| As we all know, the environment of the Cassowary Coast is very special but it is also very fragile. It is a cyclone adapted environment, but development, tourism and two severe cyclones in only 5 years have taken their toll and participating in the plant outs has shown me how fragile such an environment is. A healthy foreshore vegetation is key to stable sand dunes, the most effective barrier against erosion. |  |  |
Community pride in re vegetation projects
 Kerstin Pilz (centre) and The United Nations of Tree Planters: 5 German backpackers, 2 Dutch boys, 5 Aussies, 2 brand new MB residents, 2 very 'old' locals, 1 recently established local, 55 plants at foreshore in front of Village Green. Great effort! Thanks to all the new volunteers! | Congratulations to all who have been involved in the many plant outs along the foreshores of our beaches. It is an acknowledgement of how intrinsic the value of the natural environment is to our community, lifestyle and well being at Mission Beach. Hundreds of volunteers have spent countless hours over many months planting thousands of native trees and shrubs to help repair the damage to our dunal system as a result of cyclone Yasi. The Cassowary Coast community as a whole deserves acknowledgement for the exceptional effort that is being made. |
The long wet season this year has lasted until early June (coinciding with what is locally known as the start of the 'Tourist Season') which has hopefully given the boost needed for the plants to establish and survive the dryer, colder winter season.
Kerstin Pilz has been one of the many 'coast care' coordinators. She has kindly written and shared the following story and photos of her experience with the ongoing re-vegetation project at Marine Parade in the Mission Beach village area.
Kerstin Pilz has been one of the many 'coast care' coordinators. She has kindly written and shared the following story and photos of her experience with the ongoing re-vegetation project at Marine Parade in the Mission Beach village area.
 Kerstin Pilz | A healthy foreshore is the most effective barrier for coastal communities and properties against erosion and severe weather events. |
Cyclone Yasi badly damaged the already fragile foreshore along the Cassowary Coast and the regional council does not have the resources to re vegetate every beach along the coast.
| It has invited members of the community to take charge of protecting our foreshore and re vegetating it so that it will continue to protect us in the future. Council provides the plants, mulch, fertiliser and water crystals, residents provide the shovels, muscles and dedication. |  |
 | Plant outs along North Mission beach have been fun and educational, despite the weather. Our first plant out was held before Christmas and due to the heat we started at 5:30. One of our most recent was held on a very rainy Saturday morning and we lost a few volunteers to the rain. But the plants loved it and a core group persevered under any conditions. |
Before moving to Mission Beach I had thought of dunes as high sand formations that block any view of the ocean and occur only along certain beaches. I now know that even the low fore dunes in Mission Beach are dunes.
Most importantly I now appreciate how important stable sand dunes are as a natural barrier between the beach and the land. By planting native plants such as Sea Lettuce along the foreshore, I have learned hands-on to value the importance of native vegetation for trapping windblown sand and building it up over time into stable and protective fore dunes.
Having grown up in Germany, it never ceases to surprise me how dedicated Australians are when it comes to volunteering. People show up no matter what. People show up because they love the environment and care for it.
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I have learned that it is up to each one of us to care for it to make sure that our coast remains healthy. Planting trees is one way to do this. Being mindful not to disturb existing and new vegetation is another.
Wongaling Beach post Cyclone Larry
When planting new vegetation, we have been careful to follow existing paths and planted along them in order to clearly identify them as beach access points, encouraging beach users not to walk over vegetation.
We've planted it - now what happens to protect it?
 | While all the positive re-vegetation work is being done, it is with disbelief to see the destruction on the verges and banks of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC) managed roads as a result of recent maintenance works. Scarce valuable funds for the natural environment have been spent to destroy trees that have been planted with ratepayers money. |
Within a couple of days the entire scenic tourist route on Alexander Drive between Clump point and Bingil Bay including the World Heritage Area was in-discriminatory hedge clipped' with a vertical mower/slasher. Smashed and severed branches left where they were broken.
