A request was made for the EIS consultation be extended to November 30, 2014 due to the 4000 plus pages.
However this was apparently rejected and one has to ask why.
Most people work, have families and trying to read this report in the time given is totally impossible so why won't the government extend the consultation time? why are they pushing this through as if there is no tomorrow and why hasn't any of the local pollies commented that there is possible risks factors with this major project considering it has been listed as a mega structure.
I urge the Co-Ordinator General to reconsider the request to extend the consultation time.
Here is a copy of the letter that was sent to the Co-Ordinator General:
Coordinator General
Dear Madam / Sir,
I would like to make a submission in response to the Aquis EIS.
I note that the period for public comment is open from 28 June to 05 August - just 5.5 weeks to analyse a document with 27 Chapters and 23 Appendices.
Are you serious?
I request that the period for Community Consultation be extended to 30 Nov 2014.
If Flanagan Consulting can take 9 months to construct the EIS, then the Community should be given at least 5 months to deconstruct it.
While Pat Flanagan may be being paid $400 per hour to write the EIS, we are being paid nothing and also have jobs and families to attend to!
To get an electronic copy of the EIS you ask me to request it from Flanagan Consulting.
Although you have it on your website, it is broken up into 50 segments which would require me to download 50 separate documents.
I do not wish to go to Flanagan Consulting to obtain a copy. You are the government responsible for the Community Consultation process so it is your responsibility to make all relevant documents available on your website in a manageable form (ie both as a single document AND downloadable as Chapters).
Please make the entire EIS available in one or two documents on your website.
Sincerely,
Geoff Holland
We have been through the processes to get an extension on the EIS public review time.
This application was rejected.
As mark highlights - 6 weeks is not enough time! So we have to get to work now and do what we can.
AQUIS AWARE: Mark Buttrose has concerns about Aquis
The Aquis Aware Coalition of Concerned Citizens’ spokesman Mark Buttrose said the group condemned the State Government’s community engagement process.
He said the six-week period was “impossibly short” and made “a sham of the consultation process as far as the wider community was concerned”.
“The Cairns community has just six weeks to respond to the EIS which has taken 42 consultants more than 12 months to complete and which comprises 27 chapters and 23 appendices totalling 3723 pages,’’ Mr Buttrose said.
“It is patently absurd that the Government expects individuals or citizen organisations like ours, with no financial resources to provide a comprehensive documented response to this EIS in a professional manner in a mere six weeks,’’ he said.
“The Aquis proposal is the largest single tourism development ever proposed in Australia with the capacity to change the character of Cairns forever and its impact must be taken very seriously.
“However, it seems that the Government has already made up its mind to approve Aquis and it just going through this sham process of community engagement because it is required by the Coordinator General.”
Mr Buttrose said Aquis Aware formally requested the Coordinator General extend the period for submissions to 12 weeks.
“If the Government and the Coordinator General are serious and responsible about making the best possible decision about the EIS and Aquis then they should immediately agree to an extension of time for submissions.”
Aquis Aware also questions the impartiality of the community engagement process.
Mr Buttrose said Aquis Aware wanted an independent respected organisation such as James Cook University to be commissioned to review the EIS.
Footnote: I have just texted a message to the Attorney General and asked him to pass on a request for an 8 week period.
Member for Barron River Michael Trout urged residents to have a
formal say about Aquis. “They can have a say on issues from the
infrastructure to the environment,” he said.
“The EIS is quite a significant step forward and the 4000-page
document addresses the concerns raised by the Co-ordinator General.”
Mr Trout said the EIS, which was an expensive document, proved
that the developer was committed to the project.
Professor Jon Nott was interviewed by 4CA host John McKenzie in relation to the Aquis project and possible risks.
Professor Jon Nott is qualified to discuss the for and against and his qualifications are as follows:
Biography
Professor Nott graduated with a PhD in Geomorphology from the
University of Wollongong in 1991. He took up a position as lecturer
in Geosciences at the Northern Territory University, Darwin in 1991,
then moved to a lecturing position at the Australian National
University, Canberra between 1993 to 1995 and then to James Cook
University, Cairns where he has been since.
