Toondah Harbour overhaul: Call for major action to be taken before 2032 Olympic Games
Leading southeast Queensland business owners are demanding the state government fast track environmental approvals to ensure an “international embarrassment” is overhauled before the 2032 Olympic Games.
QLD News
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Leading Redlands business owners are demanding the state government fast-track environmental approvals to ensure the “international embarrassment” that is Toondah Harbour is overhauled before the 2032 Olympic Games.
Major businesses, including Sirromet wine baron Terry Morris, have backed a Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce bid to form a lobby group to progress infrastructure within the region.
The group has blasted the Toondah Harbour eyesore, which will be visited by tens of thousands of Olympics spectators.
They are calling for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to “sprinkle some Olympics gold dust” and ensure development approvals are fast-tracked so the project can be completed within the decade.
“It’s fantastic Redlands has secured the white water events for 2032, but it’s frightening to think that when spectators want to explore our beautiful Moreton Bay Islands and beyond they will be met by one of the most dilapidated harbours in the country,” Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce president Rebecca Young said.
“We fully support the development plans put forward to turn Toondah Harbour into a thriving community supporting hundreds of new jobs, which will be a modern gateway to Straddie for international and national tourists.”
Ms Young anticipated the commonwealth would soon approve the development and said it was vital the state followed.
“When the federal government gives Toondah Harbour the green light we are asking the Premier and her Olympics ministers to sprinkle some Olympics gold dust on the Redlands,” she said.
“We need to ensure the state government fast-tracks any approvals so there is no further delay to getting the development underway.”
She said the Toondah Harbour development could benefit the region without costing taxpayers.
“Everybody is competing for government infrastructure funds to prepare for the Olympics but Toondah Harbour is a privately funded project that will deliver billions in private investment for the Redlands and sell our community to the world,” she said.
“It must be fast-tracked.”
Research conducted by Redlands Chamber of Commerce found the region had a $6bn pipeline of infrastructure projects that are set to create more than 12,000 construction jobs.
Opponents of the project argue the environmental cost of the development is significant.
BirdLife Australia public affairs manager Sean Dooley called for the commonwealth to knock back the development.
“The current Walker Corporation plans for Toondah Harbour still propose to destroy Ramsar listed wetlands that are vital feeding habitat for critically endangered migratory shorebirds,” Mr Dooley said.
“To undermine a global conservation agreement for the sake of luxury apartments beggars belief and would be unprecedented.”
Originally published as Toondah Harbour overhaul: Call for major action to be taken before 2032 Olympic Games
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