September 2026 - Let's make World Cassowary Day​ a turning point for the birds that still have to cross our roads.​

 Residents across Mission Beach are increasingly worried about development proposals on rural land and sensitive environmental areas. You are encouraged to HAVE YOUR SAY.

The The latest application for a Material Change of Use at Ohl Road, is being described as a nature-based farmstay but is designed and scaled like a commercial caravan park. The first stage includes 30 caravan sites with individual fire pits, a camp kitchen, a communal fire pit, fish-cleaning station and other facilities that would increase traffic on a narrow rural road. 

Fundamental Planning Conflict — Rural Zone & Material Change of Use
The development represents a major Material Change of Use incompatible with the Rural Zone where only low-key, small-scale tourism ancillary to agriculture is supported.

The proposal is; 

• tourism-dominant, not agriculture-dominant. 
• within cassowary corridors and  environmental management and conservation zones.

While the concept of farmstay tourism fits well with the Mission Beach identity, this development doesn't fit the low key scale compatible with primary agricultural use of the land.  This incremental loss of agricultural land to development has seen much of the productive land at Mission Beach lost to other uses. The proposal is inconsistent with the overall outcomes sought from the The Rural Zone Code (5.2.0). 

 In a more appropriate location, the proposal could be an asset to the region. A development of this scale isn’t suitable for a  wildlife corridor with dangerous road conditions.  There is also no detail for planned walking trails within the conservation zone. ​

Community Considerations About the Proposed Development

Given the location and scale of this proposal, there are several concerns  raising questions of how impacts will be managed.

Scale and suitability
The proposal includes 30 caravan sites and multiple shared facilities. How does this level of development (including plans for a second stage) align with low-impact, low-scale farmstay activities on Rural-zoned land.?

​Traffic and road safety
Ohl and Boyett Roads are narrow rural roads with a blind crest that already requires vehicles to pull off to pass. How will the increased traffic from caravans, boats and visitor vehicles be safely accommodated?

Weed spread and environmental protection
A declared weed is present on the property. What measures will prevent its spread, particularly if new walking trails are established in or near sensitive vegetation?

Fish-cleaning waste on an unsewered site
Fish-cleaning stations generate high-strength waste that typically requires appropriate disposal systems. How will fish waste be managed on a site without sewerage to prevent odour, contamination and wildlife attraction?

Smoke and air quality
With a fire pit proposed for every campsite, how will smoke drift, be managed to avoid impacts on nearby neighbours?

Cassowary movement and wildlife corridors
The area forms part of a mapped cassowary corridor, with regular sightings and a documented road-strike fatality on Boyett Road. How will risks to cassowaries be managed as traffic increases?
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Food attractants and cassowary–human interaction
The property includes a fruit farm and fruit stall.  How will the development manage the heightened risk of cassowaries being attracted to campsites, leading to increased cassowary–human interaction and the well-known problem of hand-feeding?

Cumulative & Precedent Effects
Approval sets precedent for tourism expansion into farmland, habitat fragmentation, and declining planning integrity.

Mission Beach has a deeply rooted community expectation: low-key coastal villages separated by rainforest and farmland. This proposal introduces a large tourism and events hub in a sensitive rural location — conflicting with the character and landscape pattern the community has defended for decades.
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 A great opportunity to guide the future of Mission Beach 
​Please don't underestimate how much difference YOUR feedback will make 
to the future of Mission Beach​​

Your voice matters. The Queensland Government welcomes your input to the vision of the revised Far North Queensland Regional Plan". (Dept. State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, DSDILGP)​

Current FNQ Regional Plan (2009-2031) vision for Mission Beach

​"In the Mission Beach area, urban development is contributing to significant ongoing decline of the small cassowary population. Current urban impacts upon cassowaries and their habitat—especially increasing losses due to road traffic and dog attacks—are not believed to be sustainable. These areas are not considered appropriate for high-density urban development." (Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2009–2031)

Photos;  Liz Gallie

MBC is calling into question the process to determine the upgrade of  the Mission Beach Village Green.

The large laser cut metal shade shelter, part of the original landscaping design, has been rejected by the community but remains the centre of attention. In suggesting the design needs to be of a more organic nature and reflect the character of Mission Beach, the project manager invited MBC to produce something 'tangible'.   MBC provided a mock up of an alternative pergola structure and seating at the culvert area as a starting point for discussion. Advice was sought from local artist/builder Brent Cook.  Photos of the Village green and David St including existing trees and palms have been used in the mockups.
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Instead of initiating constructive discussion, the concepts (below) have been ignored.

Mission Beach Cassowaries has made submissions to the Cassowary Coast Regional Council on two important issues this month.

Proposed dog off Leash areas
 and 
Feedback invited on the Mission Beach Village Green/ town centre  project.
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Based on community feedback, some revisions have been made to the draft concepts for the Mission Beach Town Centre Revitalisation project. The final concepts will be available to view on CCRC website here on Tuesday (tomorrow) 25 October and at a community drop in session at the Village Green on Wednesday 26 October between 3-6pm.

