Kuranda Conservation is currently seeking support for a Rainforest Trust SAVES Application to bring BARNWELL 626ha into conservation upon the next sale of the land parcel.
—
To find out more about the Rainforest Trust SAVES program that aims to create new protected areas and expand existing ones for Critically Endangered and Endangered species, click here to visit the webpage.
To find out more about Kuranda Conservation and it’s vital work in the region, click here to visit the webpage.
—
- CURRENT STATUS: Submitted to Rainforest Trust, 1 March 2018
- APPLICATION: SAVES Partnership Application 2018 – MYOLA VALLEY 626HA
- LAND OVERVIEW: 626ha MYOLA VALLEY WET TROPICS BIOREGION (PDF 20 pages)
- EPBC THREATENED SPECIES:
EPBC Act, Matters of National Environment Significance, within 10km of SITE, -16.828320, 145.600551 *detailed surveys in ATTACHMENTS below
ENDORSEMENTS FROM SCIENTISTS, GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
- Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery – Cover letter for SAVES application
- Distinguished Professor Bill Laurance
- Department of Environment and Science
- Wet Tropics Management Authority
- Birdlife Australia
- Mareeba Shire Council
- BULWAI Traditional Owner – Willie Brim
- Cairns and Far North Environment Centre
- Kuranda Envirocare
- Cassowary Keystone Conservation
- Friends of the Earth FNQ
- KUR-Alert Inc
SITE ‘Alternative Uses – Project Alternatives’,
KUR-World CRG Minutes (6th meeting, October 2017)
http://www.kur-world.com/files/media/original/079/6ff/9dc/171004-KUR-World-CRG-Minutes-v10.pdf

ATTACHMENTS
- EPBC ATTACHMENT E: REPORT ON FROG SURVEYS OF BARNWELL ROAD HOLDINGS – Dr Conrad Hoskin
- Appendix 1. Vertebrate species recorded on the property during the survey period (page 15-16)
- Wildlife Online Extract – Rare and threatened species
- EPBC Act Protected Matters Report
- 2016-7710-Referral-Part3-ATTACHMENT-F-KURANDA-TREE-FROG-EXTENTS
- 2016-7710-Referral-Part3-ATTACHMENT-G-AUSTRALIAN-LACELID-EXTENTS
- 2016-7710-Referral-Part3-ATTACHMENT-H-MYOLA PALM-RECORDS
- 2016-7710-Referral-Part3-ATTACHMENT-I-CASSOWARY-ESSENTIAL-HABITAT
- 2016-7710-Referral-Part3-ATTACHMENT-J-APPENDIX-A-NRM-VEGETATION-MAPPING
- 2016-7710-Referral-Part3-ATTACHMENT-J-APPENDIX-B-FLORA-TRIGGER-MAP
- 2016-7710-Referral-Part3-ATTACHMENT-J-APPENDIX-C-LETTER-TO-EHP-ADVISING-PRIOR-CLEARING
- 2016-7710-Referral-Part3-ATTACHMENT-J-FLORA-SURVEY-REPORT


Distinguished Professor Bill Laurance TESS JCU, speaking about the Wet Tropics generally, then the Myola Valley specifically:
“On the Australian continent, we’re talking about 1,000th of Australia’s continental land area.
A major analysis which looked at the biogeographic and the biological uniqueness and irreplaceability of different ecosystems on the planet – this was over 173,000 different protected areas on the planet – ranked the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area as the 6th most critical and irreplaceable.
Of World Heritage Areas, it was the 2nd most critical and irreplaceable. I think this gives you global perspective on what we’re talking about here.
Anybody, from anywhere on the planet, looking around would say this is absolutely critical biological and environmental real estate.
You would not want to risk it – from an International, from a global perspective – for lots of different reasons.”
…
“KUR-World… I want to provide some general perspectives on this.
Again, one of the obvious things is being, this is by any measure, one of the most biologically critical areas of the planet. It’s renowned for having all these rare, endemic species.
These are things that can occur in a very, very tiny part of the world.
[pictured] These are some of the species that have been documented to be restricted or rare or localised endemics that occur within this general area, within the [KUR-World] project area.”
…
“Landscape context. Bio-geographic context is critical. What we’re in right here is really one of the critical bottlenecks. It’s really the critical bottleneck – the so called Black Mountain Bio-Geographic Corridor and it’s the narrowest choke point for the Wet Tropics.”
…
“What you generally don’t want in these bottlenecks is you don’t want to elevate land use pressures. You don’t want to choke these bottlenecks even further by additional kinds of development pressures.”