Research interests
Professor Nott undertakes research into extreme natural events
such as tropical cyclone storm tides and tsunamis and specializes in
reconstructing long-term natural records of these events. These
records provide a more realistic guide to the long-term behaviour of
these hazards and can be used as a basis for estimating their return
intervals and for risk assessment. Prof. Nott has published numerous
articles on these topics in peer reviewed journals and has provided
the first detailed review of the techniques involved in
reconstructing these long-term records of natural hazards in his book
‘Extreme Events’ published by Cambridge University Press in
2006. He has gained over 1.3 million dollars in competitive
research grant monies. He is regarded as one of the world’s leading
researchers into the long-term history and variability of tropical
cyclones.
Nott, J.F. 2006. Extreme
Events: A physical reconstruction and risk assessment. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge U.K. 300p.
Nott, J., Haig, J., Neil, H. and
Gillieson, D., 2007. Greater frequency variability of
landfalling tropical cyclones at centennial compared to seasonal and
decadal scales. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 255,
365-372)
Nott, J.F. and Hayne, M. 2001.
High frequency of ‘super-cyclones’ along the Great Barrier Reef
over the past 5,000 years. Nature, 413, 508-512.
Nott, J.F. and Horton, S. 2000.
180 Ma continental drainage divide in northeastern Australia: Role
of passive margin tectonics. Geology, 28, 763-766
Nott, J.F., and Price, D. M., 1999. Waterfalls, floods and
climate change: evidence from tropical Australia. Earth and
Planetary Science Letters, 171, 267-276.
Reading
and googling the web about the Aquis project has raised some concerns
as to why no politician has spoke about or listed any concerns about
the project.
The
Premier on talkback radio did say that he had some concerns but did
not list what the concerns were so why is it that the Far Northern
pollies have had nothing but praise for the project and this in
itself should start ringing alarm bells.
It
doesn't matter what project is being put forward there are always
some underlying concerns and usually these are brought out into the
open for discussion by all and no one should be labelled radicals if
they are "for it" or "against it".
We
all have that democratic right of freedom of speech and being able to
speak for or against brings better results.
One
reads that quite a number of locals saying "bring it on" or
"let's just build it" and with unemployment the way it is
one can understand their frustration.
But,
those making the comments one has to ask have you read all the
available information that is available or have you googled the
website for other relevant information which could help you in making
the right decision and having a better knowledge of the intending
project and the "for & against" stance that people
are taking.
People
want employment and rightly so but how many jobs do you think will be
available during and after completion of this project and if you
believe what has been said in the media or what politicians have said
then I suggest you read this:
The
federal Government is always talking Trade Agreements and it is
likely that they are more than likely to succumb to this request and
then there will be a high influx of Chinese workers taking local
jobs.
Another
point in mind is the availability of project builders in Cairns, most
of them if not all have moved or gone into liquidation thus leaving
only one option for the intending owners of Aquis and that is to
bring in their own contractors from China and maybe some from
interstate.
On
Friday June 13, 2014 a caller rang in to talk to the Mayor and the
discussion in one part was on Aquis and during that conversation a
figure of nearly 80% of the people wanted this to go ahead... one has
to ask "where did this figure come from"?
There
hasn't been any substantial survey done in this area so to say 80%
are in favor is possibly an over statement.
People
are getting sick and tired of hearing how great it it but nothing
positive has been bought forward to convince people either way.
This
is the discussion between the Mayor and a caller from Manunda:
When
Aquis was for announced in 2013 at a price of $4.2 Billion it was
stated that Mr Fung was going to fund the project along with upgrades
to roads and also an over pass at Caravonica which was not likely to happen.
Most
residents thought this was great then in 2014 another design surfaced
this time a staggering $8.5 billion along with two casinos and again
we all believed that the Fung family had the money but that wasn't
the case as it was reported that Mr Fung senior mad a trip to Hong
Kong in April 2014 to seek investors and also to ask the banks for
backing on this project and so far no money, this is what was
actually reported:
The Fung family had spoken to financial institutions about funding the resort and had not yet committed to any, he said.
