From: Ann Harth
Subject: Kur-world
Date: 19 August 2016 
To: Queensland State Premier

I am writing as a long-term resident of Speewah concerned about the Kur-world development proposed near Kuranda. I was disappointed that none of the invited government representatives attended the Kuranda Region Planning meeting on 11 August 2016 as this is a matter of deep concern to many of your constituents.

The lack of information forthcoming from all levels of government is disturbing so I feel I must approach you directly.

The severe negative impacts of a development of this nature far outweigh any economic and employment benefits for our community and our diverse and valuable environment.

Some of these are:

  • The displacement of endangered species is a given with a development of this size and nature, and the damage to the delicate and unique ecosystem will be irreversible.
  • The infrastructure cannot come close to handling the potential doubling of the residential population and the range and types of activities planned. Water, sewerage and roads will need upgrading and the cost and additional damage to even more environmentally sensitive areas can be added to the tally. We will also be forced to pay for services we never wanted in the first place.
  • The argument that this proposal will increase employment is unrealistic and completely out of proportion to the damage it will wreak on the residents of Kuranda and surrounds. Are a handful of jobs worth the severe negative impact on our unique ecosystem and our entire community? This type of megadevelopment could well herald the demise of the tourism appeal of Kuranda – the village in the rainforest.

I’d like to bring to your attention the fact that the proponents of this project began construction of a dam on the property without first submitting an application and engineering plan to Council. A dam wall subsequently subsided and caused run-off into the local creek, which of course eventually ends up impacting on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Kur-World application has gone directly to the State for consideration as a ‘coordinated project’, thus bypassing the opportunity for input and/or objections by those most concerned, i.e. Kuranda’s residents. To become a coordinated project, an IAS must be submitted. On the Queensland State Government website statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/assessments-and-approvals/coordinated-projects.html it states:

In making the declaration decision, the Coordinator-General must have regard to:

a pre-feasibility assessment of the project, including how it satisfies an identified need or demand.

 

My question is this: What need or demand was identified in this area, who identified it and why were the people who live here not consulted? Surely we know our needs best.

Kuranda is a community of talented and caring people. We are a diverse mixture of cultures, strengths, religions, backgrounds and ethnicity. In these times of global greed, hatred and fear, we are a microcosm of what the world could be – a caring, nonjudgemental and inclusive society.

I ask that you offer us the respect we deserve and listen – really listen – to our concerns.

We know this area and its people best and we know what will enrich Kuranda and what will destroy it.

Please consider keeping our community, our culture and our environment intact. Once gone, it is gone forever.

Kind regards,
Ann Harth