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Latest News: CAFNEC Environmental Forum

Cairns Sun newspaper this week says on page 3 that CAFNEC will be hosting an Environmental Forum this friday (13th March) at Shennanigans Pub (cnr Sheridan and Spence St) from l230 - l330pm

They have invited all FNQ election candidates so that "people can hear both promises and excuses from the horses mouth and to ask questions of any candidate" . It would be well worth anyone with a concern about the hillslopes and Mansfield Street in particular, being there to ask specific questions or bring Mansfield Street to their attention. We think in view of Desley Boyles previous letter in the Cairns Post saying how she supported the Cairns Regional Council's policy on hillslope management, that she should be reminded of this. Perhaps the segment below can be also brought to their notice.

Cairns Post runs an article and a phone poll. 94% against hillside development!

A week ago, the Cairns Post ran an article on our ongoing protest. With very little warning (about 24 hours) we were asked if we could gather interested people under our banner. We managed to get about 15 or so people on the Saturday morning. A great vote of thanks to everyone who was there. The photo and accompanying article appeared a few days later.

The Cairns Post then ran a phone poll asking should hillside development be allowed to continue?

The answer was a resounding "NO, Development should NOT be allowed to go ahead." 94% of people responded against further hillside development. Pretty hard to argue with that!

Hopefully our councillors will take the results on board when they consider the issue at the meeting.

The mystery of why the application has not yet gone to a council meeting may have been solved. We have heard, unofficially, that the Department of Natural Resources (A State Government Department) is now looking into the matter. From personal experience I know the DNR is often very slow to sort out stuff. Even very simple things, like a signature on a transfer of a lease, can take months. Given there is now a state election in the near future it is possible that everything may be put on hold!

Application has finally been made to build one of the roads that are already built!

For those who may not know - There have been TWO roads built on the property without approval from council or the EPA or DNR. Part of our complaint about this new application is that the easement has not even been approved but the road has already been built.

Mr. Lavis now has a sign on the footpath outside his property stating he has applied for an easement (and thus legally build the road he has already built) between his property and his son's property. In view of the pollution that road caused during the heavy rain a few weeks ago (see here) it is hard to see how the council could look favourably on it.

But it seems the council is likely to approve it retrospectively without so much as a slap on the wrist for Mr. Lavis. (That's how it's done apparently) That is, if no one objects. What is needed is a whole new bunch of objections based on the evidence at hand that this road has caused a large amount of runoff and silt to contaminate the environment already. (go to here for more detail)

Our new banner shows pictures which exemplify what we are concerned about. During the heavy rains earlier in January tons of water & red mud streamed into Mansfield Street from the property. Imagine how much more will come down if further building and development is allowed to go ahead.