Mission Beach supports the highest density of the endangered Cassowary in Australia. read more

Mission Beach has undergone a radical change during the latest economic boom which coincided with the category 5 cyclone 'Larry' in March 2006.

Unprecedented  development applications have been, and continue to be approved resulting in ad hoc development, threatening to destroy the very character that has attracted residents and visitors to a place once known as 'Mission Beach Magic'. 

The natural landscape has been severely fragmented  lessening the resilience of the rainforest to recover from exrtreme weather events such as cyclones.

Mission Beach has some of the most idealic weather during the winter months when visitors to the area enjoy the beach, visiting offshsore islands and the reef or just relaxing in the friendly village atmosphere.

Up to 5000 mm of rain can fall on Mission Beach each year and in the monsoon season cyclones are never very far away.   During the high rainfall and temperatures of the summer months, 'locals' experience a sense of community and lifestyle with an appreciation of life in the tropics.

It is a 'slow down' time in the rainforested town of Mission Beach

We can all make a difference by taking a sensitive approach when managing  both  private and public land.  Each of us can be aware of the impact we may have on the natural environment such as the placing of house footprint, inadvertantly spreading weeds from our exotic gardens, making tracks through natural areas, clearing for views and the keeping of pets.
 
Planting natives will help to maintain the look and appeal of a 'natural 'Mission Beach where the rich rainforest is the dominant and impressive feature growing right to the  beach and is what visitors are seduced by from therir first visit to our area.

The 'clean-up' after cyclones, especially where heavy machinery is used, results in natural areas being degraded or destroyed and then being maintained as cleared.  The incremental loss of the natural environment is significant and permanent.

All roads at Mission Beach travel through cassowary habitat. Locals can lead the way by driving carefully through forested areas and being on the watchout for cassowaries.

At  Mission Beach we still have the opportunity to 'have our cake and eat it too', but only if smart decisions are made now.

A good tourism strategy starts with growing the local community.
To quote the Pacific Area Travel Association...."The key phrase to planning should be residents first, tourists second.  It sounds contradictory but it is the best kind of tourist  developemnt. It's the best, most secure, the longest lasting, and the most profitable" (in other words - sustainable)  "The best visitor experience is to share for a moment a unique countryside and an enviable lifestyle"

With the economy being split 50/50 between agriculture and tourism we are perfectly placed to maintain a community and