On Friday 15th July it was publically announced that the application to subdivide 1 lot into 15 lots on Lot 66 was withdrawn. The final outcome of the 24.4 hectare (60 acre) block of land in the heart of Mission Beach which has been the subject of a high profile campaign, is still uncertain.
The lot was bought at Auction in 2007 at the height of an economic upturn and a development application for a 40 lot sudivision was lodged ahead of the FNQ 2031 Regional Plan.
In the development of the new state Plan, the importance of the fully covered remnant vegetation block connecting the World Heritage area to a large coastal lowland reserve was recognised and removed from the urban footprint.
In the development of the new state Plan, the importance of the fully covered remnant vegetation block connecting the World Heritage area to a large coastal lowland reserve was recognised and removed from the urban footprint.
The Plan placed extra protection over rural areas by excluding good quality agricultural land from residential subdivision which triggered off a landslide of applications to beat the deadline. The result at Mission Beach has been a glut of real estate with a reported over 1100 house lots and 900 units approved with the majority now laying empty. Many of the subdivisions are now situated outside the urban footprint such as Lot 66 (if approved). An extensive report was tabled by Flanaghan Consultings Nigel Caffyn-Parson at the CCRC meeting on 16th December
which stated there is enough housing for sale to cater for the next 100 years.
which stated there is enough housing for sale to cater for the next 100 years.
Click to enlarge
Lot 66 is a prime example of how inconsistences in desired outcomes for land use arise as plans and policies are superceded on different levels of government.
The 40 lot subdivision on Lot 66 was configured to maximise the number of lots regardless of the steep terrain, wetland or of the gazetted cassowary corridor (right top) dominating the entire block. The configuration would have destroyed the integrity of the currently relatively robust habitat corridor.
The cassowary had been listed as endangered by both state and federal governments and the cassowary corridor had been identified in the Cardwell Shire Council Planning Scheme prior to the listing and sale of the property.
The 40 lot subdivision on Lot 66 was configured to maximise the number of lots regardless of the steep terrain, wetland or of the gazetted cassowary corridor (right top) dominating the entire block. The configuration would have destroyed the integrity of the currently relatively robust habitat corridor.
The cassowary had been listed as endangered by both state and federal governments and the cassowary corridor had been identified in the Cardwell Shire Council Planning Scheme prior to the listing and sale of the property.
Large tracks were cleared on the block which at one point encroached into the adjoining privately owned lot.
It is a legal requirement under the EPBC Act to inform the federal government of any action that is likely to have an impact on a matter of national environment significance i e endangered species.
The clearing was bought to the attention of the federal government and the development was refered for assessment 26 March 2008.
The unprecedented escalation in development applications placed extra pressure on the already endangered cassowary population. Conservationists heightened their call for all levels of governments to exercise existing legistlation and increase protection of the essential cassowary habitat at Mission Beach. The Mayor of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council supports the protection of key lots at Mission Beach and has stated buyback may be the best option for Lot 66.
It is a legal requirement under the EPBC Act to inform the federal government of any action that is likely to have an impact on a matter of national environment significance i e endangered species.
The clearing was bought to the attention of the federal government and the development was refered for assessment 26 March 2008.
The unprecedented escalation in development applications placed extra pressure on the already endangered cassowary population. Conservationists heightened their call for all levels of governments to exercise existing legistlation and increase protection of the essential cassowary habitat at Mission Beach. The Mayor of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council supports the protection of key lots at Mission Beach and has stated buyback may be the best option for Lot 66.
On the 21July 2008 the then federal environment minister Peter Garrett made a landmark decision and found the development 'Clearly Unnacceptable', the first time for a minister to use the EPBC Act to veto a development since the Howard government amended the act in 2007.
The importance of the block as a corrdior connecting fragmented habitat at Mission Beach is well documented in the many research documents written by cassowary expert Les Moore and in the most recent studies identifying habitat linkages in the Mission Beach area. Biotropica’s 2008 report on “Wongaling Beach Habitat
Linkages, prepared for Terrain NRM, lists Habitat Linkage 6 as a primary linkage that “…. is considered the most significant linkage within the Wongaling area" and that its "...security rests entirely on achieving appropriate levels of protection for the very significant linkage habitat represented by Lot 66 SP164474"
In recognition of the minister's decision, the habitat linkage is now known as 'Garrett Corridor'
Linkages, prepared for Terrain NRM, lists Habitat Linkage 6 as a primary linkage that “…. is considered the most significant linkage within the Wongaling area" and that its "...security rests entirely on achieving appropriate levels of protection for the very significant linkage habitat represented by Lot 66 SP164474"
In recognition of the minister's decision, the habitat linkage is now known as 'Garrett Corridor'
On the 24th August 2009 a second development proposal, scaled back to 26 lots, was referred to be assessed under the federal EPBC Act.
Bob Irwin with Rainforest Rescue CEO Kelvin Davies
Awareness of the threat to cassowary habitat at Mission Beach, and the call for buyback of Lot 66, attracted the attention of Rainforest Rescue who visited Mission Beach with high profile wildlife campaigner Bob Irwin in Nov 2009. Rainforest Rescue started fundraising with a Mission Beach Cassowaries appeal.
During the development assessment process over the next two years the number of lots proposed was further reduced to 15.
On Friday 15th July 2011the second Lot 66 development application referred for assessment under the EPBC Act was withdrawn.
On Friday 15th July 2011the second Lot 66 development application referred for assessment under the EPBC Act was withdrawn.
Petition now closed
Support for buyback has been gathering. Meetings have been held with community groups, individuals and polititians. Information Flyers were distributed in late 2010, a petition was started asking the new environment minister Tony Burke to deny the development and commit significant funds for a buyback, and further meetings culminated in a Terrain initiated joint appeal to Ecofund for a buyback of Lot 66. Polititians, the community, many interest groups and individuals including the land owner are united in the call for Buyback for Lot 66.
The latest proposal has been withdrawn but the developer has said he will continue to lodge new applications in an effort to recoup his investment. The application lodged ahead of the 2031 Plan with the local Council is also still current and to be determined against state legislation and local planning scheme.
Lot 66 will not be secure from more habitat clearing until it is aquired and
placed into National Park or equivalent, in perpetuity protection.
A campaign is to be launched shortly to raise funds for the buyback of Lot 66
placed into National Park or equivalent, in perpetuity protection.
A campaign is to be launched shortly to raise funds for the buyback of Lot 66
