February 2012 Community News Article

"A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, "At my age, I don't even buy green bananas."

Claude Pepper

By the time you read this article, the case relating to the development of Rainbow Shores Stage II will have been heard by the Planning and Environment Court. The Judge is likely to deliberate for approximately one month and with any luck, we will have a decision – one way or another – by the end of March this year.

A two day site inspection was conducted at Rainbow Beach by the Judge on the 12th and 13th of December, 2011. The trial itself was set down for 15 days, beginning on January 16, 2012. The case is quite large and complex and involves the provision of evidence from numerous experts. In May 2011, both the Department of Environment and Resource Management and Gympie Regional Council sought to have new experts admitted to the case in order to better deal with issues of effluent disposal and groundwater impact related to the development.

The case itself involves: Rainbow Shores, Gympie Regional Council, the
Department of Environment and Resource Management, J Lawler, Citizens Helping Inskip Peninsula, M Lawler, R & S Ruescher and E Devereux, Fraser Island Defenders Organisation (FIDO), Rainbow Beach Commerce and Tourism Association, Greg Wood, Fiona Hawthorne, Vivian Griffin, National Parks Association of Queensland, Cooloola Coastcare and the Department of Main Roads. FIDO has since withdrawn from the trial as a respondent. (Source: Citizens Helping Inskip Peninsula website).

The State Government determined in 1983 that the land north of Pacific Boulevard should be developed to meet the growing population and tourism needs of the region and subsequently issued a development lease. The Developer paid for a lease to develop the land. Under the terms of the lease the lessee must instigate development of the land. Once certain conditions have been met and development approvals received, the land will be developed. The development of the Rainbow Shores Stage 1 has now reached a point where it is appropriate to get the approvals for Stage 2 to allow for a well- planned overall development.

Economically, we believe that Rainbow Shores Stage 2 will cater for the increasing demand for residential land in South East Queensland. The development will also provide extra accommodation for visitors and help develop a healthy local tourism industry. These new commercial opportunities will create a range of employment in the community. A growing population increases the rates base of a local council. This extra funding can then be used by council to deliver improved community services. On a social level, more jobs will create greater wealth and diversity in the community with an increased range of social interaction opportunities.

There has been some misinformation disseminated relating to the development and some of those ‘urban myths’ are discussed below:

1. Camping at Inskip Point will be reduced/detrimentally effected by Stage 2 – camping has never been allowed in Rainbow Shores and the proposed development will have no impact on the availability on campgrounds at Inskip.

2. The area encompassed by the proposed development is purported to be pristine and of ‘World Heritage quality’ - in actual fact, there is very little evidence of native flora and fauna endemic to the site. Scrub turkeys and brumbies are prolific and the area itself is mostly regrowth with extensive sand mining having taken place less than 40 years ago.

3. The site is low-lying and will be prone to inundation by sea water from storm surges etc. - The site is protected by a 145m beach protection buffer. The storm water and flooding provisions in Stage 2 are identical to the ones in Stage 1. The high permeability of the sand ensures that water will drain, even in periods of high rainfall.

4. The ecology of the site will be detrimentally impacted by any development – based on the precedence that the developer has set through Stage 1 of Rainbow Shores it would appear that environmental impacts are minimal. The developer has incorporated “green fingers” into the housing subdivision and wildlife such as green tree frogs, bandicoots, possums, native birds and snakes etc are prolific within close proximity to existing homes.

It would be fair to say that the Developer has demonstrated a capacity to produce an ecologically sustainable development – based on the example provided by Rainbow Shores Stage I. No one wants to see unsustainable development and ultimately, any decision by the Planning and Environment Court will be welcomed even if all we have is certainty about the future of our town in relation to growth and expansion (and in some cases, the medium to long-term viability of local businesses).

As has been previously pointed out by those opposed to Rainbow Shores Stage II, areas west/south-west of Rainbow Beach (beyond Bombala Crescent and Tingira Close are subject to Native Title issues and would take a lot of time and money to process (ultimately costing Ratepayers and Taxpayers – ie. Us. Money).

Many local residents and property owners have invested (individually and collectively) millions of dollars in this town over the years and it would be a shame to see a lot of that hard work and commitment go to waste through the loss of a controversial case which is mostly contested by people who neither work, live or own property in Rainbow Beach.

It would also be a great loss to the community to see the future of Rainbow Beach stifled by lack of growth and expansion opportunities, denying many people the chance to live, invest or visit here and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings.