Legislation is Choking Coastal Development
In response to recent media reports regarding the potential stifling of the Yeppoon foreshore redevelopment by the state government’s coastal management plan legislation, Capricorn Enterprise has re-iterated its commitment to lobbying the necessary state members and ministers to ensure one of its seven priority projects for the region comes to fruition.
The redevelopment of the Yeppoon foreshore was also identified as a Catalyst Project in the 2009 Central Queensland Tourism Opportunity Plan conducted by Tourism Queensland in partnership with the regional tourism industry and endorsed by the state government.
Capricorn Enterprise supports Rockhampton Regional Council’s bid to ensure the Yeppoon foreshore (between the sailing club and Fig Tree Creek) is redeveloped and encompasses what community requested (including viewing platforms, boardwalks, open space and play areas) during their public consultations last year.
Mary Carroll, CEO of Capricorn Enterprise stressed that “the question mark over what can and can’t be developed in the Yeppoon foreshore precinct raises a much bigger question about future major tourism development along the Capricorn Coast. The concern is that future expansion plans for tourism developments such as the Capricorn Resort will be stopped before they can begin if the state’s coastal management plan legislation is too stringent she said.
“My understanding is that for any new development proposals along the Queensland coast, the state’s coastal management plan legislation can also trigger the federal government Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act which is another level of government legislation with which operators will have to contend” she said.
“It is very encouraging that the state government listened to our collective concerns last year regarding the iconic places legislation, which paved the way for approval of the $35 million Oshen apartment development in Yeppoon. We are once more relying upon our elected representatives to ensure legislative technicalities do not stifle sensible sustainable coastal development” she said.
“By the year 2017 the coast will need an additional 975 rooms to cope with increasing tourism and visitation, due to massive levels of investment underway in the broader Central Queensland area. The Queensland tourism industry needs government support at all levels to ensure it has a competitive advantage not just over other Australian states but international destinations such as Fiji and Bali” she said.
The Rockhampton Regional Council says it remains committed to the Yeppoon Foreshore Redevelopment Project despite concerns about the Queensland government’s Coastal Management Plan and its impact on moves to develop the foreshore.
Mayor Brad Carter said, “Tidal surges and erosion are serious and real issues for coastal communities and council will work with the Department of Environment and Resource Management to ensure that we can manage these issues and progress with the development,” Cr Carter said.
The prime beachfront land could become nothing more than open parkland due to constraints under the Government’s Queensland Coastal Management Plan.
Yeppoon-based councillor Bill Ludwig said the Capricorn Coast should have the right to the same tourism facilities as Townsville and Airlie Beach and said the report was “total nonsense”.
“Tourism in a seaside resort has to be in locations like that and this community should not be disadvantaged in any way because you have a negative bureaucracy,” he said. “I’d be arguing and fighting tooth and nail with that department and it highlights the need for a major shake-up at state level.”
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