Environment Minister to determine fate of scenic boardwalk along dangerous Straddie beach cliff

A group of indigenous elders want the federal environment minister to stop a boardwalk being built on a dangerous North Stradbroke Island cliff, where serious accidents have occurred, because the area is culturally significant.

The cliff-side boardwalk will connect to the existing boardwalk at Point Lookout. Picture: Google Earth.

The future of a $5.35 million boardwalk being built along treacherous but scenic coastline on Minjerribah North Stradbroke Island hangs in the balance after claims construction has destroyed culturally significant sites.

Eight Quandamooka elders have called on federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to invoke her powers and immediately stop the 350m walkway, being built above Frenchman’s Beach.

The group claimed the boardwalk, due to open next month, was “nothing short of a disaster”.

They said it had encroached on the Point Lookout Foreshore Public Reserve, which was heritage listed.

The works traversed an area where a man became a paraplegic in 2010 after falling 20m to the beach below.

The site overlooking Frenchman’s Beach where a man fell 20m to the beach below in 2010. Picture: Judith Kerr

“There has also been excessive vegetation removal, which has caused topsoil and drainage issues that is causing damage to intangible cultural heritage areas that hold great significance to Quandamooka peoples,” the group said.

“The application to the minister calls for an urgent decision to halt the works currently under way in order to protect the site from further destruction until a decision on our Section 10 application is made.”

The group, including some who are not part of the island’s indigenous governing body the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, applied for an emergency ministerial declaration to stop construction.

Under sections 9, 10 and 18 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, the minister has the power to protect culturally significant areas for up to 30 years, or to temporarily stop construction work.

The Environment Department said the request would be assessed under section 9 of the Act, which allowed the minister the right to call for works to stop for 30 days.

The stairs from Mooloomba Rd to Frenchman’s Beach have been upgraded as part of the boardwalk project on Minjerribah. Picture: Contributed.

Redland City Council, which is constructing the pathway, launched an investigation into the claims about the land but work continued at the site last week.

The council said it was not aware of any damage to artefacts and had consulted with the land owner, Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, before construction.

It said the boardwalk would provide environmental and cultural heritage protection to the area and also help to ensure walkers did not harm the site.

“The works are largely contained within an existing, disturbed area of land and involve the replacement of beach access stairs and track,” the council said.

The council used on-site cultural heritage experts, known as spotters, to monitor works under an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Survey and Management Plan.

Eight island elders have called on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to stop a boardwalk from being built on headland at Minjerribah North Stradbroke Island, claiming the removal of trees was environmental vandalism. Picture: Supplied

Councillor for the island, Peter Mitchell, said the council had been “pristine” in handling the cultural heritage matters at the site.

“We engaged with QYAC at every step of the way and had spotters on site looking for artefacts of cultural significance, which is part of the process and a legal obligation,” Mr Mitchell said.

“The most recent claims that came through were a surprise but will be taken seriously.

“They triggered another series of assessments and both a legal and operational process … and there is a really involved process now which (could) interrupt works, but so be it.

“If the council becomes aware that there are matters of cultural heritage significance, there are some very serious penalties if you ignore or even inadvertently disturb a site.”

The scenic view from one of the viewing platforms along the nearly completed boardwalk. Picture: Contributed.

Mr Mitchell said he was unsure if there had been a stop work order, but said if the site was found to have significant cultural heritage works would have to stop “while matters were properly investigated from a legal and cultural heritage perspective”.

Island businessman and Chamber of Commerce president, Colin Battersby, said the boardwalk would be a major boon for tourism.

He said the boardwalk would connect Frenchman’s Beach to the Point Lookout village, with plans to eventually extend the pathway to Cylinder Beach and the pub.

Which way? The new boardwalk will link to Point Lookout and eventually to Cylinder Beach.

“It will really connect people to the existing gorge walks and shops at Point Lookout and mean many more people will be able to enjoy the magnificent scenery,” he said.

“When the boardwalk project is fully completed, people will be able to safely walk from the pub and Cylinder Beach all the way to Point Lookout.

“The project was signed off by the indigenous group QYAC, who own the land, so the claims that it would damage cultural heritage were unexpected.

“This stretch of boardwalk is so close to being finished it would be a waste of money if it did not open, or had to be removed.”

Mr Battersby said the cantilevered walkway would also make it safer for people to walk along the scenic beachfront cliff where the man fell and became a paraplegic.

The plea to the minister was the second from the eight elders, who called for Ms Plibersek to step in and stop a whale watching centre being built on the Point Lookout Headland in 2021.

The whale watching centre was shelved last year, with the money allocation rolled into a cultural and arts centre to be built on the island at Dunwich.