Archived articles
On Sunday 10th March the Premier, Anastasia Palaszczuk, and the Minister for Planning, Hon. Cameron Dick launched the draft Spit Master Plan at Muriel Henchman Park on The Spit. After 40 years of campaigning to protect The Spit public open space from unsuitable development we finally have a Plan. This Plan is now available for public comment via the government website www.qld.gov.au/thespit
MAYOR Tom Tate is challenging environmentalists to “show us the money” as the Gold Coast City Council gives the green light to buying up koala habitat. Consultants warned a year ago that the city’s most significant koala population east of the Pacific Motorway would be lost unless authorities agreed to buy up land and relocate the threatened animals.
Australian bush food is all around us. The problem for many of us is understanding what we’re looking at. If you are keen to know more about bush food—and a special local bush food garden—don’t miss the Gecko Talk on Wednesday, February 27.
Your last opportunity to join over 5000 others in signing the Reform of Queensland Planning Legislation Petition by Lois Levy. Very few e-petitions to state parliament attract such strong community support, with this Petition in the top 5%.
Currently there are 5 Councils in Queensland being investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission for alleged corruption by councillors and/or officers. This, plus the Community and SEQ Alliances’ own experiences with local councils has led to advocacy with the Minister for Local Government for some reforms over and above the Belcarra Reforms. There is a strong link or nexus between alleged council corruption and planning assessment approvals, which has been raised with both the Minister for Local Government, Hon Stirling Hinchliffe, and the Minister for Planning, Hon. Cameron Dick.
Since the very first Queensland National Park was established in 1908 at Witches Falls on Mount Tamborine, the debate about the purpose of national parks has continued. Are national parks primarily for the conservation of nature or are they for the enjoyment of nature by the human population? Or if it is to be both, what weight should the community give to conservation versus enjoyment?
Your help is urgently needed in the campaign to save the Gold Coast’s koalas. It is only public pressure on both State and Local Government that will force action.
Council has continued to spend ratepayer funds on investigations into this proposal, despite strong community opposition to this proposal as well as all previous cruise ship proposals since 2003. The resultant reports are heavily redacted especially information regarding financial and physical risks, information the community is entitled to know about! The proposal was sent to the Co-ordinator General who declined to consider it until the Spit Master Plan process is complete in late 2019.
Gecko is again hosting Clean Up Australia Day on the Gold Coast, together with the City of Gold Coast. Registrations are open on Clean Up Australia web site. Or join one of our successful teams.
Light Rail Stage 3b is intended to travel through Palm Beach and on to the Gold Coast Airport, though the route is not yet decided. There is no doubt that the light rail is a popular form of public transport and is preferred to increasing congestion of the roads.