SAVE EAST POINT
East Point, Too Important to Destroy
1947 Aerial View: Birds of East Point
East Point Assessment: Fish of East Point
North End – West View (90 sec load)
South Bassett Creek – East View
North Bassett Creek – East View to “Of Concern” vegetation
Mount Bassett – East View to “Of Concern” vegetation
Q. Where is East Point?
A. East Point at Harbour Beach, Mackay, comprises 70 ha of natural bushland, extending from the new Surf Club south to the Pioneer River. It is home to at least 140 bird species, and includes 1.8 km of turtle nesting sites along its Coral Sea beachfront. It also adjoins the registered Bassett Basin Fish Habitat Reserve which protects at least 57 fish species, crabs, prawns and other marine life.
Q. Who owns East Point, and what is proposed there?
A. This wooded and grassed sandy spit is publicly owned Crown land. It’s under threat of privatisation. Brisbane developer Eastpoint Mackay Pty Ltd plans massive land clearing and development of a hotel and residential housing to accommodate up to 3,000 people. Preferred developer status was awarded by State Cabinet in 1997.
Q. Will the nicest section of East Point woodland be the first to go in the first stage of the development?
A. It will. The northern section of the site is covered with 20 ha of remnant regional ecosystem 8.2.1 (Casuarina equisetifolia open forest woodland with Ipomoea pes-Caprae and Spinifex sericeus dominated ground layer on foredunes). This ecosystem has “of concern” status under the 1999 Vegetation Management Act. The Department of Natural Resources and Mines has “done a deal” to allow only 5 ha to be retained. An additional 5 ha will be rehabilitated or revegetated, probably outside the development. This clearing represents the loss of the largest area of this ecosystem in the Central Queensland Coast Bioregion. Many birds nest in this area and feed on fruits and insects associated with this vegetation, e.g. the Torres Strait pigeon breeds here and eats the fruit of Cupaniopsis anacardioides. Also “of concern” are patches of coastal vine thickets and native grasses which provide food for birds and animals. No management plan has been provided for the vegetation reestablishment program. The new road through the development will border the reserved 5 ha making it susceptible to weed invasion and biodiversity decline.
Q. Does the proposed development meet Mackay City Council’s Tourist/Residential zoning requirement for ecological sustainability?
A. Because of its high population density and suburban character, it is very unlikely the development will be ecologically sustainable.
Q. What is special about East Point?
A. It is a turtle nesting site for protected flatback and green turtles. Its plant life is so varied – like a botanic garden – that more than 140 bird species feed there. Migratory birds come from as far away as Siberia and Alaska, and bird watchers from all over the world are taken by local birdwatchers to East Point. The Bassett Basin Fish Reserve is a valuable breeding and fishing site for fish, prawns, crabs and marine life. This rare inner-city bushland has wallabies, goannas, echidnas and many other animals, making Mackay unique among coastal cities. Mackay families should be able to walk, picnic, cycle, fish and access their beachfront and river bank without feeling like “intruders” among private housing and commercial buildings.
Q. Why do you think you may not have been to East Point?
A. East Point is accessible only by taking a long walk or rough 4WD ride along its unsealed tracks. Much of the land was fenced off for grazing leases. Fishermen, star gazers and campers love this publicly-owned inner city wilderness, and with some ecologically sensitive development, families will too.
Q. Was the public properly consulted on the future of this land?
A. It wasn’t.
Q. As stage one of the project will be totally residential and the developer seeks 10 years to develop the remaining stages, including the “tourist hub”, will he stay the course? What will be the benefits versus the costs?
A. Though the council will gain revenue from rates, revenue from tourism will be way into the future and uncertain, given the long development timeframe. Consider also the potential costs, such as loss of much of a community resource, loss of biodiversity, loss of eco- tourism resources, and the costs of infrastructure to support the development, given the risk of flood/tidal surge/wind damage.
Q. Is the development “state of the art”, i.e. does it meet the objectives of the 2001 State Coastal Planning Act?
A. No. The Mackay office of the Department of Local Government and Planning (DLGP) has done an extensive review of the developer’s submission and found it lacking in many areas. Anyone interested can look at a paper copy at Council or DLGP or read it online at www.dlgp.qld.gov.au. Read their questions related to the adequacy of the developer’s biodiversity, wetlands, dune system, erosion, groundwater, water quality, storm surge and flooding protection proposals. Some individuals or groups may like to lodge a formal objection.
Mackay Conservation Group offers this message as a community service.