You can read the article below dated June 7, 2014 under the heading:
Another day another story but will it ever eventuate.
The story was taken from The South China Morning Post
There are a number of concerns with this venture and one of the main topics is "will the local businesses benefit from this project".
Taking into consideration the size and it's suggested occupancy rate the Aquis owners will have all the guests requirements available within the complex so will the guests need to venture down to the IGA store, local hairdresser or bakery? the answer is definately NO.
So the local economy will not benefit to any great length.
The Cairns Chamber of Commerce also need to look in the right direction and start looking after the local businesses rather hop footing it over to China like they intend to do and stop promoting Aquis in the manner that they are, instead start promoting Cairns and the business outlets, Cairns businesses are and have been suffering for sometime and at the present time the future doesn't to great.
Some people may say you make it look so grim well if that is the case sit back and look at the overall picture and think how Cairns could benefit and what is the better alternative, do we promote Cairns in the right way, we should diversify and promote Cairns to make things beneficial to all.
There are many, many places in the world you can go if you want to stay in an anonymous mega resort that has everything you could possibly need in one place, or if you feel the need to gamble.
If we really must have another one of these developments, does it have to be in a low-key, nature-based tourism destination such as northern Queensland?
The proposed Aquis resort development, which is yet to obtain a number of approvals, could eventually include eight hotels, two casinos, an artificial lake, an artificial island, a golf course, shops, an aquarium, theatres and numerous other recreation facilities.
That’s a whopping 7500 hotel rooms, with the resort to be built on 343 hectares.
The location is just outside Yorkeys Knob, 13 kilometres north of Cairns and not far from the start of the Skyrail cableway that travels above the rainforest to the village of Kuranda.
Setting aside my personal feelings about these sort of resorts – I think it’s fairly clear that it’s not what I’d choose for my holiday – we have to question if it is an appropriate development for the location.
Tropical North Queensland is characterised by its natural attractions, villages and laidback lifestyle, with a growing emphasis on indigenous tourism.
People who go there are seeking out natural and relaxing experiences, from diving the reef, exploring World Heritage-listed rainforest and walking on quiet beaches to visiting local cafes and markets.
Research by Tourism Australia on the drivers of demand for international visitors to Australia shows that our natural attractions are by far the greatest appeal.
Our beaches top the list, followed by our wildlife, the Great Barrier Reef, rainforests and national parks and “unspoilt natural wilderness”.
Our food and wine and major cities come in eight and ninth place respectively, but otherwise it’s all about nature, heritage and lifestyle.
In each of the 11 key overseas markets surveyed by Tourism Australia, “casinos, bars and nightclubs” came at or very near the bottom of the list of 19 appeal factors.
With the survey countries spread across Asia, Europe and North America, it’s a pretty clear picture of where we should be focusing our tourism efforts.
Of course, it’s not too hard to understand why the Queensland Government is willing to consider the Aquis development when you see the job promises that come with it.
The first stage of the development alone promises 3750 construction jobs and 11,000 operational jobs, with the second stage slated to create 3500 construction jobs and 9000 operational roles.
That’s a lot of people who would gain temporary or permanent work... and we can assume that most of them vote.
The project developers have made a commitment to use local businesses where possible and it would undoubtedly have a huge impact on the local economy.
Tourism and Events Queensland would not comment specifically on the Aquis development but said in general it was “supportive of tourism development that assists in creating jobs, brings in economic benefits and showcases our destinations to the world”.
“Attracting new investment in tourism product, continual development and creating diversity is also critical to meeting visitor expectations,” said a spokeswoman.
Those who have been following the news on casino licences may be wondering why I haven’t mentioned the other mega resort development slated for a casino: the $7.5 billion Broadwater Marine project on the Gold Coast.
The Broadwater development, which is yet to achieve all the approvals needed, is set to include a cruise ship terminal, casino and resort.
I’m not thrilled about that project either, but I figure the Gold Coast was ruined by development a long time ago.
Is it too much to hope for a better outcome for Tropical North Queensland?
