Mission Beach is described in regional tourism promotion, as a place where  “People come to experience the peace and quiet, relax and do nothing much, it’s that kind of place…”

The community is questioning the Planner’s report description of the proposal as 'low impact' when Mission Helicopters confirmed “Most of the helicopters to be stationed at the proposed facility are highly specialised multi-role craft capable of aerial firefighting, heavy-lift and aerial crane, and reconnaissance missions”.
The Planner’s report also claims that restricting the hours of operation from between 6am to 6pm 7 days a week will minimise the impact.

Many in the community disagree.  The council received 55 submissions against the proposal in response to the DA and a petition has reached 570 signatures.

​John Brown, who owns a property close to the proposed facility, says the noise level would be unacceptable. Many residents moved to the area for the quiet, believing the nearby reserve was a protected area. “There are so many reasons why this is the wrong location”. John said.  “Tully Airport has all the supporting infrastructure for the services being proposed”. 
 
The flight path is planned to go over a large block of coastal rainforest much of which is under Traditional Owner native title.  John said “It is an insult to the Djiru people that they have not been considered”

Liz Gallie of Mission Beach Cassowaries said the impact couldn’t be higher for the cassowary. “There is a cassowary corridor through the middle of the lot and immediately adjacent to the proposed landing pad”. Liz said “There are regular cassowary sightings at the corridor and we have seen how cassowaries react to helicopters flying overhead”.

Liz Gallie agreed. “We are asking the council to listen to the people and stick to the planning scheme”.
 
More information about the heliport proposal and community response will be available at a community meeting on Sunday 20 December 1pm after the markets in Ulysses Park, Mission Beach.

​Ends

With twelve months planning, the attention to detail is obvious from the days program of topics and questions, the design of T Shirts and trophy’s to the included evening bar-b-que.

​The ‘Gutta Boys’ won again this year but cassowaries are the biggest winners through the generosity of this fun group of people lead by the colourful Chappy, the Quizmaster. ​

 “A question that could be asked ahead of  local planning decisions and when any activities or events are being proposed, is, “How will this action impact on cassowaries”? said Liz,  “We are, after all, the Cassowary Coast and  the cassowary is so important  to tourism in our area.”
 
Liz said “We want to develop a strong culture of ‘Caring for Cassowaries” “It is  the only way to address an issue that is placing our community under stress and constant heartbreak each time there is news of yet another cassowary dying on our roads”.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact
Liz Gallie;  Mission Beach Cassowaries Inc  0414402315
Cr Trudy Tschui;  CCRC Division 3  (Community and Culture)
​Cr Jeff Baines CCRC Division  5 (Governance, Environment & Finance)

A website has been set up  to share information  about the No Helicopters Here campaign against the approval of  a Helicopter aerodrome on 2224 Tully Mission Beach Road Mission Beach.

www.nohelicoptershere.com

email: nohelicoptershere@gmail.com

Highlights of the day are the mime and air guitar competitions.​
 
With twelve months planning, the attention to detail is obvious from the list of questions, the design of each year’s T Shirts to the catering.
 
Funds raised on the day through the sale of merchandise, ‘fines’ and fees to compete in activities, are donated to help a local cause.

For the past 6 years the funds have been donated to Mission Beach Cassowaries.  On announcing the funds would once again go to help the cassowary, the Quizmaster said “They are such beautiful birds, we don’t want to see them go the same way as the Thylacine (Tassmanian Tiger)”.
 
Mission Beach Cassowaries spokesperson Liz Gallie said “We are so grateful for the donations. They have enabled our group to develop the ‘Mission Beach Naturally’ branding,  letting people coming to our area  know why it is so special and to contribute to awareness raising projects such as the Mission Beach School kids roadside signs and establishing  the Mission Beach Community Cassowary Festival which will be in its fourth year in 2020.”
 
The private event has been running for 13 years and has a dedicated band of followers, some of whom travel as far away as Victoria, Northern Territory and South Australia. 

Local businesses sponsor the event with donations for raffles. Community minded Chappy and Angela encourage their guests to go out while they are in town to support and enjoy locally owned and operated businesses.

Next year’s event is already in the planning. The number of tables is limited so if you know your 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music, and would like to be part of the quiz fest being held on August 29th, 2020, call or email Chappy to find out more.  0418 898 940 quizmequick@iinet.net.au
Ends.
Photos by Liz Gallie
For more information;
Baden Chapman 0418 898 940
Liz Gallie 0414402315

... Because it has no strategy, its efforts in managing threatened species lack purpose, direction and coordination.​
...The department does not systematically plan where to deploy its available resources to achieve the most effective balance of actions to protect habitats, mitigate threats and reduce species decline. It is not clear how much the department spends each year in total on threatened species management as it does not effectively track and account for funding used on specific activities...

...With few exceptions, the department does not currently know how threatened species are faring and whether management actions are having the desired impact.
...The department’s decisions about which species receive its greatest conservation efforts are often determined by iconic value, individual interests, departmental knowledge and advocacy, rather than by objective assessments of appropriate priorities...

...Despite, managing land with over 1 000 threatened species and having a total 2017–18 budget of $111.3 million, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) does not identify specific allocations of funding for the protection and recovery of threatened species on the land it manages."

Sadly, the main recommendation is more 'plans'. 

We don't need another plan. We know that many species are in decline, but we also know - in great detail - what needs to be done.
​
We need the government to actually support and implement actions on the ground, to DO SOMETHING.
Now".

See Paula Peeter's  original blog post here

The video was captured by award winning conservationist, Liz Gallie on her iPhone at the junction of two all year round creeks in the Bingil Bay reserve near Mission Beach.

The adult male known to Mission Beach Cassowaries as Joov and can be seen in the clip with three chicks, estimated to be about four months old.
​
"They absolutely love water. They make noises like you when taking a dip in cool water on a really hot day," she said.
"It's obviously a very pleasurable thing to do, especially on a hot day."
 
Not an uncommon sight, Ms Gallie explained proximity to bodies of water was critical to the survival of the species.
 
"Cassowaries have to be near water and access water to drink about 20 times a day, so they are never far from water and in this hot weather we don't see them moving around at all during the middle of the day," she said.
 
Ms Gallie said Joov has struggled in the past to raise a successful brood.

Along with the destruction of  environmental laws came the  restructuring of Federal and State development assessment processes. The Federal Government handed over EPBC Act assessment to the states and the state in turn has devolved ultimate decision making powers not just to local government, but to one person, the Mayor.

The crippling of environmental protection and the reluctance of the state to intervene in local council decisions is escalating development/conservation conflicts at an alarming rate.  ​

Our serious concerns are highlighted in the presentation (see below) which was shown to the Cassowary Recovery Team in Cairns on Tuesday 13th Nov. It  finishes with a question. 
 
What are we going to do?

A recent  tourism promotion released by  Rockhampton council  was  quickly withdrawn after public  outrage  that it was  "...obvious that there has been a real shortage or a dearth of inclusive material, anything that really represents what our community is really made of..."
A recent article in  the Sydney Morning Herald  highlights the trend is widespread. Perth council has dealt with years of protests from community groups over town planning scheme amendments.  A  newly recently drafted strategy caused so much unrest the council went back to the drawing board.  Other councils are copping public revolt at "..being consulted at the end of the process, instead of at the outset..."  "... in a process nicknamed ‘Design, Advise and Defend..."

Public consultation is the cornerstone of democracy.

The community can stand up against this erosion of their democratic rights and gain back meaningful consultation to start turning around this runaway train of environmental destruction.