Photo taken by Jeff Larson in January this year
Very sad that yet another cassowary was killed on Mission Beach roads on 13 Sept. QPWS records show it was at a location where there has been multiple deaths.
The cassowary (left) photographed in January this year fits the description of the dead bird which had been observed recently in the area.
I am waiting for QPWS to confirm if this is the bird.
There has been a very high number of recorded cassowary deaths along the South Mission Beach Road which is well sign posted as a cassowary conservation area with a speed limit of 80 kph.
The cassowary (left) photographed in January this year fits the description of the dead bird which had been observed recently in the area.
I am waiting for QPWS to confirm if this is the bird.
There has been a very high number of recorded cassowary deaths along the South Mission Beach Road which is well sign posted as a cassowary conservation area with a speed limit of 80 kph.
The number of recorded deaths would suggest this is much too fast on a narrow winding and undulating road with several cuttings and blind spots where traffic is known to speed. It is a road that locals need to travel regularly in the course of their daily routine.
There is still cyclone debris on the embankment of the cutting where the bird entered down onto the road into the path of a car at 6.30 in the morning.
There is still cyclone debris on the embankment of the cutting where the bird entered down onto the road into the path of a car at 6.30 in the morning.
The driver said he was travelling at about 60 or 70 kph and didn't have time to brake before the impact which threw the bird into the path of an oncoming car. Tully vet Graham Lauridsen attended the incident and said the young adult cassowary (approx 4 years old) was in a very bad way with spinal injuries when taken to the Garners Beach rehabilitation centre where it died overnight. There have now been five known deaths caused by vehicle strike on Mission Beach roads since Cyclone Yasi in March this year.
The Mission Beach community are asking why nothing is being done to stop the high number of deaths due to the known major threat to a state and nationally listed endangered species. The increased threat has been stressed over and over to the responsible committees and authorities on all levels of government. More road deaths were anticipated with the extra traffic associated with reconstruction in our area. Why isn't anybody listening?
The Mission Beach community are asking why nothing is being done to stop the high number of deaths due to the known major threat to a state and nationally listed endangered species. The increased threat has been stressed over and over to the responsible committees and authorities on all levels of government. More road deaths were anticipated with the extra traffic associated with reconstruction in our area. Why isn't anybody listening?
The range of this adult female cassowary is known at Mission Drive, Frogs Hollow, crossing regularly near the bridge and on Reed Road - expensive bridge replacement underway (right)
The bridge on Wheatley Road at the end of Reid Road is being replaced. Apparently the engineers determined the quaint timber bridge to be unstable. The bridge served as a natural traffic calmer in a low traffic area and where cassowaries are known to cross regularly. It fitted in with the village and rural character of our community identity. The upgrade to a two lane bridge will now allow traffic to travel faster. Why couldn't it have been replaced with a single lane bridge which would cost a lot less money and help to protect our wildlife?
While the current development approach encourages traffic to go faster, how will we stop this beautiful, decades old, female cassowary (above), from being another fatality on our roads?
While the current development approach encourages traffic to go faster, how will we stop this beautiful, decades old, female cassowary (above), from being another fatality on our roads?
In the absence of a Master Plan or detailed planning, it is the gradual changes such as this which are eroding the character of Mission Beach and placing the cassowary at more risk than ever. The Council is adamant about the new planning scheme being developed to create consistent planning across the whole shire and still see Mission Beach as a 'growth area' despite an oversupply of real estate, a report to Council about enough vacant lots to last 100 years and the FNQ2031 Plan recommending development constraint with densities and building heights to be kept low. How can Mission Beach be planned in the same way as Tully and Innisfail? The Bingil Bay Picnic area, the village green, the soon to be errected traffic Islands at Mission Beach and this bridge are just a few 'upgrades' that have been approached with a generic standard engineering style with no consideration for the world heritage values or scenic amenity that is a major attraction for tourists to our area.
2010 sign designed by a year 6 student
The community wants to help and has taken action. Terrain worked with the organisers of the 2009 and 2010 Mission Beach Film Festival by engaging the local school children to design awareness signs to help wildlife cross roads safely during the busy festival. See article in Oct 2010 issue of the Mission Beach Bulletin
This year the organisers of the Evolve Music Festival are aware of the extra traffic their event will draw to our area. Colourful signs designed at a workshop held at the Mission Arts Centre will remind drivers to be alert, drive a little slower and watch out for cassowaries and other wildlife while in the area for the festival on the weekend of 7 - 9 October.
More action was taken when the Bingil Bay community recently placed signs within their village asking drivers to slow down for the kids and cassowaries. There is some great new technology being used in road signage. Solar powered vehicle activated road signs can be set in a number of ways to light up when approached when speeding, record number plates, be managed remotely etc. At $35,000 each it would seem a small price to pay to help protect our community, lifestyle and wildlife especially when each cassowary has been valued at $1million to the tourism economy.