Mission Beach Cassowaries (MBC) is a member of the Town Centre Revitalisation Reference Group (RG). There has only been one meeting of the group to date and no opportunity to have any discussion to provide meaningful input. Private  meetings were held between the project manager, landscape architect and some of the group representatives. This opportunity was not offered to all members of the group.

When MBC applied to be part of the  RG it was with the understanding members were chosen on a 'merit basis'.  We expected the reference group would follow a formal process to incorporate all relevant community input to date into the town centre final design.
 
The process that determined the direction of the design appears to have ignored community feedback which was overwhelmingly to retain the Mission Beach village character and reflect its natural beauty.

According to the project team, community feedback on the draft concept design is 37% positive, 50% ’neutral’ and 13% negative. Not surprising given the distortion of scale, unrealistic artist impressions and generic style making it very difficult for the public to give informed comment. 

The design outcome has resulted in a mish mash of 'ideas' and 'on trend' design that dominates the natural environment and undermines the authentic character of Mission Beach. There is no clear guiding principles based on any of the community feedback.

It would be an irreversible mistake to attempt a change of character of Mission Beach – nor is there any right to do so. Locals and visitors appreciate the way Mission Beach reflects its exceptional natural environment inside and outside the World Heritage boundaries.  

​ Our village might need some attention, but such attention does not demand or allow for a change of character. ​

The intiial community feeback (right) includes;

Eating Pods
The restaurant 'eating pods' will be a mixture of laser cut metal shade structures and hard covers. A larger laser cut metal shade structure is planned for the centre of the existing 'green' as a performance area. These structures, even with vines growing over them would be hot to sit under and don't take into account Mission Beach's reputation as having one of the highest rainfalls in Australia. 

MBC comments:

• It would be more practical given the rainfall and temperatures and more in keeping with the low key village character to make any restaurant extensions hard shelters. 

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Village Green
The unusual white concrete 'shapes' appearing through the village green represent sand dunes - in line with the theme 'Rainforest to the Reef'. The extension of eating areas, 'dune sculptures', mounding of the small lawn areas along with the extensive use of concrete including raised concrete seating areas, clutter and reduce usable public space. 
All vegetation is to be removed and replaced with immature (potted) trees.

The Village Green is a smal intimate space.  The drawings are grossly out of scale. What is shown is not only out of character with the low key village atmosphere, it is not achieveable. 
MBC comments:

• 'Dune sculptures' should be removed and level lawn areas maximised.
• Reduce the amount of concrete particularly avoid raised concrete walls for seating.
• The Mission Beach sign should be exluded.
• Existing trees should be transplanted or field grown mature trees planted. (If there is not enough funds in the project budget, the community should be given the choice of raising funds for this purpose).​
• ​Creative locally designed chairs and tables strategically placed under the shade throughout the Village Green. (see examples below from Cairns Botanic garden). The community should be further consulted on furniture design.

​David Street Area
The village Green is to be extended to the end of David Street (Past the Shrubbery). Parking bays are to be removed with access provided for deliveries and residences along the esplanade. The concept includes a viewing/entertainment deck and beach retaining wall over the drain exit and along the beach. The infrastructure will require removal of  littoral vegetation.  
MBC comments:

• No removal of native vegetation from the littoral zone
• Remove viewing platform. Infrastructure should not be considered in the erosion zone.
• Rehabilitation of the littoral  zone. Emphasising and presenting the transition between the rainforest and the reef should be an essential part of the plan. (See Ulysses Park character)
• The same low key 'natural' design of shade trees, grass, meandering pathways in David Street would create a continuity of the existing 'Green'.
• The culvert could be redesigned to incorporate some basalt boulders to disguise the beach drain outlet if it is considered ugly; or a small base for a set of seats and table under shade of existing vegetation could be considered. Meaningful community input should be sought on any of these 'character changing' aspects of the upgrade. 
  
• The Foreshore Mangement Plan states;

1. Vision; the council and community show leadership in the protection, restoration and sustainable use of the Greater Mission Beach foreshore and work together to preserve and manage the foreshore for its significant contribution to Mission Beach being renowned  as a unique World Heritage Area and one of the best ecotourism destinations in the world
2. "The foreshore is cuturally significant and highly valued by the Djiru Traditional Owners"
3. "The foreshore is high valued for underpinning the identity, landscape character, scenic amenity and tropical lifestyle of its residents".
4. "The foreshore is valued for its function as a protective buffer against coastal hazards'"
5. "...the sustainable use of our foreshore achieves a careful balance between the protection of our high heritage value and pristine beaches in a  natural state while allowing for appropriate  recreation'"
6. " The foreshore is recognised as being essential for naturally occuring coastal and ecological porcesses'"
7. "...best practice foreshore management and recognising that conserevation, social values and economic wellbeing are firmly interdependent'
8. "The values and features are the foundation of a vibrant and sustainable tourism industry that protects and celebrates the unique natural values and toruism assets of Mission Beach".
9. "Maintaining and enhancing the scenic amentiy and landscape characger values of the foreshore  is very important'
10. The ongoing protection and stabilisation of the foreshore through best practice vegetation management  and not placing people, infrastructure or development at unacceptable risk from coastal hazards is vital to the ecological, economic and social wellbeing of our communities now and into the future".

Draft Final Concept Plan

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