Fight erupts over site of North Stradbroke Island whale centre

Surf star Bede Durbidge and indigenous elder Dale Ruska have thrown their weight behind a protest rally against plans for a multimillion-dollar whale interpretative centre on a “sacred site” on North Stradbroke Island.

SURF star Bede Durbidge has thrown his weight behind a protest rally against plans for a multimillion-dollar whale interpretative centre on a “sacred site” on North Stradbroke Island.

Durbidge, a former world No.2 surfer who is now coaching Australia’s Olympic surfing squad, is one of Straddy’s favourite sons and will be part of the “peaceful protest” at Pt Lookout tomorrow morning.

More than 17,000 people have signed an online petition opposing the headland site earmarked for the centre, a joint venture by the State Government and local Quandamooka people as part of plans to transition North Stradbroke’s economy from sand mining to tourism.

The centre would feature a 16m humpback whale skeleton, salvaged from the island’s Main Beach in 2011.

Bede Durbidge says he supports the centre being built but thinks it should be at another site. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Durbidge says he supports the proposed centre but not on the Pt Lookout headland, claiming it will ruin one of Queensland’s most iconic spots.

“I’m all for the whale interpretative centre but just not at that site,” he told The Courier-Mail.

“It’s the most iconic spot on Straddy and one of the most iconic in Queensland and I just can’t get my head around the fact that they want to put it there on top of the headland.”

Durbidge, who lives on the Gold Coast but was born and raised on Straddy, said his grandmother Ellie had fought to preserve the island’s natural beauty and he and his sister Clara — who is organising the protest — were determined to continue her legacy.

Dale Ruska opposes the site of the multimillion-dollar whale interpretative centre. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Ms Durbidge and North Stradbroke indigenous elder Dale Ruska said the protest was not against the interpretative centre but against its proposed location.

They said the heritage-­listed site had cultural, spiritual and environmental significance and was “sacred”.

“Many local community members believe that there has been no community consultation … and no alternative site locations have been explored,” they said.

Bede Durbidge believes the interpretative centre should be built south of the headland, at the end of the island’s famed Gorge Walk.

A State Government spokesman said the centre would take up less than 1ha of the 63ha Pt Lookout reserve, with a “minimal footprint” and be “culturally and environmentally sensitive”. He said community consultation was ongoing.

Originally published as Fight erupts over site of North Stradbroke Island whale centre