This year the organisers of the Evolve Music Festival are aware of the extra traffic their event will draw to our area. Colourful signs designed at a workshop held at the Mission Arts Centre will remind drivers to be alert, drive a little slower and watch out for cassowaries and other wildlife while in the area for the festival on the weekend of 7 - 9 October.
More action was taken when the Bingil Bay community recently placed signs within their village asking drivers to slow down for the kids and cassowaries. There is some great new technology being used in road signage. Solar powered vehicle activated road signs can be set in a number of ways to light up when approached when speeding, record number plates, be managed remotely etc. At $35,000 each it would seem a small price to pay to help protect our community, lifestyle and wildlife especially when each cassowary has been valued at $1million to the tourism economy.
Everyone would agree one of the most special places at Mission Beach is Clump Point. It is hard not to take the time, no matter what the weather or how much time you have on your hands, to turn off for a quick look at the world we live in from the high point overlooking Dunk Island.
The Djiru Peoples welcome sign at the lookout was blown down during Yasi and is now at the El Arish Council depot. The sign was replaced in March 2010 after it was stolen when first erected. You can read about the official opening by the Mayor at that time here.
I hope the Council can reinstate the sign as soon as possible as a gesture in acknowledgment of the native tiltle determination over land at Mission Beach.
On 1 September 2011, The Djiru People were recognised as native title holders of 9,440 hectares of land and waters in Mission Beach and surrounding areas including areas of national parks, reserves, unallocated State land and other leases.
The Djiru People hold exclusive native title rights in relation to about 540 hectares of land. The Federal Court also recognised the Djiru People’s non-exclusive native title rights over about 8900 hectares of land and waters.
The non-exclusive rights recognised include the right to access and be present on the area, to hunt, fish and gather on the land and waters of the area for personal, domestic, and non-commercial communal purposes, and to maintain places of importance and areas of significance to the native title holders under their traditional laws and customs.
“The resolution of these applications results in the formal recognition of the Djiru People’s ancient and ongoing ties to these lands and waters".
Edited from Senior Australian News and research site read more . Details of the native title determination and mapped areas can be seen here
Photos top; sign blown down by cyclone Yasi
middle; re errected sign after first one was stolen.
bottom; Rae Kelly and Dawn Hart unveil the original sign welcoming visitors to Djiru Country.
I hope the Council can reinstate the sign as soon as possible as a gesture in acknowledgment of the native tiltle determination over land at Mission Beach.
On 1 September 2011, The Djiru People were recognised as native title holders of 9,440 hectares of land and waters in Mission Beach and surrounding areas including areas of national parks, reserves, unallocated State land and other leases.
The Djiru People hold exclusive native title rights in relation to about 540 hectares of land. The Federal Court also recognised the Djiru People’s non-exclusive native title rights over about 8900 hectares of land and waters.
The non-exclusive rights recognised include the right to access and be present on the area, to hunt, fish and gather on the land and waters of the area for personal, domestic, and non-commercial communal purposes, and to maintain places of importance and areas of significance to the native title holders under their traditional laws and customs.
“The resolution of these applications results in the formal recognition of the Djiru People’s ancient and ongoing ties to these lands and waters".
Edited from Senior Australian News and research site read more . Details of the native title determination and mapped areas can be seen here
Photos top; sign blown down by cyclone Yasi
middle; re errected sign after first one was stolen.
bottom; Rae Kelly and Dawn Hart unveil the original sign welcoming visitors to Djiru Country.
You can get a much wider view from Clump Point lookout toward the west now since the vegetation has been thinned by cyclone Yasi. The massive landslip along Alexander Drive during the deluge that caused flooding in March can be clearly seen. The unstable bank reaching to the top of Bicton Hill will be a concern coming into the next wet season.
At the end of August the US military carried out a low level navigation flight of FA18's from Port Douglas to Townsville. There was low cloud which prevented them from flying higher. They have now left the country. QPWS rangers were out and about this week still trying to relocate a cassoway that was spooked enough by the noise to leap over the fence of the Garners Beach rehabilitation facility. For those who are interested in what created the the extreme noise the planes looked a bit like this.
The Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef are the latest areas to be included in Tourism Australia's National Landscapes program. A workshop was held at Mission Beach recently by representatives from Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland and WTMA explaining how the program works and to get feedback from locals about what makes our place special. It was no surprise there was a consensus recognising the outstanding natural and world heritage values and that tourism activity should be low key and low impact. We were asked that if we were to describe our area as a person who would that person be? No surprise then when Mission Beach and environs were identified with David Attenborough.
A good tourism strategy starts with growing the local community.
To quote the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) who introduced a 'Code for Environmentally Responsible Tourism' in the 90's....
"The key phrase to planning should be residents first, tourists second. It sounds contradictory but it is the best kind of tourist developement. 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"
A good tourism strategy starts with growing the local community.
To quote the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) who introduced a 'Code for Environmentally Responsible Tourism' in the 90's....
