Thank you to the over 6,880+ supporters who have signed the petition urging the Deputy Premier to refuse two intensive and inappropriate developments at Coochin Creek.
Your voices have helped highlight the importance of the RAMSAR listed Pumicestone Passage and the Northern Inter-Urban Break (NIUB) to the Sunshine Coast region.
Despite the petition and widespread community opposition, including over 400 formal submissions opposing the development, the Queensland Deputy Premier has now approved the second Comiskey Group development — the mega Music Festival & Exhibition Centre (up to 35000 people per day, including 20,000 campers per event).
This follows the approval last month of the Big4-style Tourist Park next door, and directly beside Pumicestone Passage.
These decisions were made despite:
➤ SARA’s recommendation to refuse both developments
➤ the sensitive location beside nationally significant wetlands and passage
➤ risks to threatened species and other wildlife and habitat
➤ long-standing NIUB protections
➤ major road infrastructure constraints
➤ serious bushfire risk, flood risk and evacuation concerns
➤ significant amenity, access and livelihood issues for local rural residents and farmers.
They also followed actions taken during the call-in period:
➤ reinstating the ability for developers to make political donations
➤ amendments to the Planning Regulation 2017 that:
- removed key assessment criteria underpinning the State Assessment and Referral Agency's (SARA) recommended refusal of both developments
- weaken protections for the NIUB and undermine more than two decades of strategic planning
What next?
State approval does not remove the requirement for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
The Federal Government has repeatedly advised the developer that both developments require referral due to their potential impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance.
The developer is yet to submit these referrals.
Under the EPBC Act, the Federal Environment Minister may initiate a referral when a proponent does not do so and nationally significant environmental values are at stake.
Ensuring full compliance with federal environmental law is now essential.
Updated Petition
This petition has been updated so your signatures continue to support the next step – ensuring the Coochin Creek developments undergo the required federal environmental scrutiny.
Further Information
A community coalition of 10 region wide and local resident and environment groups representing thousands of residents has issued a media statement on the Deputy Premier’s latest decision – available here:
🔗 https://www.scec.org.au/n/media-statement
More information on the importance of the NIUB is here: 🔗 https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/protection-of-inter-urban-break
Thank you again for your support.
Please continue to:
🎙️spread the word – share the petition and this update, talk to your friends and family
✍️ email Murray Watt directly calling on him to make the referral. minister.watt@dcceew.gov.au
Only people power 💪 will ensure that the Pumicestone Passage and the NIUB receive the protection they deserve.