Airlie Beach’s new fire station: Location concerns cause delay

Objections over the location of a new North Queensland fire station have been labelled as “selfish” and risking lives and properties. Read why the Minister will be asked to step in.

Tensions have erupted within Whitsunday Regional Council chambers over the location of a proposed new $7m fire station.

Those opposing the location of a new $7 million fire station in the Whitsundays have been slammed as “selfish” and placing lives at risk.

Tensions erupted from either side of council chambers as councillors argued back and forth over the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service’s designation of 2-6 Banskia Crt in Cannonvale for a new station with a three-bay engine room, training pad, and storage shed.

The station, to which the state government has committed $7 million, would replace the current one in Jubilee Pocket at 2495 Shute Harbour Rd.

Whitsunday councillor Jan Clifford said the chosen new location was “highly inappropriate” with traffic along Mandalay Rd creating a “life (or) death” situation in emergencies.

Whitsunday Regional Council development services director Neil McGaffin said QFES chose the Cannonvale site as it allowed firefighters to reach fires in Airlie Beach and other Whitsunday areas within the required 15 to 17 minutes.

But Cr Clifford said that time frame was impossible to achieve, adding traffic crashes often gridlocked the main road between Airlie Beach and Cannonvale.

The Jubilee Pocket fire station at 2495 Shute Harbour Rd, Mandalay. Picture: Google

A motion was put before councillors at the ordinary meeting on Wednesday to make a submission to Deputy Premier Steven Miles asking him to address the council’s concerns.

This included asking Mr Miles to “not approve” the designation until a noise and light impact assessment was completed.

Cr Al Grundy said he was also concerned those living near the site had not signed up for a fire station near their homes.

He added the vacant lot would be better put towards medium density and affordable housing for lower-paid hospitality workers who propped up the region’s tourism industry.

Fiercely in opposition was Cr Michelle Wright, who said not supporting the fire station was “selfish” with other Whitsunday towns like Bowen, Collinsville, and Proserpine enduring fire stations in built-up areas.

“I don’t understand how some people think,” Cr Wright said.

“To me, this is saving lives, saving families, saving properties.

“It’s selfish I believe.

“To say we’re not going to approve it … I just can’t fathom.”

The motion was amended to request Mr Miles “defer” rather than “not” approve the fire station, with a further line added to request QFES keep Jubilee Pocket as an auxiliary fire station to meet the needs of a growing population and increased bush fire risks.

The revised motion was unanimously approved.