Russ Hinze changed his mind 1980
The community meeting which persuaded Russ Hinze to change his mind
about a Lend Lease development on the whole of the northern bank of the
Currumbin Estuary was held at Palm Beach on 4th February 1980 following a
very energetic campaign over the previous 8 months. Over 2000 people attended and could not all fit into the hall, but stayed outside to demonstrate to Hinze that they cared. Hinze arrived at the meeting with 12 State Government and National Party officers to tell us what a wonderful idea the development was.
Members of the community rose and spoke one after another about their opposition to the proposed development. After an hour he adjourned with his henchmen and then returned saying that he would have to have rocks in his head to proceed in the face of such united community opposition. It was an election year and it was his seat at risk. It still took us (the community) another 11 months to get him to gazette the crown land as two reserves - one as a fish habitat and the other as a conservation/recreation reserve.
