Politicians answer "ANTI" this "ANTI" that.

December 10, 2013

Following the meeting on Wednesday December 4, 2013 at the Serbian Hall in Greenslopes St in regards to Aquis Resort/Casino it would appear that the hornets nest has exploded.
The Chamber of Commerce and local pollies are screaming ANTI Aquis which as we know is total garbage, it would appear that no one is entitled to an opinion except pollies and certain areas of business.
The meeting was well organised with speakers giving a very good explanation of what could and may not happen with no interjections from the gallery.
There was NO abusing of either parties in fact they weren't even mentioned apart from when Michael Trout LNP was called for his comments and was introduced as the LNP Member for Baron River, the only disappointing part of Michael's discussion was when one person interjected.
However this is part of being a politician.
The meeting was chaired by Denis Walls who explained why the meeting was called and then introduced the speakers as follows keeping in mind that these are short notations with more to follow:

Lesley Clark gives a history of large scale tourism projects in Cairns. Some of which happened some of which were resisted.

Tropical Queensland: Adventurous by Nature. This is the slogan /theme adopted by the region for planning and marketing.

Casino tourism is notably absent from plans up till now.

Question : How many local people will be employed? Tafe can't provide the training needed to complete such a program. Chinese nationals will be employed. Will the even be a trickle down.?

What will happen with housing. ? Rents will go up.

What other costs for the CRC?

SOME local businesses will benefit.. Others not.

Must question the assumption that it will solve or economic woes.

John Nott:

Location: about 2.5 m above sea level

This area is prone to storm surge inundation.

Tropical cyclones are becoming more intense.

They will build the ground up to 5 metres.

Storm surge is predicted by Prof Nott therefore to go through 1st 2nd floor of the buildings.

Thomatis Richters Creek is 5 kilometres metres long... Steeper than the current route of the Barron River. It is a distributary... The Barron feeds into it and the Barron may change course to go via Thomatis Richters Creek at some point. It will therefore require special engineering.

"The idea that this lagoon will mitigate flood effects at Yorkeys Knob is rubbish".

If we put dangerous developments in high risk places they must be insured... This will cost us (the wider community) more.

The emergency procedures for this place will also cost the wider community.

John Byrne planner: Talking about the history and development and lessons gained over the past 50 years regarding planning principles.

Says: Queensland just built the biggest hospital in Australia ever in the Gold Coast. A massive project: $1.5 Billion. This project is 4billion. So it's important to think this issue through carefully.

Overview of learning's from planning over the last century.

Mixed facilities and purposes and housing together.

The more people on the street, active the lower the crime

Public transport integrated is important.

We've learned that cities compete with cities.

That the way it was designed in the early 1900s was actually quite clever.

Positioning is significant: it's on the edge of an urban area. We've learned that generally a new large project should be either a long way away or right in the centre of an urban area.

Is it helping the overall structure of the city?

The impacts of what it is? Do you put a new big institution away from public transport.? Away from other infrastructure?

How will it be staged? Over how long?

Rob Pyne:

Surprised at the large number of people at this meeting.

We have only a concept plan... Not clear if it is real or an ambit claim.

In the new year there will be further information coming through.

 The most annoying comment from the pollies is that it was an ANTI Aquis meeting, what a load of cods wallop people wanted information which hadn't come forward previously and had a meeting been called when this became public knowledge then perhaps there wouldn't be the concerns that there is now.

The word ANTI hadn't been mentioned prior to the meeting nor was it mentioned during the meeting as it was said before the meeting overall was well presented with knowledgeable speakers.

Then came the Cairns Post report on Friday morning with the headlines “Critics Take On Aquis” would have been better to read “Residents Want More information”. The community wasn't taking on Aquis they were looking to be able to ask questions and to get answers but again the informed meeting was labelled by Anti Aquis and Anti Jobs.

Then the Member for Cairns Gavin King who wasn't at the meeting due to another commitment stated “he was disgusted and disappointed by comments made at the forum by labor politicians.

Not so Mr King. Politics was not discussed nor was any political party mentioned.

Politicians are entitled to their opinion however they are elected by the people to represent them but not to represent them with their (politicians) views.

Then came the comment from Deb Hancock CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, article taken from Monday's Cairns Post Dec 9, 2013:

Cairns Chamber of Commerce has launched an aggressive email campaign, urging recipients to vote for the project on the www.cairnspost.com.au poll.

CEO Deb Hancock said the chamber felt it was time for the ‘‘silent majority’’ to be counted.
‘‘I haven’t spoken to one person in the business community that is against the proposed project – there is overwhelming support,’’ she said.

‘‘The vocal minority is what gets heard, so now is the time to stand up and say ‘yes we want this’, and not risk this wonderful opportunity.’’ 

On Monday December 9, 2013 the Chamber of Commerce along with Members for Cairns and Baron River attended a rally organised by the Member for Cairns Gavin King which drew a crowd of 24 people compared to the 300 plus at the community meeting arranged by Aquis Aware.

Look at the difference:

Below: Meeting on Dec 4, Greenslopes St,

 

 From the above to below which shows that people want answers and not rush into the unknown.

Wouldn't it be more realistic for the Chamber of Commerce to look at ways of trying to save the local businesses rather put full support behind a mega structure that could see virtually all the money made in this casino go back to China and Cairns suffers once again.

Another consideration to be looked at is that now Mr Fung is about to take control of the Reef Casino why would he want two casinos, what are his intentions?.

Does the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourist Bodies want the support of the community or are they only interested in themselves?  if the answer is yes the community consultation is the only way to go.

I agree that progress is the way to go but without consultation it could result in bad situations, is that what we want.

The Pollies are saying that the EIS report will be released in mid January, not December as proposed earlier it is then we can look and consider but will the Government and CRC do that or just say : "GO AHEAD".

If Mr Fung  had called a community meeting earlier in the year and explained to the residents his intentions then there may not be the discontentment that we have now.

I was told about this project around July/August 2012 so there was plenty of time for consultation.

We now wait and see.