Cricket legend calls for Straddie better planning after land deal

Straddie is in peril of becoming a rich man’s playground at one end of the island but a humpy town at the other after a massive secretive land release was unveiled yesterday. But cricket legend Matthew Hayden, who owns a property there, says there’s a way for it to become a win-win situation.

Land will be released at Straddie with landowners concerned there is not enough planning.

Straddie is in peril of becoming a rich man’s playground at one end of the island but a humpy town at the other after a massive secretive land release was unveiled yesterday.

STRADDIE LAND RELEASE DEAL

Landowners and residents were speaking out after the surprise announcement and state government gazettal of the land on Monday.

The release, which is being overseen by the island’s indigenous Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, will include the subdivision of 25 parcels of land into more than 200 residential blocks at Dunwich and Amity.

It will also include land to develop into community centres, a marine hub and an eco resort.

Cricket legend Matthew Hayden, who owns a house on North Stradbroke Island, said the massive land release across the island was “unavoidable” but would not work without more infrastructure and consultation.

Cricket legend Matty Hayden at his island home on North Stradbroke Island.

He said proper planning was needed before hundreds of residential lots were released at the township of Amity where waterfront erosion is being held back by a massive rock wall.

The cricketing star, who bought his waterfront property in 1999, said he hoped the island’s indigenous Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, which owns the land, will consult with Redland City Council, the state government and local businesses.

“If done properly, this could be a win-win situation as there is only finite land and it is really paradise – it’s got everything here,” he said.

Grace Hayden jumps off a rock wall, which is holding back erosion at Amity on Straddie.

“But if there is no planning and the (rock) wall is not adequately maintained there would be a genuine threat to the entire community.

“I want the island to be a legacy for my kids and at some point you have to trust the collaboration between government and QYAC.”

However, he disagreed with the claims the residential land releases would result in a real estate rift with Point Lookout prices soaring while Dunwich values tanked.

Long-time property owner of units at Point Lookout Ted Wearne said the land release would “f*ck up the island” with multimillion-dollar property price tags on desirable locations pricing locals out of the market.

Stradbroke Island landowner ted Wearne who has owned property on the island for more than 20 years, said the land deal could f*ck up Straddie if a release strategy was not drawn up.

He said more housing would bring more people and much-needed services but a tourism strategy was needed to provide the residents with jobs.

“At one end of the island will be Point Lookout with its million-dollar views where land prices will only ever go up,” he said.

“But at the other end, Amity and Dunwich have the propensity to become humpy towns with blocks going on the market with no views, no water or electricity and near swamp.

“These blocks will be for those who can’t afford anywhere else and without the adequate services and infrastructure it could end up as slums.

“bringing in day-trippers who will only go to Point Lookout won’t save the island.”

Long-time Dunwich resident Bill Giles said the success of the land releases on the island’s fortunes after sand mining, would depend on the business acumen of QYAC.

Cameron Costello, CEO of North Stradbroke Island's Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, QYAC says the land deal will bring about much-needed residential land for indigenous people.

However, he said the registered charity had posted dismal financial figures in its 2018-19 annual report with a massive $13,805,011 in liabilities outstripping its $12,638,195 in assets.

“I have no faith in QYAC’s business skills at the moment and they have not been consultative with the wider community,” he said.

“A professional developer needs to come in and take over all of these residential and building projects so that the island does not end up with a real estate mess.”

QYAC chief executive Cameron Costello said the land deal would provide much-needed housing for indigenous people and form the basis for island businesses after sand mining.

“The next step is for Quandamooka people to develop a land allocation policy and that will be a thorough consultative process that will require native title holder consent,” he said.

“Any proposals by Quandamooka people for infrastructure such as new housing or community

facilities will still have to comply with the State Government’s planning laws and be assessed

against Council’s planning rules.”