PROPOSED MARINA DEVELOPMENT – TIN CAN BAY
The Sunshine Coast Environment Council has several concerns with a proposed large scale marina development at Norman Point in Tin Can Bay. The development application has been lodged with the Cooloola Shire Council (DA10931) by Fraser Straits Marina Pty. Ltd. over Lot 101 MCH4879 A8270 PP21580, Lot 80 MCH 5383 and Lot 111 MCH5138 A17741 PP18110.
There are several environmental impacts that will result from this development. Primarly is the impact of dredging on surrounding wetlands and water quality, and loss of migratory shorebird habitat through dredge spoil deposition. The adjacent wetlands are internationally recognised through the RAMSAR convention and the location is near Fish Habitat Reserve. The proposed extension of the Great Sandy Marine Park and draft Water Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives for the Tin Can Bay Inlet are all relevant to State legislation. The dredging will also impact on the ecology of the Indo-Pacific Dolphin, dugong and Green Turtle (all listed endangered). Beyond the environmental concerns are that the integrity and character of Tin Can Bay will be detrimentally impacted on by the scale of this proposed development. At this stage there seems to be no planning policy in Queensland Transport (a major contributor to marina development in Queensland) or any other Government Department or agency in regards marina development. SCEC is also concerned that Queensland Transport has operated in contradiction to Wide Bay Integrated Transport Plan and the State Coastal Management Plan.
There has been no transparent master planning exercise for development in a sensitive environmental area, nor has there been a call for expressions of interest for the commercial development of the site. Such processes would have assured probity and protection of the public interest. A Master Plan was called for by the Cooloola Council in March 2004, following a 500 plus turn out at a community meeting concerned with the scale of the proposed marina. We understand that this call for a Master Plan was conveyed to the Queensland Government by Cooloola Council. Instead one private developer has been allowed to submit a private-for-profit development application for the marina contrary to the public interest. We hope you share our concerns for this ecologically sensitive and important part of the Queensland coastline.
– Submission by SCEC click here
– Click here for a downloadable A3 flier to print yourself