​Next  appeal review  is listed for 3rd September.

    Picture
    All relevant  COURT    APPEAL
    ​proceedings
    here
    SUPREME AND DISTRICT COURTS CAIRNS
    LAW LIST


    Picture
    Grounds C4 has filed to appeal the  Heliport approval  decision
    Picture
    Grounds on which Mission Helicopters, as co respondent ,  will defend the appeal .

    Map-Generator



    Archives

    March 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • News
    • Media
    • Politicians addresses
  • Proposal
  • Helicopter Noise/safety