Update from Aquis Aware

Aquis Aware Public Meeting Reminder 

It's not over yet! 

Hello,

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.

Please contact our local MPs, Gavin King and Michael Trout, write to Cairns Post, write to the local papers (Sun, Tablelander, News Port), Contact your councillor.
It is crucial that they get the message from as many constituents as possible. It's time the silent majority which is not happy about the current proposal gets heard.
 Here some Contacts: Gavin King: Email: cairns@parliament.qld.gov.au Phone: 07 4051 2868 FB https://www.facebook.com/MrGavinKing
Michael Trout: Email: barron.river@parliament.qld.gov.au Ph: 07 4038 2800
 Cairns Post letters@tcp.newsltd.com.au FB https://www.facebook.com/TheCairnsPost 
Tablelander https://www.facebook.com/TheTablelander
Courier Mail cmletters@qnp.newsltd.com.au
News Port http://www.tourismportdouglas.com.au/LETTERS-TO-EDITOR.6129.0.html editor@thenewsport.com.au

EIS 

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

Nick Xenophon supported our first community meeting with a video message detailing his concerns about the promotion of gambling and the community impacts it has on communities. He will be visiting Cairns in person on Friday 20 June and will meet with representatives of community organisations to learn first hand about already existing issues with gambling in the community. Community organisations will be directly invited to send representatives. 
If you want to be involved yourself, please contact us at news@aquisaware.org (PS: If you missed the video from Dec, you can catch up here:  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=127139937459801&set=vb.121095484730913&type=2&theater )



 Resources: 
Our Facebook page has recently surpassed 1000 followers. A great milestone. Please check in frequently (and like if you haven't yet) for updates. https://www.facebook.com/AquisAware . For Documents and background stories we maintain www.aquisaware.org A very comprehensive assessment of the project can be found at Cairns Lifestyle: http://cairnslifestyle.com/aquis-great-barrier-reef-resort-saviour-or-destroyer/ The page also runs a yes/no poll. Please don't forget to express your opinion. It also has links to some satirical videos that have sprung up around the topic. Make sure to check them out and share the fun! The communityrun petition by Kate O'Callaghan has already reached 1756 signatures. Please check it out and add your voice: https://www.communityrun.org/petitions/stop-development-approval-for-the-aquis-great-barrier-reef-mega-casino-at-yorkey-s-knob-cairns-1 . 
 The petition also has a facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/StopReefCasino There are two local blogs that keep tabs on Aquis developments: http://www.cairnsvideonews.com/ and the http://hillbillywatch.com/ Don't let anyone tell you it's over! It's just starting. Please spread widely!!! Copyright © 2014 Aquisaware.org, All rights reserved.