Save World Heritage Shute Harbour

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.
This development is scheduled to include:

  • 4 x 5 Storey Buildings
  • 115 x 3 storey, high density residential dwellings – on approx 380m² allotments
  • 630 – 733 Marina Berths – one of the largest marinas in Australia

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 a few hundred odd individuals can enjoy waterfront dwellings.

Location of Shute Harbour

An objection by Dr. J.E.N. Veron:

About Dr. Veron

"As one of the few people who have worked on all the major coral reef regions of the world, I have become increasingly concerned about reef degradation that comes from coastal urbanisation. Australia stands almost alone in having extensive reefs that are still undamaged from this cause and thus I have long supported the efforts of GBRMPA to protect the Great Barrier Reef through managing coastal environments. The connection between reefs and adjacent land is now only too obvious: reefs degrade when coastal ecosystems are not preserved.

"Shute Harbour is one of the best-know components of the world’s most highly treasured reef region. Development of the foreshore is not in the national interest and nor is it long-term interest of the region. Unlike most of the world, we Australians still have a choice – either we conserve such places, or we loose them forever. When future generations look back, I hope they will see good management decisions where our best foreshore environments have been preserved for all time.

"Yours faithfully,
J.E.N. Veron
Former Chief Scientist,
Australian Institute of Marine Science"

An objection by Professor F. H. Talbot:

"Dear the Hon. Jan Jarratt MP, Member for Whitsunday,

"I have worked on coral reefs for over 40 years, on the GBR since 1965, in the Caribbean, and on the reefs of East Africa and Zanzibar and also New Guinea, and published papers on reef ecology and recently a book on reef management (Coral Reefs, Mangroves and Seagrasses: A Sourcebook for Managers; F.Talbot & C.Wilkinson, 2001; Australian Institute of Marine Science).

"Sadly I have watched the steady decline of reef systems. The reasons have been many, including forest clearing, urbanisation, sewage pollution, over-fishing and the removal of wetlands and mangroves.

"You have a gem in the Whitsunday area, and one that attracts thousands of tourists, many of them in yachts. The number of vessels is now so high that many anchorages that are destinations for the yachts are becoming crowded. More marina berths are already under way. I suggest you do not accept the very large Shute Harbour marina development in addition, as you are overburdening the area and damaging its shallow water systems.

"You will already know that the inshore reefs along much of the GBR are less than pristine. This new Shute Harbour development, destroying rich shallow ecosystems, just adds to the steady pressure on the reef in the Whitsunday area.

"The fame of the GBR is well known, but reef systems are common in the Indian and Pacific Ocean tropics...if the word was out that the GBR was tired, your tourists would flock to better reefs.

"Rather than slowly kill your golden goose, I suggest this development will do too much harm to the Whitsundays. You would be wise to prevent it.

"Your sincerely,
Professor F. H. Talbot, Sydney Institute of Marine Science
Director Emeritus, US National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution"