Other local issues
Current issue: Shute Harbour proposed marina
The Save Our Foreshore organisation is totally opposed to what it sees as nothing more than yet another public waterfront land grab for high end residences - using a marina as its justification.
If this development on our public foreshore is approved, many thousands of locals and visitors will lose an irreplaceable environmental and scenic treasure, primarily so that a private developer can on-sell reclaimed blocks of World Heritage seabed land to third-party developers.
Submissions to the Supplementary EIS for the Shute Harbour Marina development close on the 29-04-2013.
Go to the Shute Harbour page to find more information and complete a Supplementary EIS submission.
Save Our Foreshore Inc.(SOF) was formed in 2004 to fight against an inappropriate development in Airlie Beach. In early 2008 that campaign was won against all odds and during this time SOF has established itself with the public and with local and state authorites.
Shale Oil Mining in pristine Goorganga Wetlands
SOF has waged a campaign against the proposed oil shale mining plant in Whitsunday.
We are appalled that this type of environmental rampage could even be contemplated in our beautiful Whitsundays, negatively inpacting not only on our environment and on the health of our communities but on our tourist, sugar growing and other agricultural industries.
The hazardous effects on human health of this profoundly polluting, dangerous process of extracting oil from oil shale, this is touted by the oil companies as having wonderful economic benefits to the adjacent small towns. The high pay packets of gullible shale oil workers blind them to the dangers, both personally and environmentally. Some seem totally oblivious to the proven danger posed by these mining plants to both environmental and human health.
In Gladstone, Qld, there is ample evidence of the damage that can be caused. A local community 20kms from a trial oil shale mining plant had the health of its citizens damaged, their properties devalued and they are still suffering.
Whitsunday is a world renowned tourist destination, branded by its pristine white beaches, its glorious blue waters and its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
The thriving communites of Proserpine, Airlie Beach & Cannonvale are only 8 and 12 kms (as a crow flies) from the proposed site of the oil shale plant on the Goorganga flood plain. Dependent on the winds, pollution can carry over 70kms ito include Bowen to the north and communities to the south in the potentially contaminated areas. This oil shale deposit is also only approximately 25 kms from the closest Whitsunday islands.
In the public interest, we must recognise the costs in human and economic terms to establishing these oil shale mining plants ... especially in the pristine and precious Whitsundays adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef.
Greenpeace article - Submerged scientist slams shale oil
Interview with Peter Harland, part 1
Interview with Peter Harland, part 2
Coastal management plan:
In accordance with the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation’s announcement of a review of the State Coastal Plan and that a key legislative requirement of the review is to provide an opportunity for the public to put forward ideas and views about how to protect and manage coastal areas while providing for development that is ecologically sustainable, we make the following submission of member’s contributions to this review. Read submission...
Muddy Bay/Port of Airlie:
The Port of Airlie project is underway by Meridien Marinas who already have the marina at Abel Point. In Muddy Bay, current site of huge excavations into the ancient mud, it plans to build 15 beachfront homes, 365 apartments, a 140-room hotel and a 240 berth marina plus shops and food outlets.
Marina berths will be sold in conjunction with accomodation. Save Our Foreshore is attempting to persuade the Whitsunday Shire Council and the Port of Airlie developers to limit the building heights to the legally accepted level for foreshore structures, instead of the planned six metre rise in the ground level with five storeys on top of that. This latter plan creates an enormous wall around Muddy Bay from the sailing club to the sportspark, cutting off air movement and light from that side of the famously low-rise centre of town. (see illustration)
The Whitsunday Way
The "Whitsunday Way" vision was an initiative of the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce. It encompasses whole of the official main road called the Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road. The name Whitsunday Way is now accepted by both the Department of Main Roads and Whitsunday Shire Council as an alternative name for this road.
In July 2001, in response to community acceptance of the Whitsunday Way vision, the Whitsunday Shire Council adopted a "No Traffic Lights" in the Whitsunday Shire.
Unfortunately since that time, and in spite of this policy, traffic lights have been installed at both the Paluma Rd and Island Drive intersections with the Whitsunday Way.
More information on the Whitsunday Way
The new local council has now dropped its support of the Whitsunday Way.
Funnel Bay:
See what they hope to do to Funnel Bay with $500m at Resort Corp's website.
Resort Corp also has a development planned for Airlie itself - Santai Airlie Beach.
