The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) recently explained its position on plans for development at Toondah Harbour.
QYAC is a Registered Prescribed Body Corporate created under the Native Title Act 1993 to manage the recognised Native Title rights and interests of the Quandamooka People.
In 2015 the Redland City Bulletin reported “Stradbroke’s Quandamooka people back Cleveland Harbour revamp”. Since then, QYAC’s position on plans for development at Toondah Harbour has been the subject of some misconceptions.
In a carefully worded statement to many stakeholders (copy below), QYAC CEO Cameron Costello recently made a number of points which set out his organisation’s position on development at Toondah Harbour. Key points include:
- QYAC has consistently supported an upgrade of Toondah Harbour but only if this brings about economic development opportunities for the Quandamooka People.
- The Quandamooka People as Traditional Owners for the area on which the PDA is proposed should be appropriately consulted on the development.
- QYAC was not consulted by either the Redland City Council or the State Government prior to the Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area being declared in 2013.
- QYAC reiterates comments made in its 2014 submission to the State Government (copy below) that the “preservation of and enhancement of public and open space is important” and that the “development is likely to impact upon sensitive environmental areas, and this should be addressed including in particular any concerns with existing Ramsar Areas” .
- At no point has QYAC given support to any Master Plans provided by Walker Corporation.
- Allegations that QYAC has received a financial gift from Walker Corporation are incorrect and false
- QYAC lodged its Quandamooka Coast Claim (which includes the Toondah Harbour Area) in 2016 as a direct response to the Toondah Harbour PDA, to ensure that the Quandamooka People’s cultural heritage and native title rights and interests were protected.
Toondah Harbour statement by QYAC
Yura Friends!
Recent Social Media posts have speculated that QYAC support the Walker Corporations Master Plan for the Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area (PDA). This is incorrect, and this email provides information for you on QYAC’s actions to date.
In 2013, the Campbell Newman State Government declared Toondah Harbour a Priority Development Area (PDA) at the request of Redland City Council (RCC). QYAC was not consulted by the Redland City Council about it submitting a request for the PDA. QYAC was not consulted by the Newman Government before it declared the PDA. So clearly QYAC did not support the Newman Government’s declaration of the Toondah Harbour PDA. Again, QYAC has not been asked for approval and therefore not supported any progression of the project through relevant planning stages at State or National level since that time.
QYAC however, has a duty to and will continue to formally engage with the State Government, local government and developer to advocate that the PDA be treated as the sensitive environmental, cultural and historical area that it is. QYAC’s position on the Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area (PDA) was outlined formally in our February 2014 submission to the then Hon Jeffrey Seeney, Minister for Economic Development Queensland. This submission is provided below.
QYAC’s position is clear. QYAC has maintained its original position that the harbour, needs to be upgraded, and that the “preservation of and enhancement of public and open space is important” and that the “development is likely to impact upon sensitive environmental areas, and this should be addressed including in particular any concerns with existing Ramsar Areas”.
In addition, QYAC has consistently stated that any resulting development in the area must include economic development opportunities for the Quandamooka People. These are concerns I have openly discussed with government, community groups like Redlands 2030 and on radio. QYAC has also reported on Toondah Harbour to the Quandamooka People through its internal processes including in previous QYAC Annual Reports and at its Annual General Meetings.
QYAC was not consulted in the development of the Walker Corporations Master Plan. At no point has QYAC given support to any Master Plans provided by the Walker Corporation plans. In fact, as a direct response to the Toondah Harbour PDA, to ensure that the Quandamooka People’s cultural heritage and native title rights and interests were protected, QYAC put to, and was authorised by, the Quandamooka People in 2016 to lodge the Quandamooka Coast Claim. This included the PDA area. The lodgement of the Quandamooka Coast claim (and its successful registration) is an effective mechanism to ensure that the Quandamooka People have a say in this development and that it needs to go through the appropriate native title and cultural heritage processes.
