Difference of views at North Stradbroke whale-watching centre

A stoush is brewing on Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island over plans for a whale-watching centre on ­Point Lookout.

Clara Durbidge and Dale Ruska at the site of a planned whale-watching centre at North Stradbroke Island’s Point Lookout. Picture: Stuart Quinn

A stoush is brewing on Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island over plans for a whale-watching centre on the ­unspoilt Point Lookout headland.

The first many locals knew of the $3 million development ­slated for construction this year was when survey pegs appeared in the ground. The site is frequented by wildlife and overlooks clear waters filled with migrating whales, pods of dolphins and turtles.

Protesters will gather today to oppose the project, which they say lacks detail and threatens to destroy the visual amenity of a popular walk on the headland.

The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, Australia’s largest pre­scribed body corporate, was granted native title rights in 2011 over the island, known as Minjerribah, giving it control of the headland.

The whale-watching centre, which would house a humpback whale skeleton that washed up on the island in 2011, is one of 23 projects proposed by QYAC and the state government, which is striving to build the island’s tourism ­offerings after it brought forward the closure of the sand mining industry to this year.

The island, about 40km east of Brisbane, has developed an international reputation, attracting ­celebrities including Matt Damon and Chris Hemsworth, who visited last year.

Recently retired professional surfer Bede Durbidge, who grew up on the island and will take part in today’s protest, told The Weekend Australian that the centre would be an “eyesore”.

Durbidge, 35, said he backed the idea of the whale centre but not at the proposed location. He said the building would be less prominent at a cleared site ­nearby on the rugged headland.

“It would be a bit of an eyesore, I feel,” he said. “When you walk out there now you see the natural beauty. You’re standing there and there’s nothing there and you’re looking out over the Pacific. It’s a great idea … I just don’t know why they want to put it there in the best part of the whole island.”

QYAC chief executive Cameron Costello said the site was disturbed before, having been the location of a tennis court in the 1980s, and had been identified as appropriate in a conservation man­agement plan.

Mr Costello said the design of the centre would not be ­obtrusive and would incorporate community feedback.

“From our perspective, the current site is a much better site (than the suggested alternative) because it offers a view of the ­migrating whales,” he said.

“There will be extensive consultation about the design. There are different opinions but most of our mob are excited by it.”

More than 17,000 people have signed a petition, started by Durbidge’s sister Clara Durbidge, ­opposing the project. Ms Durbidge said she was worried the centre could lead to other works on the head­land, which the community had learned to value and protect. “There isn’t a tennis court there now because we are less ignorant of what we were back in the day,” she said.

Local indigenous man Dale Ruska said the QYAC and government had “not taken any ­notice” of community concerns.

“There is quite a large sector of the community against it,” he said. “The headland is still uniquely natural and it would be good to leave it like that.”