Local residents say NO to Toondah

Here are three submissions from local residents concerned about the Toondah Harbour draft EIS. The range of issues raised makes for interesting reading.

Altogether there were about 25,000 submissions against the Toondah proposal lodged through portals operated by members of the Toondah Alliance.

If you have something to say about Toondah, or any other matter, email your letter to theeditor@redlands2030.net

Say “NO” to Toondah

I am a local resident currently living in Capalaba. 

I am against and oppose the Walker Corporation’s Toondah Harbour proposal!

Here are just a few reasons why I am against this development proposal…

– The Ramsar listing of the Moreton Bay Marine Park indicates it is of global significance, and our obligations to protect and enhance it for the sake of biodiversity, the crucial role it plays in ecosystem functioning, as well as our commitment to sustainable development and intergenerational equity. 

– No amount of environmental offsets could ever compensate for the irreparable damage that would be done to species, already under threat, if this development were to proceed.

– There is no way that this proposal meets the criteria for permitted development of a Ramsar-listed site.  Dredging of acid sulphate soils, destruction of carbon sequestrating mangroves and seagrasses, 3600 units, 6000 residents, domestic animals and vehicle movements would be the death knell for any species that may survive the 20-year construction lifespan. 

This proposal could not be considered, in our wildest imaginings, to be of national urgency, need, or interest. 

The Federal Government must say “NO” to the Walker Corporation and it’s proposal at Toondah Harbour.

E.M.
Capalaba

EIS fails to deliver on stated project needs

I am writing to confirm my submission about the Draft Toondah Harbour EIS. I am concerned about how this development will impact the Moreton Bay Ramsar site – a wetland area of international importance, protected since 1993 when recognised for containing extensive intertidal habitat that is valuable for supporting wildlife of conservation significance.

The EIS states there is a need for a Ferry Terminal upgrade and boating infrastructure, but fails to address any community need for 3600 units and a residential complex – it fails to properly address any alternatives regarding the placement of the units. The removal of existing boating infrastructure (e.g. boat ramp) goes against the key principle in the need for this development. Realigning Fison channel will open the harbour and expose the development will not provide opportunity for growth and tourism development as there is only space for potentially two operators, and no growth in vessel size or new operators – thus failing to deliver a ‘dedicated tourism precinct’. The EIS fails to deliver infrastructure to support the operators (e.g. no fuel bunkers or maintenance sheds). 

The EIS fails to deliver on the project need stated in the executive summary of focusing on upgrades to infrastructure for the passage of cars, passengers and businesses to and from the island. The EIS states additional demand for ferries can be addressed by using larger vessels but fails to address where these will be located. The EIS fails to address traffic and parking issues generated from the development with local streets being impacted by up to an additional 16,000 vehicle movements daily. The EIS states there will be increased impacts on koalas but fails to state how it will address this, except for a section of underpass on Middle Street. Extra traffic will flow all Cleveland!

I will be very interested to see the final EIS after all submissions are taken in to consideration. I think it is an impossible task!

Many thanks,

K.S.K.
Redlands

“Protected” should MEAN “protected”

I am writing to express my opposition to Walker Corporation’s vastly inappropriate proposed development project at Toondah Harbour.  I urge the Environment Minister to reject the project due to the disastrous impact it would have on our internationally-recognised wetlands, which are Ramsar protected, and which are critical habitat for threatened birds and animals, including the critically endangered Eastern Curlew, which is a priority species in the federal government’s 10 Year Threatened Species Action Plan. They are also home to 50 per cent of all Grey-tailed Tattlers, as well as dugongs and marine turtles, and the locally threatened koala population, which has already been negatively impacted by previous developments in the Redlands. 

I strongly feel that protected should MEAN protected, and that developers waving money around should never be allowed to change that. There is a great deal of community concern and opposition to the proposed development and the destruction it would cause to an ecosystem of such environmental significance. 

As Australians, we should be able to put our faith in our government to protect our environment and the precious ecosystems it houses. 

 I ask you to call upon your wisdom, compassion, power, care and respect for our environment to reject the Walker Corporation’s proposal and set a precedent to protect more of our endangered wildlife and its habitats from destructive development decisions in future. 

Yours sincerely,

K.G.
Redlands

More Toondah Harbour Letters

Toondah Hotline, Earthquake Risks And G.J. Walter Park In Letters

More letters about Toondah Harbour

Your say about the Toondah Harbour Draft EIS

Redlands2030 – 18 December 2022