Petition against North Stradbroke Island development attracts 14,000 signatures

IT has the support of state and local governments, and native title holders - but close to 14,000 people have voiced their opposition to a contentious plan for a development on one of North Stradbroke Island’s most popular spots.

Thousands of people have signed a petition opposing the development of a whale watching platform at Point Lookout Headland on North Stradbroke Island. File picture

PLANS to turn a disused lawn tennis court into a whale watching platform has been met with strong resistance from local elders and residents on North Stradbroke Island.

North Stradbroke resident Clara Durbridge started a change.org petition that has gathered almost 14,000 ‘signatures’ to oppose the whale watching platform at Point Lookout Headland.

Ms Durbridge believes she can stop the project despite it having the blessing of native title holders, the Quandamooka people, and the state and local governments.

She has lived on the island all her life and claims the tennis court has not been used for several decades, it’s totally overgrown and is now a prime feeding ground for kangaroos.

“It’s a grassy area used by kangaroos and as a picnic area and you wouldn’t be able to tell it was a lawn tennis court,” she said.

“Our concerns is that the area is heritage listed and that scenic value is under threat now.”

Ms Durbridge has the support of the Minjerribah Moorgumpin Aboriginal Elders-in-Council on North Stradbroke Island who welcome a whale watching platform, but not on the proposed site.

An elder told The Courier-Mail that the site has a “very high cultural significance in our community” and an alternative location should be considered.

“Senior elders in the community are not against a whale watching facility and most indigenous people who have voted on the petition are against the location of it,” the elder said.

The whale watching platform would feature the skeleton of a whale that washed up on the island in 2011. File picture

“It’s a culturally significant site and has a cultural heritage assessment of the area been conducted prior to this announcement.”

The Point Lookout foreshore is state heritage listed although the site for the whale watching platform sits adjacent to a man-made walking trail that is one of the island’s main attractions.

Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation CEO Cameron Costello said the native title holders had the best interests of the environment at heart.

“What we are aspiring to do is basically create a global whale conservation, education and research tourism hub,” he said.

”There is already a Gorge Walk there and it’s one of the main tourist attractions and it’s a man-made boardwalk around the headlands and UQ do their research on whales up there each year.

“It’s got to be designed well and to preserve the cultural heritage and I can understand some people may have not been part of the consultation process but the project hasn’t even commenced.”

The whale watching platform would also feature the skeleton of a 14.5 m humpback that washed up on a North Stradbroke Island beach in 2011.

Mr Costello said the platform would attract tourists to the island during the low season, from July onwards.

He expected the plans to available for viewing from mid-October.

“Communication about the project should have been better and I’m not sure they know it’s going to be on the site of an old tennis court,” he said. “It’s not going to impede on anything.”

Ms Durbridge said the first locals knew of the project’s existence was after they spotted stakes in the ground where the tennis court once stood.

The State Government announced the master planning process for Dunwich, the main entry point for North Stradbroke Island, in June.

The plan is to transition the island to a tourism-based economy when sand mining is phased out by the end of next year.

State Minister for Tourism Kate Jones said there will be extensive community consultation when the design is finalised.

“It’s imperative that we grow North Stradbroke Island’s tourism industry to ensure locals have sustainable jobs in the future,” she said.

“That’s why we’re working closely with the council and QYAC to deliver projects that preserve the natural beauty of Straddy but also attract more visitors to the island.”