Any development in the Toondah Harbour PDA area will require an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) under the Native Title Act 1993. In 2015, the State Government formally advertised for Aboriginal parties who had an interest in the PDA area who should be involved in developing an ILUA. QYAC was the only party to respond. There has not been an ILUA developed or progressed to date. Any final ILUA would need to go back to the Native Title Holders as a group to authorise. QYAC cannot unilaterally authorise an ILUA that impacts on native title rights without the authority of the whole of the Quandamooka People.
As the registered Cultural Heritage Body for the areas, QYAC will also be undertaking its legislative duty to conduct the cultural heritage survey of the Toondah Harbour precinct to ensure Quandamooka cultural heritage is identified, formally registered and protected in accordance with Part 6 of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003.
Further, the PDA project requires Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) approval under Australian Government legislation. QYAC has submitted a response to the DRAFT Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines (EIS) which once again, did not support the proposal and reiterated our concerns for the environment.
Unfortunately, it has also been alleged that QYAC has received a financial gift from the Walker Corporation. This allegation is totally incorrect and is a false allegation.
QYAC has been consistent in regards to Toondah Harbour PDA in highlighting that Native Title, Cultural heritage, environmental and Indigenous procurement and economic development issues must be resolved before any project is given consideration of support. At this point none of these issues have been resolved.
In the interim QYAC has progressed support from the Queensland Government for progressing a tentative World Heritage Listing for Quandamooka Country, has progressed bushfire management planning for the island and continues to advocate for improved water management on the island. We continue to care for country.
If you have any further questions, either myself or my team would be happy to answer them, however, QYAC will not answer questions put to them via Social Media on Social Media platforms. Please also find attached our recently launched Tourism Strategy that we are looking to progress in the coming years.
Kind Regards
Cameron
Cameron Costello
Chief Executive Officer
Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation
World Heritage listing
Plans to seek World Heritage listing for much of Moreton Bay and its sand islands are discussed by Cameron Costello in:
World Heritage listing for Quandamooka country
QYAC’s Sustainable Tourism Strategy
QYAC recently published on its website a five-year strategy for sustainable tourism on Quandamooka Country:
Gudjundabu Marumba Gubiyiyanya Tourism for a Glad Tomorrow
QYAC submission in 2014 about the Draft PDA Development Scheme
Redlands2030 – 26 April 2019
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
18 Comments
As the manager/owner of an educational marine biology business that operated in Moreton Bay and on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) from 2007 to 2017 I had a number of meetings with members of Minjerribah Moogumpin Elders in Council (MMEIC). At those meetings they complained to me that not one of them had been informed by the CEO of QYAC what was in the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA). The Indigenous People calling themselves The Traditional Owners Group were also completely in the dark about about the ILUA of 2011. Then all of a sudden marker pegs appeared on the headland at Point Lookout and when the Quandamooka People questioned them they were told that these pegs mark the spot for a proposed whale skeleton building. Immediately the residents of Minjerribah, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, constructed a petition of over 31,000 signatures against a building to house the skeleton an adult Humpback Whale that had died an awful death and been washed up years earlier. Nobody wanted this whale skeleton building proposed by two state politicians, Jackie Trad and Cameron Dick, with apparent approval from the then CEO of QYAC. He then resigned his position as CEO so his allegiances are not clearly understood. However, the state politicians were behind a reclassification of prime coastal land at Point Lookout, Amity Point and Dunwich for development. Development by who and for who? We still don’t know but one thing is certain. In the most recent state election in Queensland the State Labor Party only secured around 6% of the vote at Point Lookout while Mark Robinson, the LNP Member for Oodgeroo, scored around 42%. This should be a strong message to the State Labor Party in Queensland because the Quandamooka people and long term residents don’t want their Island to be sold out from under them so someone can make big money.
Dr Tafe’s concerns are relevant, of course. However, the boundaries of the RAMSAR Wetlands of Moreton Bay are somewhat arbitrary. The plan did allow for some areas to be excluded where barges and ferries operated. However, these boundaries should not be sacrosanct. Unless they can be adjusted to allow for sensible infrastructure and development, with adjusting extensions, the people of Moreton Bay will forever be constrained. Certainly no bridges or alternative barge infrastructure for any of the RKLM Islands because the RAMSAR Wetlands extend to all of the Island foreshores.
