Stradbroke Island’s indigenous corporation accused of excluding elders
A North Stradbroke Island elder, who was one of six signatories to the area’s 2011 Native Title claim, says traditional owners have not been consulted about land deals that locals fear may change the island forever.
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A former executive of North Stradbroke Island’s Aboriginal corporation has accused it of excluding traditional owners while doing “secret deals” to gain exclusive control of the island.
But the corporation’s chief executive denies the allegations, telling The Courier-Mail that there were no secret deals and the traditional owners had been consulted.
John Tapp worked as a board member on the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation for more than a decade and was one of six signatories to the island’s Native Title claim in 2011.
Mr Tapp, who left the board after 14 years in 2012, claimed that the QYAC had repeatedly failed to consult the community about its plans for the island.
“As traditional owners it is our right to have a say on what happens on our island,” he said. “We were supposed to be consulted on what land would be for development.”
Tensions on the island are again growing after the state government allocated about 300ha of pristine bushland for indigenous development using a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI). The rezoning will allow traditional owners to apply to Redland City Council to develop the site.
Mr Tapp said the land allocation surprised the community, which he alleged was not consulted on the finer details.
“When you keep people in the dark, you don’t know what deals have been done,” he said. “I’m a traditional owner and I haven’t seen any of the detail.”
However, QYAC chief executive Cameron Costello said traditional owners had been consulted.
“Our community engagement included community workshops in 2012 with Quandamooka People and was thorough enough to receive a Planning Institute of Australia award in 2013,” he said.
“As part of consultation, the Quandamooka People you have chosen to publish … both participated in an Elders’ site tour in 2014 discussing the proposed use of the land, they were taken to many lots and advised of the preliminary land use planning advice, and given an opportunity to comment.
“The TLPI is not a secret deal and no development has been proposed for Minjerribah as part of the TLPI.”
The land allocation maps, published in the Government Gazette this week, reveal a large parcel on George Nothling Drive at Point Lookout has been earmarked for a tourism zone, accommodation and community facilities.
The maps also show plans for 34 low-density residential blocks high on the hill overlooking Dunwich at Alfred Martin Way near Rainbow Cres, and more planned for land between Barton, Mallon and Finnegan streets in Mitchell Cres. A marine and conservation area is earmarked off Ballow Rd, behind Adams Beach campsite at Dunwich.