WARNING: Senator Nick Xenophon will be in Cairns on June 20 to speak at a community forum organised by residents rallying against the $8.15 billion resort and casino complex touted for Yorkey’s Knob.
SENATOR Nick Xenophon has described Aquis as “fool’s gold” that will only generate more social problems for Cairns if it is allowed to go ahead.
The Adelaide-based independent will be in Cairns on June 20 to speak at a community forum organised by residents rallying against the $8.15 billion resort and casino complex touted for Yorkey’s Knob.
Mr Xenophon, who has campaigned for many years against gambling, said Cairns was setting itself up to inherit social problems associated with the activity. GROUP SUGGESTS AQUIS ALTERNATIVE
“It seems to me that if the Queensland Government thinks that a casino will drive economic development in Cairns, they are chasing fool’s gold,’’ Mr Xenophon said. “The model of relying on overseas tourists is a mirage.”
VISION: An artist's impression of the main entrance of the $8.15 billion Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort at Yorkeys Knob.
An Aquis spokesman said most people enjoyed gaming as a harmless form of entertainment. “We acknowledge some members of the community have trouble gambling responsibly,’’ he said. “Aquis, if approved, will be bound by some of the toughest responsible gaming legislation in the country.” Figures provided by Uniting Care show the monthly spend in Cairns in March from more than 2500 poker machines was more than $8.8 million. Salvation Army Far North hub leader Lt Darren Kingston said he could see both the benefits and negative effects associated with having a much larger casino established in Cairns.
On April 26, 2014 in an article which I posted I suggested that consideration on building Aquis on the old CEP land as it would allow visitors the short walk to the city and maybe the CBD retailers may benefit from this suggestion.
In Saturdays Weekend Post Aquis Aware has come up with a similar suggestion.
This maybe a better solution to the problem and a better outcome for all concerned as the present design does not compliment Yorkeys Knob in any way or form.
This is an article from the South China Morning Post, an interesting paragraph is highlighted in red....
Tony Fung gambles A$8.5b on Macau-like gambling resort in Cairns
HK property developer betting A$8.15 billionto attract Chinese high rollers to hotel casino resort in Queensland's former hippy town
Bloomberg in Sydney
PUBLISHED : Friday, 06 June, 2014, 12:38am
UPDATED : Friday, 06 June, 2014, 12:38am
Cairns in Queensland was once a hangout for hippies. Now Tony Fung wants to transform it into a major casino resort. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Cairns was once a stop on the hippy trail and is now a popular destination for backpackers and diving enthusiasts. By 2019, Tony Fung Wing-cheung predicts it will be a gambling destination to rival Macau.
The Hong Kong property developer last week won early-stage government backing for his plans to build an A$8.15 billion (HK$58.6 billion) casino resort on a former sugarcane farm north of the town.
One of the first things they’re going to embrace is the natural environment
JUSTIN FUNG, AQUIS RESORT
With 7,500 hotel rooms scattered around an artificial lagoon, 18-hole golf course and water park, it will nearly triple the region's hotel accommodation and be bigger than Singapore's two casino resorts put together.
"We are extremely confident that Cairns can be a global destination," said Justin Fung, Tony Fung's son and chief executive of development company Aquis Resort at the Great Barrier Reef.
"This is the closest western city to China," he said of the tropical Australian city.
Investors locked out of Macau, which has licensed just six casino operators to tap its US$45 billion gambling market, are looking to build resorts from Sri Lanka to South Korea, the Philippines to Japan, as China becomes the world's biggest source of outbound tourist revenue.
Australia's Queensland state, hit by falling coal prices that will help drive a A$324 million drop in government mining royalties by June 2017, plans to issue three casino licences to lure Asian gamblers and stimulate job growth.
Proposed developments in Cairns, Brisbane and the Gold Coast could bring the same benefits that Genting Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa and Las Vegas Sands Corp's Marina Bay Sands brought to Singapore, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said in October last year.
The hotels helped fuel a 20 per cent jump in tourist numbers to the city state after they opened in 2010, he said.
