Overview

In September 2015, Mareeba Shire Council published the latest draft of a new plan for the Shire, which includes the Kuranda Region.

A community meeting was called in Kuranda on November 8th 2015 to discuss concerns about the latest draft plan.

The meeting resolved:

  1. To set up a ‘Friends of the Kuranda Region Planning Group’ (n.b. name since changed to Kuranda Region Planning Group)
  2. To note that Councillors and Council Officers who attended the meeting affirmed that they would regard the new Shire Plan, if and when approved by the State Government, as a “living document” open to amendment, including revision of maps in the plan.
  3. To develop a proposal to the State Government incorporating a request that any approval given to the latest MSC Draft Plan is conditional on systematic, high-quality remapping of conservation/biodiversity values, especially within (but not necessarily limited to) the Kuranda Region. This process should be carried out with the participation of scientists with relevant expertise, local conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts and other interested participants. Acknowledging the limited resources available to the recently de-amalgamated Mareeba Shire Council, we believe it should be resourced and overseen by the State and/or Federal Government.
  4. That our aspiration for this region’s planning process is state-of-the-art, quality planning, that truly lays the foundations for genuine sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

The Mareeba Shire Council 2016 Planning Scheme was implemented 1 July 2016.

Current

Mareeba Shire Council has engaged a suitably qualified consultant to review the Environmental Significance Overlay of the current plan.

KRPG contacted council to request representation via a steering group:

Letter to MSC to request MLES Steering Group 11 May 2017

Peter Franks MSC CEO replied (see link above for full copy):

“At no stage in this process is there a steering committee. The Consultant operates independently, within the bounds of the brief, the Councillors then review the work formally as the Council, the State undertakes its review and then the Community has its opportunity to have its input. It would be inappropriate for any of these process’s to be directed or steered by a committee.

Should you have any information you feel may be of use or significance for the consultant, please  send this to Council and we will forward it to them.”

KRPG would like to provide the following information pack for the consultant:

Other related material

> REGROWTH VEGETATION MAP 2012
> FNQ REGIONAL PLAN
> NATIONAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS PLAN (PDF)
> MSCPS July 2016 Strategic Framework SFM004 Kuranda Region
> BPA Statewide Corridors
> SELECTION OF MAPS AND IMAGES – SEE BELOW