I am on an iPhone in WA so will keep this brief. Lindsay may also have a scientific background but he is using statistics based on his own maths to say that, while Walker Proposal intends to dredge part of the Ramsar protected zone in order to construct units over reclaimed land it is only a small percentage. Once a Federal Government allows a developer to dredge any part of publicly owned, biologically sensitive wetlands for commercial purposes it sets a disturbing precedent. If any fisherman or resident was to have adverse impacts on those same Ramsar Wetlands they are subject to “on the spot” fines, as stated on signs posted along the coastline of Moreton Bay. These signs show the Redland City Council logo.
I could claim offence at Dr Tafe’s comments. I too am a scientist, and one not blinkered by ideology.
First Dr Tafe misquoted my post of 27 Apr 19 by saying that I claimed the Toondah development would occupy about 0.4% of the Moreton Bay RAMSAR Site, when I clearly stated the area was about 0.04%. I corrected him and he has now agreed in his post of 30 Apr 19, below. Now he says, “Either way his (my) figure is misleading and can be referred to as pseudo-science.”
My figure of about 0.04% is correct, Dr Tafe. If you think this is pseudo science, you should think again before you put pen to paper. The maths is simple. The Toondah PDA area is 49.5ha. The RAMSAR site is about 120,000ha. Simple calculation gives the proportion as about 0.04%.
The area represented by the Redland City Council only represents 0.000007% of the area of Australia
Not worth worrying about.
Correction ! I would like to make two corrections to my comments over the last few days, which you may or may not have noticed. One relates to Tom Baster, who will be the Labor candidate for the seat of Bowman in the coming Federal Election. Tom is a retired medical doctor and an astute fellow. I said his Deputy Leader criticised the Walker Proposal for Toondah Harbour, using the term “white shoe brigade” to describe the suspicious relationship between senior LNP members and a few wealthy real estate mates. Her name is Jackie Trad and she is Deputy Leader of QLD State Labor but Tom Baster is a candidate for Federal Labor. It was my error to call her his Deputy Leader. My second error was in relation to Lindsay Hackett’s figure of 0.04% (27/4/19) for the percentage of Ramsar wetland under threat by the Walker Proposal. I called it 0.4%. Either way his figure is misleading and can be referred to as pseudo-science. Andrew Bolt (Bolt Report) and Tony Abbott are both climate change deniers. Andrew Bolt calculated the population of Australia as a percentage of world population and concluded it was below 0.004%, so why should Australia do anything? Tony said at a conference of world leaders that global warming is not as bad as global cooling because old people feel the cold more than the heat. European politicians listened in disbelief because this fellow had been a former PM of Australia.
Well said Belinda. Let’s hope our major political parties sit up and take notice because many Australians have had enough of corrupt practices within government.
In response to Lindsay Hackett’s second comment, the proposed high-rise development is not necessary. The ‘port’ can be upgraded without destroying Ramsar protected wetlands. It is outside the Ramsar boundaries. Those who care about the environment should know that the Federal Government has already been advised by its scientific experts in the Department of Environment that the proposed destruction of the Ramsar wetlands at Toondah is “clearly unacceptable”. And the Government’s legal advisers have pointed out to it that under the Ramsar Convention, signed by Australia and 170 other nations, Australia is bound to protect all Ramsar listed wetlands. This information was revealed by the ABC’s Background Briefing program in December. Only “urgent national interests” permit signatories to allow any part of a Ramsar listed wetland to be reclaimed. I have linked below a very useful summary of 20 reasons why the Toondah proposal should be scrapped. It has links to sources of information, including the Ramsar wetlands protection agreement which prohibits the proposed reclamation of Ramsar wetlands at Toondah. We should all respect Australia’s international obligations and work to have this Toondah proposal scrapped as soon as possible.