"Everyone's seen the success of Singapore, which is just being used as a blueprint elsewhere," said Killian Murphy, an analyst at CIMB Group Holdings. "Potentially, Australia as a whole becomes a better sell into the Chinese market" if it had more resorts for tourists to choose from.
Chinese travellers overtook those from Germany in 2012 to become the world's largest source of outbound tourist revenue, with spending on overseas trips rising 26 per cent last year to US$129 billion, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Cairns, where the existing Reef Casino Trust posted just A$24 million in revenue last year, was well placed to exploit that market, said Fung.
Another Fung family company has bought about 77 per cent of the city's only casino operator as part of a A$214 million takeover.
"We're sitting on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef," he said. "As the Chinese middle-class and wealthy travel, one of the first things they're going to embrace is the natural environment. Cairns has that in spades."
Floods, tornadoes, a strong Australian dollar and the rise of competing markets in Asia have stymied growth at some resorts along the Great Barrier Reef.
The Fung family had spoken to financial institutions about funding the resort and had not yet committed to any, he said.
The 343-hectare site for the Aquis resort will include two theatres, a convention centre, a sports stadium, a water park, an aquarium, shops, restaurants and 1,800 homes for staff, according to a July 2013 proposal.
With eight hotels including 7,500 rooms once complete, it will be as large as Moscow's Izmailovo Hotel Complex, the world's biggest, and surpass the 5,044-room MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"I see more luxury projects creating a gaming destination for the Asian market," Fung said. "If you can create enough quality product, then certainly the demand is there."
Queensland might struggle to digest such a sharp increase in gambling tourism, Murphy said.
"I just think three new integrated resorts is stretching it," he said. "Trying to convince a gambler to come here can be difficult. You're talking a nine or 10-hour flight" from China.
That is not deterring Fung. The right facilities could attract visitors in numbers like those who had been lured by other casino resorts in the region, he said.
"We're on the doorstep of Macau and we've seen the incredible growth of that market. We're close to Singapore and we've seen what just two properties there are capable of doing," he said. "There is that aspect of 'If you build it, they will come'."
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Tony Fung gambles on next Macau in Cairn
s
We're happy to give you an update on what is happening with the planned Aquis project and in the concerned community that is watching proceedings closely.
Apart from a lot of beat up stories with little substance by the Cairns Post not much has been happening in real terms in the last few months.
The biggest event so far has been the in principle approval of an Integrated Resort Licence for Aquis by the Newman government.
However, don’t let anyone tell you it’s all over! Mr Fung still has to get the EIS through, the development application approvals must be accepted and Mr Fung must pass the financial probity test as well as find a mythical $8.15 billion.
More and more people are expressing concerns or outrage over the proposal and what it will mean for Cairns.
We have put our thinking caps on and came up with an alternative proposal which will be published in this Saturday's Cairns Post, You can get a sneak preview on our Blog: http://aquisaware.org/aquis-an-alternative-vision-for-cairns-cbd/
With this proposal we show that we are not against development, but against wrong developments in Cairns. Aquis in it's current form is the wrong development and it is going to suck out the life off Cairns and will require a lot of public infrastructure which will be of little use for the public as it is centred around Yorkeys.
To boost tourism in Cairns we show an alternative solution which will be beneficial to Cairns and the community. We hope that we will open up new avenues of constructive discussions.
(cairnsvideonews suggested something similar in an article dated Saturday April 26, 2014) Now we need your help.
We are VERY reliably informed that the final elements of the draft EIS will go out to the govt depts at the end of this week and that the EIS public release date is set for 28 June which means that the period of review will end on 8 August.
Our source tells us that the hiccups have been ironed out and that it is expected to be approved for public notice without too many problems!! Let's see. It will be more than 1000 pages long with only a few hard copies in the library and at the council with some on USBs made available (for whom?) but the vast bulk of us will simply have to get the info from the internet. Here the link to where it will be found: www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/aquis.
We will have 2 EIS review groups, one concentrating on Environmental impact, the other on Economic and Social impact. There is currently discussion about having an EIS based forum; where and when to have it. Opinions and suggestions on how, where and when are welcome. We will inform you about any meetings in this regard.
Senator Xenophon
Nick Xenophon
