Inquiry push as anger grows over $30m in Straddie tourism spending

A push is under way for an investigation into funding to boost tourism on North Stradbroke Island after claims nine glamping tents were built at a cost of more than $244,000 each.

Glamping at Straddie a tent on the beach. Picture: Minjerribah Camping.

The state government is considering a full investigation into how more than $30 million in taxpayer funds to boost tourism on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) has been spent.

Although an investigation is yet to be officially announced, it is believed terms of reference were under discussion after a Queensland parliamentary committee hearing last week, where Auditor-General Rachel Vagg confirmed the spending.

The State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee last week heard $2.2 million was allocated to the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation to build 36 semipermanent tourist tents on Straddie.

However, the project was eventually scaled back to just nine tents — three at Cylinder Beach and six at Bradbury’s Beach – bringing the average cost per tent to $246,444.

The money was part of the Minjerribah Futures transition package to help the island transition from sand mining, which ended in 2019, to a tourism-based economy.

The agenda for today’s Redland Coast Tourism Forum at Sirromet Winery. Picture: Contributed

At the meeting, Auditor-General Rachel Vagg confirmed officials approved payments to QYAC without confirming whether it the body had the skills or capacity to deliver projects.

“There was no assessment of whether the recipients had the ability to deliver and no evaluation of what was actually achieved on the ground,” Ms Vagg told the committee.

QYAC was also found to have billed $250 an hour for a senior officer’s time, with no audit evidence of what work was done or whether any deliverables were met.

Ms Vagg said government departments paid the money but often without follow-up.

Oodgeroo MP Amanda Stoker called for the full investigation and told the hearing the Minjerribah Futures program had failed to diversify the island’s economy.

She said $2.218 million was allocated for 36 tents with only nine delivered, equating to a cost of about $246,244 each.

Oodgeroo MP Amanda Stoker said she wanted a full investigation into how $30 million has been spent on tourism on North Stradbroke Island. Picture: Minjerribah Camping.

“It has not stimulated local business development and growth, which has been stagnant and struggling for a considerable period of time,” Ms Stoker said.

“It has not meaningfully expanded the current tourism industry beyond building a cultural centre that shows promise but at the moment is wrapped in temporary fencing and high grass and is not open to the public.”

QYAC, however, strongly defended its record, saying the organisation had delivered tangible outcomes across the island.

In a written response, a QYAC spokesperson said: “We disagree with your assertion that there is limited evidence of outcomes on the ground.”

“Across Minjerribah there are tangible outcomes of the funding, including the glamping tents you refer to which are available to the public to book, QUAMPI Arts and Cultural Centre which is of regional art gallery quality and will be open to the public from September 13, the upgrade of the old high school campus which now serves as the home base for both QYAC and Minjerribah Camping (known as Ganaba), and numerous upgrades to public amenities across the island.”

QYAC also confirmed that CEO Cameron Costello was currently very unwell and unable to respond to media inquiries or attend Wednesday’s Redland Coast Tourism Forum, where he was scheduled to deliver the Welcome to Country.

Hundreds at Wednesday’s Redland Coast Tourism Forum at Sirromet. Picture: Contributed

His absence at the forum, attended by more than 200 stakeholders at Sirromet Winery, fuelled frustrations as scrutiny grows over the Minjerribah Futures program.

Stradbroke Island Chamber of Commerce president Colin Battersby said the tourism sector was going backwards and called for a full forensic audit.

“Show us the receipts because until there’s accountability, there can be no trust,” he said.

“We were promised new tourism infrastructure and better facilities.

“What we’ve got are broken toilets, empty campgrounds and rising prices.”

The Queensland Audit Office report released in May revealed departments approved multiple milestone payments, including $800,000 and $734,400, even when QYAC failed to submit clear financial acquittals or documentation of outcomes.

Ms Vagg confirmed her office could not determine what impact the spending had, due to poor tracking and a lack of measurable benchmarks.

The state government has not yet released any details of an investigation, but is under pressure to act swiftly amid public concern over how tens of millions in transition funding have been used.

Originally published as Inquiry push as anger grows over $30m in Straddie tourism spending