| The vegetation that survives will now bush out instead of growing tall into a canopy over the road. It will not only require more frequent maintenance but is completely contrary to the requirements of the World Heritage roadside management guidelines. |  |
 | Mission Beach is high biodiversity area where the world heritage values extend outside the boundaries of the protected area. You can guarantee there is something quite rare or unique wherever you are. Driving the Council owned roads from Clump Point to Garners Beach including the esplanade track, you will travel on a tourist scenic route where two World Heritage areas meet, and through vegetation that includes essential cassowary habitat, critically endangered coastal and littoral rainforest and 'of concern' remnant vegetation, |
| Part of the drive passes a section of bank at Bingil Bay that required major engineering works after a 2008 land slip. A metal mesh was stapled into the bank and trees planted strategically to help long term stabilisation. The saplings, surviving Cyclone Yasi, had reached a stage where the Singapore daisy was starting to be shaded out and were beginning to show how the bank would eventually self re vegetate to resemble the adjacent rainforest canopy drive into Bingil Bay. These established saplings have now been destroyed. |  Bingil Bay slip - 2008 |
| The CCRC are investigating what happened and an officer from the Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) plans to hold a workshop for Council staff on the protocol of vegetation management in a World Heritage area. Something, he told me, has been needed on many occasions over the years as new contractors are employed. |  |
Does our Council appreciate and support community effort?
| At the last Mission Beach Community Association (MBCA) meeting It was disappointing to hear both the Mayor and our new local Councillor agree with a complaint from the floor about the foreshore re-vegetation being "planted too close together". They were asked "what are they trying to do? Stop the views? The Mayor's response was to reassure the person, "not all the trees will survive and the Council will not be planting in some areas such as in front of houses or resorts that already have cleared views". Mission Beach representative, Councilor Pike is quoted in the MBCA minutes as saying he "is concerned about the ‘over planting’ in some areas. |  Mission Beach |
 Mission Beach Bulletin No144 May 2008 | The current attitude gives little confidence that the work being carried out by the community on foreshore planting will be given a high priority for follow up management and protection. Our local representatives need to hear from those in the community who appreciate and want to protect the natural environment as an integral part of our economic and community well being. Please consider writing to your local councilor, Mayor or CEO, writing a short letter to the Tully Times or the Innisfail Advocate newspapers or attending the (MBCA) meetings. It doesn't take much time but it does make a difference! |
The following is from the MBCA website;
The vision of MBCA is to represent the community with "one voice" in its relations with Council, State and Federal Government Departments . Mission Beach is cosmopolitan in its population make-up. Nearly everyone comes here from somewhere else. We are all entranced by the natural beauty of our environment, the friendly community spirit of our village lifestyle and our easy access to one of the world's best kept secrets. As a community of separate villages we need to work together to achieve the best outcomes for the preservation of our natural environment whilst influencing the shape of our inevitable development.
If the MBCA is 'the voice for Mission Beach', it is as strong as it's membership. The loudest voice will be heard. So it is up to all of us to take interest and have input if we are concerned about how our special environment is planned and managed.
The vision of MBCA is to represent the community with "one voice" in its relations with Council, State and Federal Government Departments . Mission Beach is cosmopolitan in its population make-up. Nearly everyone comes here from somewhere else. We are all entranced by the natural beauty of our environment, the friendly community spirit of our village lifestyle and our easy access to one of the world's best kept secrets. As a community of separate villages we need to work together to achieve the best outcomes for the preservation of our natural environment whilst influencing the shape of our inevitable development.
If the MBCA is 'the voice for Mission Beach', it is as strong as it's membership. The loudest voice will be heard. So it is up to all of us to take interest and have input if we are concerned about how our special environment is planned and managed.
Cassowaries to feature in National Geographic
 | It was a great privilege to meet and spend a day with biologist/nature - wildlife photographer Christian Ziegler last weekend. Christian is in Australia working on a magazine story about the Southern Cassowary for National Geographic Magazine. The high profile photo/journalist said he was here to find out about the situation on the ground and to chat about the cassowaries in our neighborhood. |
| In his introductory email Christian wrote " I hope that this story will give this endangered species the spotlight it deserves, and might also be helpful for the conservation efforts. I would be very interested to hear what aspects you would think are important to include in this coverage (behaviors, conservation issues...)". It is remarkable that in the short time he has been in the north he has been lucky enough to photograph the abandonment of two chicks while a male pairs up with a female at the start of this mating season. While following the birds he happened on a clutch of five eggs which he now hopes to go back to and find the male sitting. |  |
Christian will make several more trips back to Australia coinciding with the stages of growth of the birds with the next trip hopefully recording the hatching of the eggs.
 | I was able to be Christian and his brother John's guide for a day to help familiarise them with the situation the cassowary faces at Mission Beach. As with all the journalists or documentary makers who have visited Mission Beach in recent times to write about or film cassowaries, Christian questioned why the threats to this endangered species are not being addressed. It is hard to answer that question especially as the local council has adopted it as their icon, and many businesses are using the cassowary in their logos and promotional material. I look forward to meeting Christian again during his future trips to our region this year. Read more about Christian Ziegler, Associate for communication, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama. See some of Christian's awe inspiring photography. |
Cassowary death number 7 at hotspot
 Sign placed on the road during the 2011 Evolve Music Festival in the vicinity of where the cassowary was killed | Yet another Cassowary was killed on Mission Beach Roads. An adult bird was hit by a vehicle at 8.30 in the morning Tuesday (5th June) at a known crossing area. It is obvious that 80kph on a winding stretch of road with crests and dips which cuts through cassowary habitat in a World Heritage Area is too fast. At a recent community meeting, local councilor Alister Pike reported he had the unpleasant job of moving a kicking cassowary off the road after it had been hit by a bus taking children to school. Apparently the bird ran into the path of the vehicle and the driver was unable to stop in time. The recent JCU traffic impacts report identifies this stretch of road as a hotspot for cassowary road deaths and recommends urgent action including speed reduction and vehicle activated signs. |
The report was partly funded by a $75,000 offset for approval of the Oasis Resort and high density residential development which when fully occupied will greatly increase the traffic on Mission Beach roads.
The report states "this zone is also afforded a very high priority for rapid implementation of mitigation measures. A recent death was recorded. This is a high speed road section with a very poor line of sight in most of the section due to curves, crests and dips in the road".
The report states "this zone is also afforded a very high priority for rapid implementation of mitigation measures. A recent death was recorded. This is a high speed road section with a very poor line of sight in most of the section due to curves, crests and dips in the road".
| "Vehicle speed limits should be reduced to 60 kph immediately and some form of road-based traffic calming implemented to complement this if possible. In this section the poor line of sight may require careful consideration of safety factors for drivers, so provision of road-based traffic calming may be difficult. The implementation of speed enforcement in this section, possibly in the form of speed camera installations in which cameras are placed at unknown intervals, or signs that register the speed of a vehicle (Chapter 5) could provide a means of achieving a reduced speed in this area. That's what the report says! So what are we waiting for...another death?
|  Click for report |
Bingil Bay farmer ordered to repair riparian habitat corridors
 | The highly productive banana Farm at Bingil Bay was bought by a well known Cassowary Coast farmer, Mr Singh, shortly after Cyclone Larry in 2006. Since then there have been numerous and constant complaints about vegetation clearing. One of the earliest and most visible of the clearing was the line of native forest on the top of the cutting on Bingil Bay Road at Plantation Drive that was burnt and removed. |
| The roadside trees were removed to expand banana planting. To date the farm does not extend right to this edge so The visual amenity of the line of native vegetation enjoyed by locals and tourists while driving around the rural/conservation township of Bingil Bay was destroyed for no apparent reason. Despite the number of reports, without photographic evidence or people prepared to make statements in court, very few cases of illegal clearing result in a conviction. |  Near Plantation Drive 23 Oct 2007 |
Such is the case with Mr Singh. The statistics were substantiated when NRM Minister Andrew Cripps pledged to review the Vegetation management Act (VMA)shortly after being elected to office and the EDO published that only "about 5% of illegal land clearing results in prosecution involving a fine", and that "typically fines are still well below the maximums allowable under the current legislation".
 2005 |  2011 |
The seriousness of Mr Singh's actions can be seen in the above Google earth images showing the extensive clearing along the riparian zones including encroachment onto neighbouring privately owned properties.
| Concerned and frustrated neighbours could hear bulldozers working late into the night, but without trespassing could not see where the clearing was being carried out. Various government departments were alerted and have visited the farm over the last 6 years after reports and photos from farm workers confirmed shocking work practices that posed serious health and safety issues on this once well managed farm that dominates Bingil Bay village. |  |
Seen here is the handling of dangerous chemicals and general cleanliness including the disposal of pig carcasses left on the ground rotting in close proximity to where people were required to work that prompted local concern and reporting.
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The farm is an important habitat corridor for cassowaries connecting the World Heritage area on the Southern boundary to the large habitat system of Garners Beach. At least five known birds are often seen crossing Bingil Bay Road in the Cedar Creek habitat linkage.
The World Heritage Area and the endangered cassowary are of interest to the Federal Government as matters of National Environmental Significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The Compliance Branch have been aware of Mr Singh's activities for some time and have now enacted the Act by requiring the riparian zones to be re vegetated. We are reassured by the department that the Conservation Agreement entered into by Mr Singh and the Federal Government is enforceable.
