|
|
|
|
|
News) Peta-Kaye Croft ignores her constituents on SOSMs Croft has never supported her constituents in their concerns about the shipping terminal for The Spit and the following excerpt from Hansard demonstrates that she readily discounts community members justifiable issues about the impacts of the terminal. Worse than that she believes it is acceptable to take away constituents democratic rights to legally challenge Government decisions, in the name of perceived economic benefits.The quote below refers to an Act specifically passed to take away the rights of the people of Townsville to challenge the decision to extend the Breakwater Casino and associated development including a shipping terminal. This act will allow the developers to do as they will as their act overrides ALL PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION, which up until now was there to ensure the "right" thing was done. Is this what we can expect on the Gold Coast? A special act to override our Planning Scheme and all environmental legislation designed to protect The Spit and the Broadwater?In the Hansard (record of parliamentary proceedings) Tuesday, 28 February 2006 Peta Kaye-Croft ALP member for Broadwater refers to the Townsville Breakwater Island Agreement amendment Bill. Pg 322 "Recent media reports, in particular on ABC Radio, reflect the concern of environmental groups that as a matter of principle object to any scheme which contemplates or authorises development within the future development area rather than formulating a view based on the consideration of environmental issues identified through the preparation of the environmental impact statement. On this basis, those statements could be said to represent an example of the need to limit the ability of third parties to unreasonably delay development within the future development area. However, these same environmental groups fail to mention the major impact that developments such as the proposed Townsville cruise ship terminal will have on the local area. The project has the opportunity to create thousands of jobs in the area, with employment spanning the duration of the development." Is this an expression of wanting to limit the voice of environmental groups? We have a situation where the Government of the day is pushing this Gold Coast shipping terminal agenda using flawed data and a limited Environmental Impact Study on a 'Notional' project that does not reach accepted benchmarks. Of course Peta Kaye-Croft would want to prevent us from delaying the project. How do you as her constituents feel about this? The community deserves the chance to hear what is really going on with the Environmental Impact Study and the flaws in the whole process. Lack of open, public, community consultation is but one of those flaws. The following quotes fail to advise the public that over 80% of currently used public open space will be removed from the general community and given to the few wealthy enough to own a yacht or superyacht. Nor do they recognise that the Federation Coast reserve is already protected and does not need the shipping terminal to protect it. Pg 323 "As a Gold Coast member, I am going to fight for our cruise ship terminal. I believe that it will be great for our region. It is important that I speak today and put to rest some of the misconceptions about the cruise ship terminal that people have been hearing for a couple of years now. The state government's total vision for The Spit includes a preservation program for Doug Jennings Park and the western arm of Marine Stadium, the provision of recreational facilities for public use, a protection and enhancement program for the 93 hectares of Federation Walk and nature reserves area east of Seaworld Drive, a cruise ship terminal, construction of a marine facility for superyachts, recreational and commercial vessels at either Marine Stadium or adjacent to Sea World, and the development of 6.2 hectares of state land south of Sea World. Part of this government's commitment is to develop a plan that represents a balance between public space and recreational and tourism facilities. Included in the plan is a funding allocation of $100,000 annually to rejuvenate Federation Walk. I must mention the wonderful work the volunteers do in terms of that walk. I am sure that they will work very hard if they get $100,000 each year to support their work." Peter Lawlor ALP member for Southport on Pg 327 states "The Beattie government has already set aside 93 hectares of land on The Spit between the Sheraton and the pump bypass jetty to the east of Seaworld Drive for park, environmental, coastal management and beach protection purposes. That is recognised by the Friends of Federation Walk in a letter sent to the Premier on 2 August 2004 which thanked him for doing exactly that-protecting this 93 hectares. It mentioned that for over 40 years the community had fought vigorously to keep that area free from development. It thanked the then minister for natural resources, Stephen Robertson, for the protection of that 93 hectares." Sorry Peta-Kaye Croft but its already protected and we don't need it to be RE-PROTECTED through the terminal project!! Pg 325 Christine Smith ALP member for Burleigh states "A proposal to locate a cruise ship terminal on the Gold Coast has caused some angst and much misinformation is being circulated. For example, concern has been expressed that Doug Jennings Park will be sacrificed in order to provide this facility. In actual fact, one hectare of the 12-hectare park would be used for the terminal and the remainder of the park would be upgraded to make it a more enjoyable place for the community. Also announced is a protection and enhancement program for the 93-hectare Federation Walk and nature reserve areas east of Seaworld Drive. I would like to be on the record as saying that we have to get the balance right and we have to ensure that the environmental considerations are weighed carefully." We don't need a shipping terminal to make Doug Jennings park a more enjoyable place for the community. Just use a fraction of the revenue that is already being generated from the Spit that currently goes into Government consolidated revenue. Just who is using misinformation into the public arena here? One hectare of Doug Jennings Park? Some estimates based on the documents provided by GHD on the Notional Seaway Project EIS indicate approximately 80% of what was public open space to be used for the Shipping Terminal and a Marina. Oh that Marina thing - who would be gaining the benefit from that? One thing is for sure when it comes to election time many Gold Coast residents who have found their voices ignored are going to have their say on your future Peta Kaye-Croft, Peter Lawlor and Christine Smith. In the recent Gaven by-election our interaction with voters on polling day helped in the removal of Robert Poole. We did this without endorsing or preferring any specific candidate. Fact - 99% of people approached at the Spit to sign a petition (now over 15000) protesting against this public land grab are of the view it should not go ahead. If you, Ms Croft, Mr Lawlor and Ms Smith think this is misinformation - don't talk about your ties to the area 20 or so years ago, get out of your office and go there now and see for yourself. |
Other Articles |
|
home
| sponsors | volunteers | contact us | downloads | links |
Website By www.goldcoastlogin.com.aucreator of Gold Coast Accommodation online.com |