Boaties invited from Townsville to Cairns and the Tablelands to use Clump Point Boat Ramp.

2/2/2018

Enough of the false claims!

Lets start with the letter to the Editor
published in the Jan 31 Townsville Bulletin

MBBA President's claim

The facts

"At long last the Mission Beach area looks likely to reap the benefits of the decades-long campaign to improve boating facilities for recreational users and commercial boat operators"

Don't you mean the decades-long campaign for a marina at Boat Bay?
Commercial interests will benefit at the expense of recreational boaties.
Who is this proposal going to benfit? Developers and real estate agents are very excited.

"GBRMPA’s assessment is the project’s final hurdle".

The Mission Beach Clump Point Boating Infrastructure Project has not yet received all state and federal approvals.
“Tick and flick” State approvals are proceeding without EIA or public consultation, under pressure to be completed before GBRMPA’s Comments deadline.

"Funding is guaranteed by the State Government".

TMR Public Information Package states gov funding is not guaranteed see pages 11,17, 22. (link on icon right)
Watch out for next stage. Who will it be to try again for private marina facilities in beautiful Boat Bay?

Click to download TMR Public Information Package

"We believe it is important that the Cassowary Coast and the wider community from Townsville to Cairns including the Tablelands, whose boaties are all regular visitors to Mission Beach, let the GBRMPA know that most of us support these much-needed boating improvements. Precise details and designs are available in an information package at hhtp/-Boating- facilities/Clump-Point- Mission-Beach or contact me for a brochure."

Most of us? – or just your mates?
This project started 6 years ago to address the congestion and conflict created by commercial operator/s hogging the space at the recreational boat ramp.

There is a maximum capacity of about 60 car/trailer parks on Clump Point
Why would anyone want to drum up more boatie visitors from as far away as Townville, Cairns and the Tablelands when there is already no room at the inn? If not to create pressure for a commercial marina?
Why would anyone want to introduce commercial use to an area that can't cater now to current local recreational needs?

Why would anyone go even further and suggest incorporating industrial use?

Poor Clump point!
Increased congestion!
More conflict!
What about our relaxed village atmosphere?
Our access and enjoyment of our own peaceful bay?

WAIT - THERE'S MORE!

"Please indicate your support for this environmentally sound project to GBRMPA"

"At a time when off-shore corals are dying, this project will trash a thriving coral reef, destroy an unquantified area of benthic habitat, ruin the special beauty on which Mission Beach relies for tourism, and change the local ecology.

No wonder the government didn't want genuine public consultation.”
Margaret Moorhouse.
see ASH media release

signed
PETER HEYWOOD
President, Mission Beach Boating Association Inc

A quick check on Peter Heywood's background:

Former Director of Mission Beach Harbour Pty Ltd
Former Real Estate Agent
Speculative Land developer
Proponent of (failed) marina development proposal of (World Heritage) wetland at Coquette Point
Spoke on behalf of both Mission Beach Boating Association AND Mission Beach Community Association, when it suited, while on the Reference Group.

You can make a difference

GBRMPA wants to hear from interested persons " ESPECIALLY those who believe that the proposed use will RESTRICT THEIR REASONABLE USE OF THIS PART OF THE MARINE PARK" are invited to lodge written comments on the proposal with the Authority

Deadline for comments by 17 February 2018.
Your comments MUST be referenced as G39785.1.
assessments@gbrmpa.gov.au

Tell them what you think in your own words.

This proposal DOES NOT HAVE CONSERVATION OR TRADITIONAL OWNER SUPPORT

This is NOT THE SAME (original) PROPOSAL that was approved and now abandoned by the state government.

This NEW PROPOSAL HAS HAD NO PUBLIC CONSULTATION. Despite the repeated claims to the contrary in TMR's Public Information Package (PIP)(click icon right)

The propsal will INCREASE CONGESTION AND USER CONFLICT

The project will INHIBIT YOUR ACCESS AND ENJOYMENT OF BEAUTIFUL AND TRANQUIL BOAT BAY

The proposal is NOT just an UPGRADE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

This will BECOME A PORT/MARINA

TMR is applying for the full extent of works to support the present and future marine infrastructure needs of the Mission Beach area. WHERE ARE THE SUPPORTING STUDIES TO SHOW THE NEEDS?

Only part of this proposal can be delivered SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDS

If approved, FUTURE EXPANSION as a commercial port and marina IS INEVITABLE

Where will the extra funds come from? Is this a TROJAN HORSE OPENING THE WAY FOR PRIVATE ENTERPRISE through the Qld Government's Public/private partnerships (PPP) program?

Disturbance to the sea bottom (excavation and reclamation) associated with the proposal WILL RELEASE SEDIMENTS INTO THE OCEAN CURRENTS adding to the suspension of pollutants within Boat Bay (a habitat protection zone), Clump Point fringing reef and find their way to the outer reefs 65% impacted by coral bleaching and currently heavily impacted by Crown of Thorns.

Increased pressure on a STRESSED AND DYING REEF WITH DIMINISHING FISH STOCK.

We've been LED UP THE GARDEN PATH! Deliberately HOODWINKED!

We are relying on, and ASKING GBRMPA, TO USE THE DISCRETION UNDER THEIR ACT - Regulation 88Q (p) 'Any other matters' to PROTECT OUR WORLD HERITAGE AREA

Given the large number of claims in the Public Information Package (PIP) that can be shown to be untrue - WE DEMAND AN INDEPENDENT EXPERT REVIEW OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

Remember this?!

Click to download TMR Public Information Package

1 Comment

Jason Shearer

6/2/2018 04:33:55 pm

The whole consultation process was a sham and bias for a predetermined outcome directed by a few self interested groups/persons in the mission beach community and a overzealous government department to make themselves look better in the public eye to show they are helping better the local economy we have been conned mission beach.