I am very disappointed that Minister Scanlon has been so dismissive in hand balling responsibility for protecting Toondah Harbour’s internationally significant wetland to the Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley. 

If the Palaszczuk Government wanted to act to stop a 3600 unit and marina development over public land including 42ha of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and foreshore parkland, it could revoke the Priority Development Area (PDA) status it has maintained over this area.

It’s important you know that my intention in criticising the actions of Queensland Labor and the Federal LNP are aimed at persuading both major parties to protect Toondah Harbour - they are the decision makers who are empowered to save this irreplaceable biodiverse paradise. 

I was particularly disappointed Minister Scanlon didn’t think the issue was important enough to reply directly to my letter (see text below) from late last year (image attached) highlighting my concerns. I even contacted her Ministerial Office to express my disappointment and did not hear back.

While the Deputy Director-General is correct about the Federal Environment Minister assessing this destructive development under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999), the Queensland Government can immediately remove their PDA status and withdraw from its agreement with Walker Corporation and Redland City Council to stop this development. 

As I’m equally concerned about Federal LNP Minister Ley’s failure to protect Toondah Harbour, I’m currently writing to her requesting she use her Ministerial powers to honour an international agreement to protect this Ramsar wetland. I’ll keep you posted on progress.

Thank you so much your signatures (almost 47,000 - amazing!) and ongoing support. I hope together our community actions will help to convince our elected representatives to stop this environmental catastrophe! It’s not too late, but once it’s gone it’s gone! 

MY LETTER to MINISTER SCANLON (October 2021) 

Dear Minister

Thank you for the Palaszczuk Government’s commendable efforts to look after Queenslander’s health throughout the pandemic.

I wish your Government would equally take the opportunity to protect the planet as well as you have the people you serve.

While it’s encouraging to see initiatives like creating the Currumbin eco sanctuary, greater investment in renewables, the Daintree handover to the traditional owners and the container deposit scheme, its devastating your Government won’t save the Toondah Ramsar wetland at Cleveland.

I never imagined a Labor government would actively promote and progress a 3600 unit development and marina in and around a 42ha section of internationally significant wetland in the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Even the National Party government in the late 1980’s, listened to the community and rejected plans to build a Raby Bay- style canal estate over Toondah.

Instead, the Palaszczuk Government has fast-tracked far larger scale Walker Corporation plans than the Newman Government under the protection of a Priority Development Area status and signed a confidential deal with Walker and Redland City Council to progress approvals. The current and previous Deputy Premiers wrote to have the Ramsar boundaries changed to allow this development.

I do not understand why your government would allow the destruction of this publicly-owned parkland with its koala colony and protected wetland that hosts critically-endangered Eastern Curlews, (see photos) mangrove forests, seagrass meadows (dugong and turtle habitat) and vital shorebird inter-tidal feeding grounds for a private development.

Additionally, the toxic dredging and increasing population pressures from this development will irreversibly damage this, and surrounding, marine park areas as well as destroy iconic views to Straddie/ Minjerribah.

I believe the solution is to locate a mixed retail/residential development on the land in the vast, already disturbed car park area and adjacent Australian Trade College land and invest in a joint ferry terminal upgrade with any developer. There is potential for multi-storey car parking and drop off areas.

The existing Fison ferry Channel has been cleared for safety by Maritime Safety Queensland so no additional channel or widening is required, only to accomodate a private marina. A simpler, attractive terminal like The Redland Bay terminal at Weinam Creek could be built with more commercial space.

Without the opportunity for the community to genuinely have their say on this development, an enormous community movement from all walks of life has united to build a powerful people alliance to stop this development.

As my petition (https://www.change.org/SaveToondah which is approaching 42,000 signatures, and the diversity of groups involved shows, this movement and the momentum to turn the tide against this development is growing every day. Please listen.

The loss of this wetland through greed not need keeps me awake at night. It deeply upsets me that if this development goes ahead, it will be your legacy that it will be lost to future generations forever.

Your government has the opportunity to use your powers to remove the Priority Development status of this development and save rather than sacrifice the Toondah Harbour Ramsar site.

Please do the right thing.

Yours sincerely

Dylan Olliver