To read more video transcript excerpts, click here
To download Presentation Slideshow PDF, click here

COMMUNITY RESEARCH, REFERENCE DOCS & VIDEOS
- KUR-ALERT Inc Info Pack Oct 17 (PDF 22 pages)
- Wet Tropics Cassowary Status 2017 (PDF 6 pages)
- Save the Cassowary Crowdfund (PDF 37 pages)
- KUR-Cow, KUR-World in Relation to Land Preparation to KUR-World Master Plan ahead of any approvals (PDF 114 pages)
- KUR-Cow, KUR-World Lawfully Established Grazing Operations (PDF 43 pages)
- KUR-Cow, KUR-World-Barnwell 12 Rural Titles In relation to WHWTA (PDF 33 pages)
- KUR-World- Dam-bacle The Video, July 2016 (PDF 89 pages)
- Kuranda Region Planning Group KUR WORLD Northern Zone Correction August 2016 (PDF 2 pages)
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RALLY AGAINST KUR WORLD KURANDA 26 MAR 2017 - Jax Bergersen
KUR-Anda's Best Kept Secret... find out more. get informed.
Save the Myola Valley, Kuranda Envirolink Corridor, Bama Bulmba
Campaign page: www.kurandaregion.org/kur-world
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kur-alert -
STOP KUR-World Fundraiser July 2017 welcomes Distinguished Professor Bill Laurance
STOP KUR-WORLD FUNDRAISER, Friday 28 July 2017 welcomes Distinguished Professor Bill Laurance from TESS – Centre for Tropical Environmental Sustainability Science
Speaking at Kuranda Amphitheatre Understage
MC resident Cheryl Tonkin
All event videos, excerpt transcripts:
http://www.kurandaregion.org/stop-kur-world-fundraiser-27-july-2017-presentation-videos/
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William Laurance is a Distinguished Research Professor at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia, and holds an Australian Laureate Fellowship, one of Australia’s highest scientific awards. He also holds the Prince Bernhard Chair in International Nature Conservation at Utrecht University, Netherlands.
Laurance received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1989. His research focuses on the impacts of intensive land-uses, such as habitat fragmentation, logging, hunting and wildfires, on tropical forests and their biodiversity. He is also interested in protected areas, climatic change, the impacts of roads and other infrastructure on biodiversity, and conservation policy. His research over the past 35 years spans the tropical world, including the Amazon, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions. To date he has published eight books and over 400 scientific and popular articles.
A leading voice for conservation, Laurance believes that scientists must actively engage policy makers and the general public, as well as other scientists. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and former president of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
Laurance has received many scientific honors including the BBVA Frontiers in Ecology and Conservation Biology Award, a Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Conservation Biology, and the Heineken Environment Prize. He is also founder and director of ALERT—the Alliance of Leading Environmental Researchers & Thinkers, a group that advocates for environmental sustainability.
1. Why Roads Are So Dangerous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwwlxlMoVVQ
2. Why Roads Are Like Pandora’s Box
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfnLb091HY
3. Why Nations Can Lose Big Money on Big Projects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWQxOq4aMUU
4. Why Big Projects Can Turn Into A Giant Gamble
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEDOF0WqgfQ
Here’s the link for joining ALERT (http://www.alert-conservation.org). You simply enter your email at the top of the page to receive our blogs automatically. -
STOP KUR World Fundraiser 28 July Denis Walls CAFNEC, AQUIS AWARE , Questions and Comments session
STOP KUR-WORLD FUNDRAISER Friday 28 July 2017 welcomes
Denis Walls, CAFNEC President and member for over 20 years (Cairns and Far North Environment Centre) and AQUIS campaigner (Aquis Aware Coalition of Concerned Citizens)
Denis discusses the various strategies used in the AQUIS campaign - successes, pitfalls and suggestions for our local STOP KUR-WORLD campaign.
Speaking at Kuranda Amphitheatre Understage
MC resident Cheryl Tonkin
All event videos:
www.kurandaregion.org/stop-kur-world-fundraiser-27-july-2017-presentation-videos/
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STOP KUR World Fundraiser 28 July 2017 Cameron Murray
STOP KUR-WORLD FUNDRAISER, Friday 28 July 2017 welcomes
Dr Cameron Murray presenting important information about "grey corruption" based on his new book "Game of Mates: How favours bleed the nation".
Find out more about how "the system" is oriented toward profits for a few, and away from projects that benefit the Australian general public, ie. ratepayers/ taxpayers.
6:40
This book Game of Mates is about communicating all the lessons I learnt in that 4-5 years of studying what I call “Grey Corruption”.