Hopefully the issues in this article have been successfully addressed and resolved by the relevant authorities. The federal governments intervention is most welcome.
You can read the agreement document available on the Federal Government website here.
The World Heritage Area and the endangered cassowary are of interest to the Federal Government as matters of National Environmental Significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The Compliance Branch have been aware of Mr Singh's activities for some time and have now enacted the Act by requiring the riparian zones to be re vegetated. We are reassured by the department that the Conservation Agreement entered into by Mr Singh and the Federal Government is enforceable.
Hopefully the issues in this article have been successfully addressed and resolved by the relevant authorities. The federal governments intervention is most welcome.
You can read the agreement document available on the Federal Government website here.
Nature supports Council decision during developer challenge
A development proposal to reconfigure Good Quality Agricultural Land (GQAL) for residential housing was denied by the local Council on the grounds of being within a flood prone area.
The location of the development within the Big Maria Creek catchment adjacent to the World Heritage area of Laceys Creek National Park would have required destruction of remnant vegetation to establish several house sites and associated infrastructure on the ridge while the lower formerly farmed area was planned for lifestyle lots.
The location of the development within the Big Maria Creek catchment adjacent to the World Heritage area of Laceys Creek National Park would have required destruction of remnant vegetation to establish several house sites and associated infrastructure on the ridge while the lower formerly farmed area was planned for lifestyle lots.
 | The deluge and subsequent flooding of the Maria Creek in March this year demonstrated the wisdom of the Councils decision as the existing house and vehicles were inundated. |
The policies used to deny this development did not include the fact the lot has a Good Quality Agricultural overlay or would require 'significant' destruction of essential cassowary habitat.
The lot is adjacent to the stretch of road identified as a cassowary road death hotspot where the most recent death occurred.
Not to mention the oversupply of residential housing, including lifestyle blocks, at Mission Beach.
The Council decision is currently being challenged in court.
The photos here show the muddy waterline as the water was already subsiding.
The lot is adjacent to the stretch of road identified as a cassowary road death hotspot where the most recent death occurred.
Not to mention the oversupply of residential housing, including lifestyle blocks, at Mission Beach.
The Council decision is currently being challenged in court.
The photos here show the muddy waterline as the water was already subsiding.
Higher ground at approach to property
How does new Castaways development proposal fit with the
environment, community vision and Planning Scheme?
environment, community vision and Planning Scheme?
A second development application has been lodged with Council to expand Castaways resort at Mission Beach.
 First development proposal withdrawn | It follows an application last year that was withdrawn before Council consideration. The style of development proposed was well beyond the density allowed within the current planning scheme and out of character for Mission Beach. The same can be said about the current proposal where 44 additional hotel rooms and a large function centre are planned to be crammed onto the existing resort site. |
The design depicted in the (out of scale) artists impression follows the lack of understanding and sensitivity to the surrounding environment of other recent developments such as the three story apartment block to the north of Castaways and the six apartments that now dominate the skyline forming an almost foreboding backdrop to the Mission Beach village.
 Inappropriate skyline development - backdrop to Mission Beach village. |  Recently sold along with the Ziva Resort as morgagee sale |
None of the buildings are designed for the tropical environment to capture breezes and flow through ventilation, instead relying on air conditioning for cooling during the hot summer months. Nor do any of the designs fit with the visual amenity of our World Heritage Area.
 Existing motel complex with hip roof scaling down from the centre creates village feel with ample room for vegetation screening. Much of the existing greenery was removed under current ownership.  Artists impression showing people and palm trees out of scale, giving the impression of being much smaller.  Showing actual size of palm trees. Heavy block architecture dominating the block devoid of sea breezes. Highly visible at the approach to town with little softening by vegetation screen | The impact of the increased noise of traffic movement and outside functions associated with this and eventual expansion on the rest of the lots owned by Castaways would irreversibly compromise the quiet residential amenity already being felt by current activities. Despite an economic downturn and uncertainty in the tourism market, this proposal is a 'business as usual' scenario. It relies on 'growth' and mass tourism which has little consideration for the impact it may have on the 'big picture' vision i e the very values that attract visitors to Mission Beach. To ignore what Mission Beach has to offer will 'kill the goose that laid the golden egg'. |
Castaways manager, Mr Will Neville, would be well familiar in his position as president of Mission Beach Business and Tourism with the regional, state and national Sustainable Tourism programs based on conservation of the natural attractions of an area.