Sorry I forgot to provide the link I referred to. This is my comment posted again, with the link provided at the end.
In response to Lindsay Hackett’s second comment, the proposed high-rise development is not necessary. The ‘port’ can be upgraded without destroying Ramsar protected wetlands. It is outside the Ramsar boundaries. Those who care about the environment should know that the Federal Government has already been advised by its scientific experts in the Department of Environment that the proposed destruction of the Ramsar wetlands at Toondah is “clearly unacceptable”. And the Government’s legal advisers have pointed out to it that under the Ramsar Convention, signed by Australia and 170 other nations, Australia is bound to protect all Ramsar listed wetlands. This information was revealed by the ABC’s Background Briefing program in December. Only “urgent national interests” permit signatories to allow any part of a Ramsar listed wetland to be reclaimed. I have linked below a very useful summary of 20 reasons why the Toondah proposal should be scrapped. It has links to sources of information, including the Ramsar wetlands protection agreement which prohibits the proposed reclamation of Ramsar wetlands at Toondah. We should all respect Australia’s international obligations and work to have this Toondah proposal scrapped as soon as possible.
http://bit.ly/2DBpSNa
It is good that we live in a democracy and all can air their opinions. However, I strongly disagree with Lindsay’s view on the flawed Walker Proposal for Toondah Harbour. Apart from his calculation of 0.4%, which I do not agree with, he has failed to investigate some crucial elements of this commercial proposal for Toondah Harbour. A spokesman for the Walker Corporation has stated in clear terms that they would not initiate any upgrading of the ferry terminal until substantial profits had been made. That means that the ferry terminal would not be upgraded for a number of years if under the control of the Walker Corporation. Even the Federal Minister for Bowman, Andrew Laming, who is supporting the Walker Corporation, concedes that the construction and sale of so many expensive units over reclaimed land would take at least 20 years.
Are you familiar with the dredging exercise that was carried out at the Gladstone Harbour some years ago? Some proponents of the scheme came up with similar figures to Lindsay, indicating that only a small percentage of the substrate would be dredged. But they failed to take account of the heavy metals that would be re-introduced up into the water column. The State Government Fisheries Minister came onto the nightly news to say that the lesions suffered by many fish did not mean they were not edible. He convinced no one and some local fishing businesses went completely out of business. The proponents of that dredging scheme quickly faded into the background and to my knowledge those businesses haven’t been compensated for their loss. Isn’t it funny how ardent supporters of a scheme quickly disappear once the cracks appear.
While you are doing some calculations try drawing some diagrams to represent 3,600 units in blocks up to 10 storeys high over the wetlands. Take a drive down to the Toondah region, just 500 meters from G J Walter Park, and you will see an 8 storey block of 90 units under construction. It is massive and occupies a complete block. Don’t take my word for it. Go and check it out. Now imagine a complex of 3,600 units. It would require 36 to 40 such blocks. Now imagine the infrastructure required to cater for 10,000 extra people and 5,000 to 7,000 extra cars. Neither Redland City Council nor the current State Labor Government have taken the time to investigate the infrastructure requirements and the environmental damage that such a commercial mega-construction would impose. And they wonder why we voters are cynical?
You are correct Dr Denis Tafe. You should disagree with an estimate that the Toondah development would occupy about 0.4% only of the Ramsar Wetlands of Moreton Bay. The correct figure, and the one I stated, is 0.04%.
Concerns have been expressed about the Toondah Harbour PDA development proposed by Walker Corporation. I have had a quick look and can advise that the Walker development would involve about 49.5 ha of the RAMSAR wetlands of Moreton Bay. The RAMSAR Wetlands of Moreton Bay occupy 113,314 ha in total. So, the Walker development would occupy about 0.04% of the declared RAMSAR Wetland area of Moreton Bay.
