Goompi (Dunwich) on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Quandamooka Country

Goompi (Dunwich) on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Quandamooka Country

Traditional Owners of Quandamooka Country, which includes much of southern Moreton Bay, want political parties to state their positions on key issues before the 25 November state election.

Political parties are being asked to indicate support for a range of projects and issues which will help the Quandamooka People pursue sustainable economic development. There is a clear focus on North Stradbroke Island but some opportunities involving Moreton Island and Peel Island are also mentioned.

Plans for investment at Toondah Harbour, the mainland terminal for ferries to North Stradbroke Island, are not raised at all in the list of policy questions for political parties.

Quandamooka Country election issues

Issues raised by the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) include:

  • Finalising native title and cultural heritage agreements for Quandamooka Country which includes Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) and the Quandamooka Coast (from the Brisbane River mouth to the Logan River mouth).
  • Assisting with provision of basic services such as power, sanitation, water, drainage, roads at and to the One Mile settlement near Dunwich at an estimated cost of $20 million over three years.
  • Supporting an application for World Heritage Area listing with a grant of $100,000 in 2018 for QYAC to prepare a report.
  • Including QYAC in all salt and fresh water management processes and companies operating on Quandamooka Country and accessing Quandamooka water resources. And agreeing to implement a Quandamooka Strategic Water Reserve on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
  • Extending Minjerribah’s (North Stradbroke Island) national park indigenous management arrangements to the Moreton Island National Park in 2018, with a budget commitment of $1.8 million per annum.
  • QYAC wants the current Economic Transition Strategy for North Stradbroke Island to be maintained, with Stage II funding to complete identified Stage I projects, once they have completed the evaluation and planning stage.

Other commitments sought by QYAC include:

  • No re-planning, including rezoning and waterfront development, is made for Goompi (Dunwich) without the express agreement of QYAC
  • Expansion of Minjerribah Camping to deliver camping services and 4WD permits on other national parks across Quandamooka Country, including Peel Island and Mulgumpin (Moreton Island).
  • Funding for construction of the Minjerribah Cultural Centre at an estimated cost of $5 million.

Political parties have been asked to respond to QYAC By 20 November.

Here is a link to the QYAC document:

State Election 2017 Policy Questions to the Political Parties

What is Quandamooka Country?

Quandamooka Country comprises the waters and lands of and around Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), the southern Moreton Bay islands and South Stradbroke Island.

It includes the mainland from the mouth of the Brisbane River, Wynnum, Chandler, Lytton, Belmont, Tingalpa, south to Cleveland and the Logan River.

Parts of Quandamooka “Country” exist in four Queensland local government areas – the Brisbane City Council, Redland City Council, Logan City Council and Gold Coast City Council.

Redlands2030 – 15 November 2017

6 Comments

Tracy, Nov 19, 2017

Before anyone gets carried away with what boils down to Land Claims by the Quandamooka tribe, I would strongly suggest that a review is done on similar Land Claims by the Maori in New Zealand.
This has caused divisions amongst tribes and the greater community.
The Land and Sea Bed needs to be entrusted to future Australians not just the few.
Access to past reserves has been prevented to the general public as a result of similar Land Claims in NZ.
Do your homework Queensland before it’s too late.

Dennis Tafe, Nov 18, 2017

I don’t want to tell anyone else how to vote but I am a senior biologist with a background in science. Therefore I base my reasoning on facts and not on personalities. The fact is that One Nation doesn’t believe in Climate Change despite the years of investigation by Australia’s top scientists. Pauline Hanson thinks the GBR is in pristine condition despite the facts. I am one of those strange people that doesn’t want to see koalas go extinct in SE Qld. Koalas need habitat to survive. Migrating shore-birds need habitat and roosting sites to survive. Both major parties are ignoring these facts and the only two candidates who are against a destructive commercial development near Toondah Harbour and against an Adani Mining proposal for an Indian billionaire with questionable ethics, are the Independent candidate and the Greens. Now you have the facts in a nutshell.

Amy Glade, Nov 18, 2017

Re Dennis Tafe’s comments on Redland LNP Matt McEachern’s pre-election campaign brochure on ‘plan to bust traffic congestion’, wouldn’t we all want to see that…but I for one can only see further congestion as development of housing estates in Redlands continues. LNP have promised to ‘fix’ Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd Thornlands if elected (thereby keeping Mayor’s promise on sign that read: “Williams will fix this road” during last local government election). Then there is the hope of a dedicated bus lane from Carindale-Capalaba to help ease congestion on Old Cleveland Road that we, the people in Redlands, have been listening to for many years, but can’t see any real headway there either…all wishful thinking. In my view, politicians all sides should make every effort to promote rail….a safe, pollution free way of travelling. We are seeing too many road crashes and deaths at Capalaba, particularly at and near 4-way intersection with State govt admitting Finucane Road is a ‘dangerous’ road. Matt McEachern’s lips are sealed on the Toondah Harbour issue so what will we see happening to ease road congestion if, for example, we are to have apt bldgs. by the harbour of 3,600 units? People of Redlands need to hear from politicians all sides, on how they plan to prevent gridlock on local roads since most residents in the work force drive outside the City.

Leonard White, Nov 16, 2017

There are related issues with which other communities and groups have serious concerns with Agencies, Quangos and RCC within Quandamooka Country, World Heritage , and Moreton Bay including Planning , Toondah Harbour,Law Reform and Koala and other Habitats . After 200 years of discrimination ,transportation and worse,including Native Title Acts, support is there for many policy issues but dialogue is needed for strategic outcomes . It is hoped the Responses from Parties to these Policy Requests can be urgently published here.

Dennis Tafe, Nov 15, 2017

Do you notice that many politicians start their speeches with acknowledgement of the local Indigenous tribes? It has become the politically correct thing to do. But how many politicians actually take into account the wishes of the local Indigenous tribes when making decisions that impact on cultural Indigenous sites? As far as I can see in the Redlands the answer with respect to both Labor and LNP is zero. It is good that they now have a deadline before the coming election to let us know what they intend to do in this regard.

Here is one sentence from above:
“Plans for investment at Toondah Harbour, the mainland terminal for ferries to North Stradbroke Island, are not raised at all in the list of policy questions for political parties.”

Most residents are aware that the Walker Proposal for Toondah Harbour has been surrounded in secrecy and has morphed from a simple upgrade of the ferry terminal to a huge commercial unit development over the Ramsar Wetlands. The Aboriginal Elders on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Is) have not even been consulted on this proposal and we all know it has nothing to do with tourism.

I have just examined the pre-election brochure of Matt McEachan, the LNP representative for the Redlands. Matt’s entire brochure dabbles around the fringes of the issues that concern the residents of the Redlands. Nowhere does he even mention important issues like the Toondah Proposal discussed above. When he does mention things like a plan for “more doctors and nurses” is he aware that under Newman and Nichols in the last LNP government the number of nurses were actually cut? Fully trained young nurses could not find work. So such talk is a bit rich now. What about our increasing road congestion? Matt was our elected member in the Redlands but all he did was blame Labor. He now talks about a “plan to bust traffic congestion” but what has he been doing for the last 3 years? My wife visited his Office on 3 occasions. He was not available and he never contacted her till now because now he wants her vote. Matt, you’re a very nice guy but you have to actually make a difference when you’re in office.

Guy Hickey, Nov 15, 2017

Any politician giving more rights to the Quandamooka people are effectively removing rights from the current residents.

Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net

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