Plans for the ugly overtopping breakwater
The people at Mission Beach have been treated very badly!
An ugly overtopping breakwater has been forced on the community as part of the
Newman government's solution for 'safe boating infrastructure' at Mission Beach.
The government made a political decision on a major development that poses to change Mission Beach forever.
They didn't think the community needed to be properly consulted. 
They would not listen
We were simply told  "This is going to happen"! 
The government was both the developer and assessor!
We think that is wrong!



Mission Beach would be changed forever
HOW did this mad idea take hold? 
By early 2012, earlier Queensland Governments abolished the relevant legislation that had protected this beautiful bay, and fast tracked this project as a State Major Project. That means no EIS. No possibility of public scrutiny and consultation. 

The present Commonwealth Government decided that a State Major Project, when referred under the EPBC Act, was not worth scrutiny as a Controlled Action (CA). That means no EIS. No possibility of public scrutiny and consultation.

An earlier Commonwealth Government gave millions of dollars for a scoping study, but NO scoping study has been done.

100s of 1000s of dollars (if not millions) have been wasted locally on outsourced promotional campaigns passed off as 'consultation'.

THE ONLY CHANCE LEFT FOR BOAT BAY
There is a requirement for a Permit - just a permit! - from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), for structures to be built within the GBR Marine Park; not primarily a world heritage consideration.    

The due date for responses to the GBRMPA Permit Application is April 1st, that's TOMORROW! 

The proponent promotional documents are long, descriptive and wordy, but have not been written as an EIS. They lack lack rigour, important facts and detail.
The proposed facilities include
Boat Bay (Narragon Beach) - a breakwater, with a crest length of approximately 125 metres to shelter Perry Harvey Jetty; a pedestrian access ramp on Perry Harvey Jetty, and two heavy duty moorings buoys. On the seabed the length is 135 metres; width 40 metres.

At Clump Point Boat Ramp (also in Boat Bay): a third boat ramp; a second launching pontoon; 1880m2 of reclamation to increase vehicle turn around space and car parking; sea wall repair works and the removal of two rocks from the channel on approach to Clump Point Boat Ramp. 

IMPACTS include permanent ecological and aesthetic impacts on the GBRWHA. Artificial rock reefs attract species that would not aggregate there naturally; reclamation and rock walls kill the benthic communities they cover; seagrass is permanently lost, when dugongs need every bit they can get; hydrology changes lead to erosion and siltation. And the Bay's natural beauty has been marred forever.