"The key phrase to planning should be residents first, tourists second. It sounds contradictory but it is the best kind of tourist developement. 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"
This approach is now being adopted widely in promotional material by tourism authorities and underpins the National Landscapes program. We don't have to try very hard or need to change what occurs naturally at Mission Beach. Our area has the potential to build niche markets for many demographics. i.e backpackers seeking a nature based experience, birders, farm and country tourism, health retreat tourism, all with a strong focus on eco tourism.
Our high biodiversity area is a natural for birdwatchers, a tourism market that was shown to be consistent when all other markets dropped dramatically during the global financial crisis.
The outstanding natural beauty of the rainforest growing to the sea, kilometres of uncrowded beaches, offshore islands and world heritage values including the magnificent cassowary attract those who want a laid back, relaxing holiday and to be part of the community. That's the easy part - eeting locals at the many boutique bars and cafes and shops in the villages of Mission Beach.
Our town is not dying as some are claiming, it is in fact growing - into exactly what it is, and has been recognised for, by the discerning holidayer for decades.
Why do we allow governments to continue bailouts for failed developments when the end result was anticipated and forewarned during the approval process. Governments have a responsibility to consider the benefits for the community, economy and environment when deciding what is best for the future. Unfortunately the economy is the dominant factor, commu8nity a poor second and the environment to date, the ultimate loser. Port Hinchinbrook is a prime example.
Our economic future can be assured by taking a step back, relaxing a little and being realistic about what can be achieved given the extreme and dynamic nature of the Wet Tropics. Not to do that, is as they say, swimming against the tide or in a more Aussie venacular p..sing against the wind.
The nightclub, fast paced, entertainment and adrenalin market is well catered for in other places such as the Gold Coast, Airlie Beach.......etc.
Our high biodiversity area is a natural for birdwatchers, a tourism market that was shown to be consistent when all other markets dropped dramatically during the global financial crisis.
The outstanding natural beauty of the rainforest growing to the sea, kilometres of uncrowded beaches, offshore islands and world heritage values including the magnificent cassowary attract those who want a laid back, relaxing holiday and to be part of the community. That's the easy part - eeting locals at the many boutique bars and cafes and shops in the villages of Mission Beach.
Our town is not dying as some are claiming, it is in fact growing - into exactly what it is, and has been recognised for, by the discerning holidayer for decades.
Why do we allow governments to continue bailouts for failed developments when the end result was anticipated and forewarned during the approval process. Governments have a responsibility to consider the benefits for the community, economy and environment when deciding what is best for the future. Unfortunately the economy is the dominant factor, commu8nity a poor second and the environment to date, the ultimate loser. Port Hinchinbrook is a prime example.
Our economic future can be assured by taking a step back, relaxing a little and being realistic about what can be achieved given the extreme and dynamic nature of the Wet Tropics. Not to do that, is as they say, swimming against the tide or in a more Aussie venacular p..sing against the wind.
The nightclub, fast paced, entertainment and adrenalin market is well catered for in other places such as the Gold Coast, Airlie Beach.......etc.
This year has been a bumpy ride, not withstanding cyclone Yasi. The push by aspirational developers to gain from the reconstruction effort took the focus off government assistance for projects that would have galvanised the community, not divided it. The loss of vegetation left our streetcapes looking bare and battered highlighting just how important the nature screen is to our village atmosphere and identity.
The community was not listened to in regard to the amenity of the village green. Now the shade has gone we are left with the impractical and unattractive metal blue and white tables and seats that are too hot to sit on when exposed to the sun.
Perhaps a little more money could have been spent on some mature shady trees where they were lost in the green and on nature strips around the village such as the beautiful fig tree opposite the Homestead Shopping Centre.
The Cassowary Courier reported businesses have rallied as can be seen with the 'new spirit' in the village green. Most of the small business operators I speak to share a vision for the future of Mission Beach based on protection of our special values, and relaxed village atmosphere and lifestyle.
Coming soon will be a new addition on this website to feature and promote businesses that share a vision of a Mission Beach and region that grows naturally and who aspire to sustainable boutique development within our World Heritage Area and who have an understanding of the local seasonal market.
Endless growth is an approach that has shown to destroy and move on, only to destroy again somewhere else.
The community was not listened to in regard to the amenity of the village green. Now the shade has gone we are left with the impractical and unattractive metal blue and white tables and seats that are too hot to sit on when exposed to the sun.
Perhaps a little more money could have been spent on some mature shady trees where they were lost in the green and on nature strips around the village such as the beautiful fig tree opposite the Homestead Shopping Centre.
The Cassowary Courier reported businesses have rallied as can be seen with the 'new spirit' in the village green. Most of the small business operators I speak to share a vision for the future of Mission Beach based on protection of our special values, and relaxed village atmosphere and lifestyle.
Coming soon will be a new addition on this website to feature and promote businesses that share a vision of a Mission Beach and region that grows naturally and who aspire to sustainable boutique development within our World Heritage Area and who have an understanding of the local seasonal market.
Endless growth is an approach that has shown to destroy and move on, only to destroy again somewhere else.
