KUR-World: Information for Media
‘KUR-World’ is a development proposal by Macao-based developer Ken Lee, who purchased 12 contiguous rural titles covering 626ha near Kuranda village in 2014.
The ‘KUR-World’ proposal is at an early stage. Because of its size the State Government will consider it directly as an “integrated development”. At this stage, the developer has submitted an Initial Advice Statement (IAS) to the State Government. He has yet to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Locals have major concerns about this proposal – especially its scale and the huge house-building component envisaged in the IAS. More than half of the land is currently forested and the site is of very high environmental significance.
These concerns have been heightened by the developer’s behaviour since he acquired the land. Substantial areas have been cleared and some already land denuded of trees, in what has improbably been described as activities relating to a separate ‘KUR-Cow’ cattle grazing operation. See In-relation-to-WHWTA.pdf and Lawfully-Established-Grazing-Operations.pdf
At a recent public meeting called by the KRPG, a resolution was carried demanding the developer immediately stops work on any new activity and remediates the denuded land urgently, before the next Wet Season due in a few months time.
The KRPG has written to the responsible Minister (Dr Anthony Lynham, Minister for State Development) to bring our concerns to his attention. We have asked the Minister to requite and oversee a requested stop-work and remediation order.
In the longer-term, oif the developer persists with his unrealistic and inappropriate ‘KUR-World’ proposal, the KRPG will insist on the highest environmental standards. This area is, after all, close to the World Heritage Wet Tropics and its creeks drain down to the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef.
The project area encompasses habitat for numerous endangered Wet Tropics species and development on this scale will destroy a strategic corridor for cassowaries. For these reasons and many more the KRPG believes the KUR-World proposal is not an appropriate development for the site in question.
Some in the community suspect it is, in essence, a ruse to secure rezoning of significant areas of the site from rural to residential, thereby generating large windfall profits for the developer.
KUR-ALERT: Peaceful Direct Action in Kuranda – KUR-World / KUR-Cow Open Day 28 October 2018
DATE: 28 October 2018 KUR-ALERT: Peaceful Direct Action in Kuranda - KUR-World / KUR-Cow Open Day Kuranda residents turned out along the roadside at Myola to object to the KUR-World project as buses and private
KUR-ALERT: Rally Wednesday 26 September – peaceful direct action stopped the KUR-Cow bus!
DATE: 30 September 2018 KUR-ALERT: Rally Wednesday 26 September - peaceful direct action stopped the KUR-Cow bus! Wednesday morning was a great example of participatory democracy! Residents and tourists alike say a firm ’NO’ to the urbanisation
MEDIA RELEASE: Globally-distinguished biologist: protecting the Myola Valley is “vital”
DATE: 7 March 2018 MEDIA RELEASE TO: MEDIA LIST Globally-distinguished biologist: protecting the Myola Valley is "vital" The Kuranda community is mobilising to find a suitable conservation buyer for the controversial ‘Barnwell Estate’, in the event
LETTER: RE: Tropical North Queensland Global Tourism Hub (GTH) – Expressions of interest
DATE: 27 February 2018 TO: Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning tropicalnorthqld@dsd.qld.gov.au Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment: 10 Feb 2017 - 11 Dec 2017 Curtis Pitt - Mulgrave@parliament.qld.gov.au
MORE INFO
- KUR-World Community Fact Sheet (PDF)
- KUR-Alert Facebook Page
- Meeting Presentation Videos (50 mins)
- Meeting Presentation Slideshow (20 mins)
- Full KRPG KUR-World documentation
- KUR-World Website
- KUR-World Facebook
- Urban Sync Website (Town Planner working with Ken Lee)
KEY PEOPLE FOR COMMUNITY INFORMATION
| Willie Brim | Resident, Bulwai Cultural Custodian, Bulwai Cultural Heritage Lions Club, Djabugay-Bulway-Yirrgay-Nyakali-Guluy People (QC2015/005) | Spokesperson, Cultural Heritage, environmental, social impacts | |
| Neil Carpenter | Resident, local business | Spokesperson, infrastruture, | |
| Sarah Issacs | Resident, Friends of the Earth Kuranda | Spokesperson, environmental, endangered species, sustainable planning | |
| Bob Madden | Resident, Speewah Residents Association | Spokesperson, | |
| Jo Martin | Resident, kuranda.tv | Research and documentation | |
| Steven Nowakowski | Resident, photographer | Spokesperson, environmental, endangered species, | |
| Garth Owens | Resident, Kuranda District Residents Association, Kuranda Media Association | Spokesperson, social impacts | |
| Cathy Retter | Resident, Kuranda Envirocare | Spokesperson, environmental, endangered species, sustainable planning | |
| Syd Walker | Resident, Friends of the Earth Kuranda | Likes animals | Email 0400 746 932 |
Mass urbanisation of Kuranda will cause massive issues with the sensitive ecology of the Wet Tropics Rainforest Envirolink Corridor. Click image to enlarge
