Why over the christmas period?

People really must be getting sick n' tired of hearing talk about the Aquis Resort virtually everyday whether it be on TV, Radio, in the papers or the business people expressing how this structure is going to be.

Firstly the Casino/Resort hasn't even been given permission to go ahead yet there is this continual talk of how great it is going to be, well is it? This will change everything including Cairns and the surrounding area but more so Yorkeys Knob will change for ever.

The concerns was the 1400 rooms for workers (which by the way has been changed to another name or has been removed from the plans), the first impression of this is that the owners will “fly in” people on work visas thus limiting the chance of locals getting work.

It has been said that the management has indicated that locals would be offered jobs first and unless this is in writing the statement is not worth considering because management will use the cheapest labour and Mr Fung is a shrewd business person and that's how he became a billionaire.

Shrewd business people are successful.

The weekend Post on Saturday November 2, 2013 gave cause to really think about what is happening.

The company, Flanaghan Consulting said he expected the Co-Ordinator General to approve the EIS by March or April next year and then Mr Flanaghan went on to say that council development approval was expected in May, and then goes on to say:

there might be "some gaps to fill" to meet the terms of reference for the EIS, but he expected the six-week public consultation period to start before Christmas.

Public consultation just before and over the christmas period for total of 6 weeks.

VERY NICE PLOY – people will be organising themselves for the christmas break and probably going on holidays with the family and friends and won't have time or be bothered reading this information while away.

Mr Flanaghan should consider to changing this date to the middle or end of January and the run it for 6 weeks so that the locals have the opportunity to sit down and read the EIS without rushing it.

The locals in Yorkeys know how this area is affected by rain and floods and the area they are building on is a “flood plain area” so what happens if this resort goes ahead and we have a rainy season where is the water going to go.

It can't go into Thomatis Creek because that floods and the water flows over into the present cane fields, water also comes down from the ranges around Smithfield and flows through various creeks and waterways and ends up around Yorkeys and cuts the locals off.

You can't stop the cyclones, rain or flooding it is part of nature and more importantly it is part of our life and although we may get annoyed we tolerate but with this structure things could get worse.

Mr Fung has said “the project would not proceed without the support of the local community and stakeholders.”

Well Mr Fung there are many unhappy and concerned people living in Yorkeys and surrounding area who are not happy with this project being dumped in their back yard so it time for a community meeting and for you or your son to be present and talk to the community direct.

On Tuesday October 29, 2013 I attended the Yorkeys Residents Assoc meeting where around 100 people attended hoping to get some answers on this resort but the committee were unable to respond due to the Environment and EIS report not being available.

At one point a residents asked “will the consultants be attending a community meeting to talk to the residents” and the answer was NO they will only talk to the committee members.

One has to ask WHY!

No consultation could mean that something is being hidden that they don't want the community to know - - - we hope not.