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August 2008 - Shale Oil Off Limits - Bligh
PREMIER Anna Bligh has announced that Queensland’s beautiful Whitsunday region will be placed off limits for shale oil mining. Ms Bligh said she would not allow the environment to be put at risk while the technology for extraction of the resource was still not proven. "Our environment must come first," said the Premier. Now Save Our Foreshore will be pushing for a Federal moratorium. Read more...
May 2008 - Save Our Foreshore competition winners are announced!
Three high profile members of the Whitsunday community got together last week to judge entries in the SOF foreshore design competition. And congratulations go to the following winners! First Prize, Val Kelder. Second Prize, Val Howland. Third Prize, Dot Smith. Childrens Prize Marina Van Blarcom. Read more...
14 March 2008 - SOF receives Carlisle Award
The Whitsunday's Save Our Foreshore community group has been awarded the 2008 Ian Carlisle Award for the Environment. Presented by the Mackay Conservation group this weekend, SOF committee member Faye Chapman accepted the award on behalf of members. Read more...
11 January 2008 - "Our Endangered Coast" Comment by Barbara Norman in The Age
During the election, the ALP produced a Caring for Our Coasts policy statement. It quotes the prime minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council saying that more than 700,000 coastal addresses are potentially at risk from long-term sea-level rise and storm surges. The Labor plan provides a strong foundation. If and when COAG meets to discuss a climate change adaptation agreement, there had better be a chapter on planning our coastline for when the sea does hit the land. We will need to be ready... See the rest of the article.
5 November 2007 - "Save World Heritage Shute Harbour" campaign launched at markets
The SOF caravan made its first appearance at the Airlie markets on Saturday in its new role. Having put the win against the FKP project behind them, the Save Our Foreshore team are now working to prevent the construction of a huge development on Shute Harbour’s public foreshore.
"While the government has formally put an end to the multi-story hotel development on public parkland in Airlie Beach, that is only one small part of our public foreshore." Says spokesperson Suzette Pelt. "The pattern of public land grabs for private commercial development continues under this Government, even into World Heritage waters".
The proposal the community group will now be fighting against is an inappropriate development proposal on 51 hectares of public foreshore and over the World Heritage waters of Shute Bay. Planned are 115 multi storey dwellings on public foreshore, several five storey resort buildings and a 630 berth marina.
"This is clearly a massive public land grab" Ms Pelt says "It is simply not needed. Any development in Shute Harbour should be in the existing commercial area".
"Even a reduction in marina size with any land based infrastructure is unacceptable in this World Heritage area".
"The value of Shute Harbour in its natural state is priceless in the longer term. It is outrageous that people could lose this irreplaceable environmental and scenic treasure for the region to a private commercial development". Ms Pelt said.
According to those manning the caravan on Saturday the public support for their cause was tremendous. "The shock of what is happening at Muddy Bay was a constant theme and most people were horrified at the prospect of it happening yet again at World Heritage Shute Harbour." Ms Pelt said. Hundreds signed petitions and several out of town couples said although they had been coming to Airlie for years this would be their last visit. "People are shocked and saddened at what is happening to this place and they are voting with their feet." Ms Pelt added.