How can Mr Neville reconcile his understanding of current tourism trends with Castaways exploitation of natural attractions through mass tourism? Perhaps there is a conflict of interest.
How can Mr Neville reconcile his understanding of current tourism trends with Castaways exploitation of natural attractions through mass tourism? Perhaps there is a conflict of interest.
| Over decades the community input to planning on all levels of government has resulted in policies that seek to protect the exceptionally high scenic and high biodiversity environment. The world heritage values of the Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef are what make Mission Beach so special, containing significant areas of ecological significance including essential habitat for the endangered cassowary. These values must be considered as a priority for protection in any development aspirations. The most recent FNQ2031 Plan reflects the very clear vision voiced by the community during the consultation process. In the Plan Mission Beach is seen as a village activity centre not a regional growth area. It states "Much higher levels of self containment ......" "Densities are to be kept low and building heights limited to avoid increasing traffic generation"......."local employment generators will need to be developed based on protection and enjoyment of the natural environment. |  Page 41 FNQ2031 Plan |
A presentation at the last MBCA meeting given by Castaways manager Will Neville gave no reference to the community vision. Mr Neville explained the marketing of Castaways Resort worldwide and how they are now the only resort in MB that is featured in the European market. In the past they worked closely with Elandra & Dunk/Bedarra*. To be successful they must expand and be able to host larger conventions and weddings. The new building will be built above the present car park and double the capacity of rooms and the conference centre will be able to seat 160. " ( from the Mission Beach Community Association (MBCA) minutes, my emphasis).
(*All now not operational).
It is difficult to see how such an expansion can be viable with the current global economic climate and a proven 6 month a year tourist season limit.
(*All now not operational).
It is difficult to see how such an expansion can be viable with the current global economic climate and a proven 6 month a year tourist season limit.
Castaways historic management of removing native vegetation for views and maintaining public land as lawn and private gardens has long been a controversial thorn in the side for local residents.
Further foreshore clearing carried out by current management immediately upon taking ownership of the properties, and introduction of features that work in competition with local small business, has not shown any sensitivity to the environment or existing businesses.
Further foreshore clearing carried out by current management immediately upon taking ownership of the properties, and introduction of features that work in competition with local small business, has not shown any sensitivity to the environment or existing businesses.
| The maintenance style and tourist promotion of Mission Beach by Castaways denies the natural beauty of an area where the rainforest grows naturally down to the sea and where you have the best chance to see a cassowary in the wild. Some visitors to our area are confused about what it is that Mission Beach has to offer. Especially those who are looking for a nature based experience who comment on how little emphasis or information there is to be found about the natural area in tourist promotional material. With all the land owned by Castaways and the will to succeed, there is an excellent opportunity to lead the way with a genuine approach to 'sustainable' tourism development. |  Native vegetation removed to create views and tropical 'feel' |
When are we going to see a forward thinking developer seriously embrace 'nature based tourism' before this special place is no longer special?
 Cairns Post 3 - 5 - 12 While Mr Neville Smith is seeking investment partners for expansion, Mr Neville (don't be confused) is appealing for government assistance, comparing the downturn in the tourism economy to the collapse of the car industry. Will Mr Neville also be appealing to our local council to approve this inappropriate development on the basis that it would be difficult to find an investor without an assurance of approval? | Castaways owner Mr Neville-Smith is currently in China seeking a $20 million dollar investment partner. How many tourists will need to visit Mission Beach to give a profitable return for such an increased investment? Has Mr Neville Smith given any consideration for the impact the extra traffic will have on the cassowary population already seriously at risk with the number of road strikes?  |
Strong local council leadership molds the future of regional areas such as the Cassowary Coast. Will this Council listen to the strong voice of the community spoken through long term proper process of consultation or will they too overlook the the golden egg by pressure from the unsustainable 'business as usual scenario being pushed by investors looking for short term unrealistic profits?
This development proposal does not comply with the current planning scheme under the density codes, parking requirements, the vision for Mission Beach zone, or the landscaping guidelines. It is- inappropriate, unrealistic unsustainable. If approved, it would set a precedent, encouraging like minded developers, creating a vicious circle of natural environment destruction.
There has to be a better way. :-)
This development proposal does not comply with the current planning scheme under the density codes, parking requirements, the vision for Mission Beach zone, or the landscaping guidelines. It is- inappropriate, unrealistic unsustainable. If approved, it would set a precedent, encouraging like minded developers, creating a vicious circle of natural environment destruction.
There has to be a better way. :-)
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