Now let me be clear. This is not illegal corruption. Grey Corruption is the totally legal and routine political favouritism that is completely unethical and costs the rest of us.
And that’s what’s particularly rife in Queensland and the rest of Australia.
It’s not that everyone is out there breaking the laws. It’s that they’re writing the laws to favour themselves and their mates.
This is what the book is about. If I was going to sum it up:
- How the game of Grey Corruption is played
- How much it costs
- What we can do about it
10:40
6 major areas in South East Queensland … the planning powers were taken from the Councils by the State Government, through at the time, what was called the Urban Land Development Authority in order to fast track development and increase density. The result of doing that also increased the value of the land. Now, the ULDA, this statutory body was initially designed to fast track the development of underutilised State owned sites. It got used instead to rezone privately owned sites.
Speaking at Kuranda Amphitheatre Understage
MC resident Cheryl Tonkin
All event videos:
www.kurandaregion.org/stop-kur-world-fundraiser-27-july-2017-presentation-videos/
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STOP KUR-World Fundraiser July 2017 welcomes Steven Nowakowski
STOP KUR-WORLD FUNDRAISER, Friday 28 July 2017 welcomes
resident Steven Nowakowski with imagery showing the earthworks (including dam), damaged Kuranda Treefrog habitat, land clearing and site overview.
Speaking at Kuranda Amphitheatre Understage
MC resident Cheryl Tonkin
All event videos:
www.kurandaregion.org/stop-kur-world-fundraiser-27-july-2017-presentation-videos/
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KUR-ALERT, KUR-WORLD, KUR-COW: MAREEBA SHIRE WATER RESTRICTIONS 2017
AUGUST 2017
WATER RESTRICTIONS IN MAREEBA SHIRE
PRE KUR-WORLD / DEVELOPMENT OF MYOLA VALLEY, KURANDA
PDF: http://kurandaregion.org/content/uploads/2017/08/KUR-ALERT-KUR-WORLD-KUR-COW-MAREEBA-SHIRE-WATER-RESTRICTIONS-2017.pdf -
RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD KURANDA 26 OCT 2017 - MoZach
KUR-Anda's Best Kept Secret... find out more. get informed.
Save the Myola Valley, Kuranda Envirolink Corridor, Bama Bulmba
Campaign page: www.kurandaregion.org/kur-world
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kur-alert -
RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD KURANDA 26 MAR 17 -Willie Brim, Buluwai Traditional Owner/Cultural Custodian
KUR-Anda's Best Kept Secret... find out more. get informed.
Save the Myola Valley, Kuranda Envirolink Corridor, Bama Bulmba
Campaign page: www.kurandaregion.org/kur-world
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kur-alert -
RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD KURANDA 26 MAR 2017 - Syd Walker
KUR-Anda's Best Kept Secret... find out more. get informed.
Save the Myola Valley, Kuranda Envirolink Corridor, Bama Bulmba
Campaign page: www.kurandaregion.org/kur-world
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kur-alert -
RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD KURANDA 26 MAR 2017 - Steven Nowakowski
KUR-Anda's Best Kept Secret... find out more. get informed.
Save the Myola Valley, Kuranda Envirolink Corridor, Bama Bulmba
Campaign page: www.kurandaregion.org/kur-world
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kur-alert -
RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD KURANDA 26 MAR 2017 - Margaret Pestorius
KUR-Anda's Best Kept Secret... find out more. get informed.
Save the Myola Valley, Kuranda Envirolink Corridor, Bama Bulmba
Campaign page: www.kurandaregion.org/kur-world
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kur-alert -
KUR-WORLD, KUR-COW, BARNWELL - Endangered species habitat destroyed by unpermitted dam earthworks
Surveys for endangered frogs and other wildlife on Barnwell Road Holdings - REPORT APR 2016.
Dr Conrad Hoskin:
"The red shaded area is a creek that probably had Litoria myola but is now filled with sediment from the dam."
Video footage JUL 2016 -
RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD KURANDA 26 MAR 2017 - Cameron Boyd
KUR-Anda's Best Kept Secret... find out more. get informed.
Save the Myola Valley, Kuranda Envirolink Corridor, Bama Bulmba
Campaign page: www.kurandaregion.org/kur-world
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kur-alert -
7 Local News Cairns - 27/03/17
The region's leading news network.
Every week night at 6PM on 7 and 7 Live: http://www.7live.com.au
Replay at 6:30PM on 7TWO.
Have video, pics, or a news tip?
Visit: http://7queensland.com.au/ -
RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD: Highway Awareness Campaign Pop-up Rallies
CHALLENGE: how to raise maximum awareness about KURANDA'S BEST KEPT SECRET with a budget of $0.00.
