FoE Kuranda calls on Council and the Queensland State Government to reject urban growth plan
Friends of the Earth Kuranda has called for a full and public analysis of the likely impacts of plans for a major urban development in Myola Valley in far north Queensland.
Friends of the Earth Kuranda Media Release
9th November 2007
MYOLA ISSUE BIGGER THAN MAREEBA SHIRE
FoE Kuranda calls on Mareeba Shire Council to make public a full analysis of submissions received by Council about the Myola Plan - before meeting to consider the plan.
“Council should share information with the public about the breakdown of views on the Myola Plan as soon as the information is available,” said Sid Walker for Friends of the Earth Kuranda.
“The plan proposes a suburb of 10,000+ in the Myola Valley – an area of exceptional biodiversity adjacent to World Heritage rainforests.
“Mayor Mick Borzi said on radio on this week that Council had received more than 100 submissions about the Myola Plan. He made a rather disparaging comment that most submissions were from “outside Myola”.
"The future of Myola has much broader consequences than its impact on the current residents of this lightly-populated rural area.” said Mr Walker.
Myola is next to the narrowest neck of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. It’s a hotspot for endangered species. This is a national, if not a global issue. Council should accept that many people have a legitimate interest in protecting this special environment - and welcome submissions from any source."
“We are concerned that Council doesn’t try to downplay opposition to the Myola Plan. Despite invitations, Mayor Borzi did not attend large public meetings in Kuranda to discuss the Myola Plan. Is he reluctant to hear local community views? Or does he feel the Plan is publicly indefensible?” asked Mr Walker.
“FoE Kuranda has asked the Council - and the Queensland State Government - to reject the Myola Plan outright.
“Any attempt to urbanize Myola - an area crucial to the integrity of the entire Wet Tropics - will meet strong resistance from locals, backed up, if necessary, by a national campaign " concluded Mr Walker.
For More Information:
Sid Walker 07 4093 8384