I care for the environment and would argue to stop any development that irrevocably destroyed a vital or significant part of the environment. In the case of Toondah, Redland City Council decided to improve the port facilities there by using private enterprise, because it could not afford to fund any development in-house and recognized it did not have the expertise necessary. Walker Corporation has produced its plan for a development which does impact on the RAMSAR environment, by 0.04%. The development must be financially viable for Walker to proceed and it seems this impact is necessary. I accept that mankind is part of the environment and any footprint he makes impacts the environment, in this case by 0.04%. I don’t think this is significant, given the benefits that will result.
The alternative is for the present port arrangement to remain unaltered.
Wouldn’t it be nice if all decisions were clear-cut.
Opponents of the development should stop trying to coerce the Quandamooka to support them. The Quandamooka are entitled to their own opinion.
Thank you Cameron for putting the record straight. I find your response balanced with reminding all parties of their responsibilities towards the Quandamooka people via the cultural heritage legislation. I can only imagine the personal pressure you must be under to go one way or another.
In addition to that reminder you have also indicated the door is open for discussion that assists with the long term futures of all people involved with Stradbroke Island. I feel you are doing a good job under very difficult circumstances.
Des Caling
I have to support the comments of Belinda and Dave below, who are looking at the real situation involving the CEO of QYAC, not some views in the clouds. These are the exact words of the CEO.
“QYAC has consistently supported an upgrade of Toondah Harbour but only if this brings about economic development opportunities for the Quandamooka People.”
What does this mean? Does it mean you will support the environmentally insensitive proposal of Walker Corporation so long as there is economic opportunities for the Quandamooka People? If so you are letting down your own people. A number of Aboriginal Elders have spoken to me and they are not happy to support the dredging of the protected wetland Ramsar zone in order to build a commercial development of 3,600 units out over reclaimed land.
The Mayor has informed me in a telephone conversation that the CEO of QYAC is supporting the commercial proposal of the Walker Corporation for Toondah Harbour. If this is not the case you need to be strong enough to come out and say so.
I have just travelled through SA and the Aboriginal inhabitants of the Coorong are not about to be intimidated or coerced by commercial developers.
People should make there own judgment of the CEO’s denials of supporting Walker’s Toondah plan to reclaim Ramsar protected wetlands, but only after reading his previous public statements summarised in Save Straddie’s post linked below. Did all the journalists and news outlets misquote him? Pigs might fly! His statement which you publish does not even claim this. The Brisbane Times referred to the CEO’s praise of Walker Corp and his support for their plan three days after Deputy Premier’s shocking media release giving the Toondah plan the ‘green light’ in mid 2015. But Cameron Costello’s alternative position which you have published (to a limited audience) is really not much better than his previous public statements of support for Toondah made in the Brisbane Times, the Courier Mail, the Redland City Bulletin, and elsewhere referred to in the post below. Despite the destructive nature of the controversial and unpopular proposal, the CEO says that QYAC’s position is and always has been, in a nutshell – “We have a few concerns but we don’t oppose the Toondah plan and if it goes ahead we want to benefit financially from it – including from a cultural centre”. What a truly pathetic position on such an environmentally destructive and controversial proposal.
https://www.facebook.com/northstradbroke/posts/2517864801619343
Public notification of the Toondah Harbour PDA Development Scheme was undertaken under the Economic Development Act 2012 from the 10 January to 24 February 2014. During this period all interested stakeholders including the community, residents, and business operators were invited to view the proposed development scheme and make a written submission for consideration by the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ).The public were consulted and submissions sought when this project was started. Everybody had the opportunity of being involved. Nobody was excluded because of race.
The Quandamooka have no presently recognised Native Title rights over this area. Its Quandamooka Coast Claim is in process, and a decision by the Federal Court is awaited.
I think the position of QYAC has been misrepresented by those wanting to push for this massive development and its reversion a bygone era of “white shoe brigade” type of development.
I also think QYA should have clarified their position earlier but better late than never.
Thank you, this is excellent news and clears any confusion many of us had. So onwards and upwards, we live to fight another day at one with the Quandamooka People. Thank you to Cameron Costello.