In the month leading up to the public Rally Against KUR-World...
we took to the Kennedy Highway in KUR-Anda to raise awareness.
It was a great experience for our team to hear the enormous support via HONKS... we sampled data and calculated 120 HONKS per hour!! 2 per minute on average. -
KURANDA - Willie Brim Video Message - RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD - SUNDAY 10.30am 26 MARCH
Video message from Willie Brim about RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD - SUNDAY 10.30am 26 MARCH.
Wille Brim: "Please turn up and support because this is about our future. Your future. Your children's future." -
Evolution & Ecology of the Kuranda Treefrog : Dr Conrad Hoskin
Questions session
Evolution & Ecology of the Kuranda Treefrog
Dr Conrad Hoskin, College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University
presentation Kuranda Recreation Centre 18 March 2017 -
Evolution & Ecology of the Kuranda Treefrog : Dr Conrad Hoskin
Evolution & Ecology of the Kuranda Treefrog
Dr Conrad Hoskin, College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University
presentation Kuranda Recreation Centre 18 March 2017 -
RALLY AGAINST KUR-WORLD KURANDA 26 MARCH 2017
KUR-Anda's Best Kept Secret... find out more. get informed.
Save the Myola Valley, Kuranda Envirolink Corridor, Bama Bulmba
Campaign page: www.kurandaregion.org/kur-world
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kur-alert -
KUR-World, KUR-Cow, Reever and Ocean: SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAWS 18 HOLE PGA GOLF COURSE - SHORT
KUR-World Initial Advice Statement - with Master Plan http://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/KUR-World%20Integrated%20Eco-resort/IAS/kur-world-ias.pdf -
KUR-WORLD "OPEN DAY" - ABC RADIO FAR NORTH KIER SHOREY talks with CATHY RETTER 20 FEB 2017
Cathy Retter from Kuranda Envirocare on ABC Far North with Kier Shorey 20 February 2017
-------------------
discussing KUR-World 'Open Day' held Saturday 18 February 17 -
KUR-World - KUR-Anda says "No Thanks" Campaign - you can take our signs....
STOP KUR-WORLD campaign signs have been removed from road sides. -
KUR-ALERT: What kind of "eco" is KUR-WORLD?
What does it take to be an "eco" resort? What is ecotourism anyway? Is KUR-World an "eco"-resort or urbanisation-by-stealth?
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TOPIC: Would the proposed KUR-World development create jobs for Kuranda locals?
http://kurandaregion.org/topic-would-the-proposed-kur-world-development-create-jobs-for-kuranda-locals/
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KUR-MYTH: There are meaningful jobs for locals
http://kurandaregion.org/kur-myth-there-are-meaningful-jobs-for-locals/
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TOPIC: KUR-World & Jobs: net gain or loss?
http://kurandaregion.org/kur-world-myth-kur-world-jobs-net-gain-or-loss/
KUR-MYTH PRECEDENT SERIES: Paradise Palms - Kewarra Beach
http://kurandaregion.org/kur-myth-kur-world-fluffy-master-plan-precedent-series-kewarra-beach-paradise-palms/
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KUR-WORLD - INITIAL ADVICE STATEMENT (IAS)
http://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/KUR-World%20Integrated%20Eco-resort/IAS/kur-world-ias.pdf
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WIKIPEDIA - ECOTOURISM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism
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“FAVOURS FOR MATES” RIFE IN QUEENSLAND PLANNING - BY DR CAMERON MURRAY
http://westender.com.au/peak-inside-shady-world-favours-mates-queensland-planning/
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KUR-World, KUR-Cow, Reever and Ocean: SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAWS 18 HOLE PGA GOLF COURSE
KUR-World Initial Advice Statement - with Master Plan http://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/KUR-World%20Integrated%20Eco-resort/IAS/kur-world-ias.pdf -
KUR-World, KUR-Cow, BARNWELL: Geraldine McGuire: countries where there is no law
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KUR-World, KUR-Cow, BARNWELL: Craig Crawford - Barron River - public record request correction
CONRAD HOSKIN REPORT:
http://epbcnotices.environment.gov.au/_entity/annotation/edd0b23b-0b26-e611-bb47-005056ba00a8/a71d58ad-4cba-48b6-8dab-f3091fc31cd5?t=1468056983993
KUR-WORLD MASTER PLAN:
http://www.kur-world.com/files/media/original/003/957/2c3/KUR-World-Master-Plan.pdf -
KUR-World, KUR-Cow, BARNWELL: Craig Crawford, Tom Gilmore, Mark Lawson
Is approval required by Mareeba Shire Council? Who is representing Kuranda Region residents? -
KUR-World, KUR-Cow, BARNWELL: Geraldine McGuire acknowledging what they've done is not right
Geraldine McGuire talks at the Kuranda Public Meeting 26 October 2016 about how she acknowledges that "what they've done isn't right" and that trust with us, the Kuranda communities, is relevant. -
ABC RADIO FAR NORTH KIER SHOREY STEVEN NOWAKOWSKI 13 JAN 2017
Kier Shorey:
Professional landscape photographer and Kuranda resident Steven Nowakowski joins us now to take us through the latest. First let’s set the scene – where are we talking about – can you describe exactly what the issues are when it comes to what the rainfall has highlighted there.
Steven Nowakowski:
Recent rain event has impacted on critical creeks in Myola, Kuranda
Endangered species habitat for Kuranda Tree Frog
The KUR-World proponent, Ken Lee, has built a dam. Footprint of 3 acres.
The Mareeba Shire Council retrospectively approved it.
We would like to see the creek cleaned up.
We need to talk about the KUR-World project in its entirety.
It’s far from an “eco-resort”.
Proposed to be a 373 block urban subdivision, 18 hole golf course clearing parts of the creek, equestrian centre, 3 ½ star resort, a motel.
The “eco-resort” is slated for Stage 3 of the project and this may never happen.
120ha clearing, prime rainforest habitat, home to many endangered species, and a vital corridor for the endangered cassowary.
This area has now been barb wire fenced, for the containment of cattle, which prohibits the movement of many species in that area.
Ken Lee recently flew in potential investors. The Cairns Post states that potentially some of the investors were the Kwok brothers. Just published last year on ABC Four Corners the Kwok brothers were named in the Panama Papers. They were charged for bribery in Hong Kong.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2016/04/04/4434529.htm
Kier Shorey:
It’s the sort of development also that many people in the area will look towards as a way to create jobs , development, economic growth which is needed – can both be achieved simultaneously?
Steven Nowakowski:
Building 373 residential houses in Kuranda is not going to increase the number of jobs. It will actually decrease the number of jobs – there will be more people in the region wanting to look for jobs. There may be some short term jobs in terms of the construction phase – then why should we the community, the landscape, the animals, the environment have to live with the long term legacy of this huge inappropriate development.
Not enough jobs to sustain the population growth. We’re talking about doubling the Kuranda population within 5 years.
Kier Shorey:
You’re calling on the State government to intercede, who are currently considering the proposal, considering the environmental impact.
Steven Nowakowski:
There is the EIS in play at the moment. There’s a number of issues that need to be addressed. Such as the impact on the Kuranda Range Road with the doubling of the Kuranda population overnight. Environmental issues. Social issues. This KUR-World project is going to have another shopping centre, another shopping village, which is going to impact on the socio-economic structure of Kuranda village as we know it. So, there’s lots issues there that have to be addressed.
Kier Shorey:
We’ll be following up. We’ll put in calls to the developer and their representatives as well to get a response to these concerns. Steven, appreciate your time this morning. Steven Nowakowski, Kuranda resident, and photographer highlighting the issues in those particular two creeks, home to the Kuranda Tree Frog. -
KUR-WORLD, KUR-Cow PUBLIC MEETING KURANDA - 26 OCT 16 - INTRO BY CHAIR/KUR-WORLD TEAM
INTRO – CATHY RETTER
MARK LAWSON – KUR-World Project Manager
- Team – Simon Danielsen Environmental Manager, Geraldine McGuire Community Engagement, Nathan Lee Long Infrastructure Services, Harry Sou Chief Operations Officer
- Outline of EIS – 12 month process, baseline studies, identify potential impacts on land and community
- Outline of eco-tourism resort outline – north and south zones, heavily developed areas on northern zone, southern zone relatively untouched, precinct descriptions
- Coordinated Project – state is managing the complex approval process
- Currently setting up Community Reference Group
- August 2017 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Construction wouldn’t commence until June 2018 at the earliest
Difference between activities on Barnwell now and proposal under KUR-World
“The owner has the right to 1. The right to continue the use of the land as a cattle farm. And 2, the right to change the existing use of the land.”
Project Manager: “Stage 1 consists of 50 Farmstay lots, a 3 star hotel, a aquatic centre, no not aquatic centre, a horse centre and a golf course.”
EIS is broken up into 3 areas: Environment impacts, Infrastructure impacts, Community impacts
Water, sewer, cultural heritage, jobs, flora, fauna form part of EIS process
All meeting videos and notes:
http://kurandaregion.org/kuranda-public-meeting-kur-world-26-october-2016/