Latest News - KUR World proposed development
KUR-World proposal for Myola Valley was first noted in the media in June 2016. Residents have been learning more about the development and in March 2017 Kuranda Envirocare general meeting discussed their concerns and desires and developed a position statement with our vision statement in mind.
The KUR-World proposal is NOT yet approved.
KURANDA ENVIROCARE VISION STATEMENT
Our Vision: Kuranda Environs is a place where the natural environment is valued and protected
Our Aims: To study, conserve and repair biodiversity. To educate the community to value and protect biodiversity
KEC – POSITION ON THE PROPOSED KUR-World DEVELOPMENT
The Kuranda community continues to support the values of their natural environment. These values describe our deepest sense of place and identity.
We will consider all opportunities to protect and enhance the sustainability of our social, economic and natural environment.
Kuranda EnviroCare recognises that the KUR-World Development is a major challenge to the ecological sustainability and life style of this area. As currently configured the proposed development is not appropriate for this community due to its large scale and the sensitivity of its Myola location.
The Myola area is habitat for two locally endemic and endangered species (Myola palm & Myola frog) and is part of a critical corridor that links the northern and southern parts of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The proposed development threatens these local endemics as well as a large number of the threatened species and the ecological function within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
We recognise that the existing rural farming enterprise KUR-Cow may be a permissable use of the land as currently zoned. However, we believe that some development activities that have occurred on the property are, in fact, related to the proposed KUR-World development which is not yet approved by Qld State government or Mareeba Shire Council.
Executive summary
KEC membership responded with the following desires and concerns
Environmental sustainability -
..Ensure the damage done to the established EnviroLink Corridor is repaired and enhanced, meeting or exceeding world best practice.
..Restore legislated buffer zones along creeks and waterways to the standards set by world best practice. Retain rural land zoning with no residential component.
..Retain habitat without further clearing of the land for any reason due to its importance as threatened species habitat and a Wet Tropics World Heritage Area ecological linkage.
..Maintain or improve existing water quality and quantity in underground aquifers and creek flows off the KUR-World property at all times and particularly during any proposed development construction works.
..Repair previous damage caused by Reever and Ocean’s vegetation clearing and erosion and sediment issues.
..Ensure longer term damage to the environment does not occur if the KUR-World project fails during or shortly after its construction.
Social – We are concerned that:
..KUR-World operation will cause higher traffic flows on the Kuranda Range thereby increasing accidents, injuries and road closures.
..Kuranda village should retain its’ low key character and remain as a social and community centre for residents
..KUR-World may not have complied with our MSC local by-laws as well as Queensland and Federal Government legislation. There are inconsistencies in the applications of MSC Council By-Laws.
..Many community members will not understand how to respond with a ‘properly made submission’ to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
..The submission period and community resources are disproportionately short compared to the likely size of the EIS response from Kur-World and the resources they can apply to their response.
..Residents of the rest of the Mareeba Shire council and Cairns may not be aware of the impact of this proposal for our community.
..Issues arising from the potential failure of KUR-World project during or after its construction are identified in our submission.
..The local MSC local government does not have the capacity to oversee a development of this size in order to adequately protect the interests of established ratepayers.
Economic - We are concerned that:
..KUR-World may cause highly detrimental economic competition with businesses located in the current Kuranda Village.
..KUR-World employees and construction workers may compete for rental housing or accommodation with resident locals.
..Property values may be affected adversely by location close to the development.
..Construction activity over 5-6 years may make some properties unsaleable and reduce the established liveability of properties.
..The job opportunities estimated by KUR-World are overstated.
Please note: Kuranda Envirocare (KEC) invited comment and feedback from members at a meeting on the 02 March 2017. This is a summary of our position, desires and concerns.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
There have been three major planning exercises since 2007 that have affected Kuranda and environs.
Far North Queensland regional Plan 2009 – 2031
The first was the FNQ 2031 regional plan funded by the Queensland Government to replace the existing FNQ 2010 plan. Where the 2010 plan was effectively advisory in nature, relying on councils to sign off on it, the 2025 plan required councils and other agencies to adhere to its outcomes. Various community groups were involved in the planning process of one year that was administered by the Department of Local Government. CAFNEC (Cairns and Far North Environment Centre) employed a part time worker to consult with the other regional environment groups. Kuranda Envirocare endorsed this approach and complied by having several meetings with the local community to gain feedback on the proposed plans. As well, they encouraged individuals to join their submissions to council so that a strong community voice was expressed.
Myola Structure Plan
The second was the Myola Plan, a major structure plan released for public consultation during 2007. Kuranda Envirocare was involved in an earlier Myola Study that looked at the potential for urban development, while preserving the environmental values of this partly forested area adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. As this development was inextricably linked to the upgrade of the Kuranda Range Road, and the need for further room for the urban expansion of Cairns, it was a highly contentious period of discussions amongst industry, all tiers of government and the community. With an eventual population increase of the order of 10,000 people, Kuranda Envirocare and Friends of the Earth Kuranda led the opposition that resulted in a final decision to exclude the Myola development until the review for the FNQ Regional Plan 2031 .
Mareeba Shire Plan
The third planning issue was an upgrade of the Mareeba Shire Plan also during 2007. It was an unusual move by the council to instigate an upgrade at the time of the 2025 process. Just a few years previously, Kuranda Envirocare, after consulting with the local community, made a very detailed submission when a new planning scheme was prepared under the Integrated Planning Act. We have constantly sought to have the precious environment of Kuranda protected, and will continue to lobby hard to preserve environmental values in our area and in the shire generally.
Phone: 07 4093 8989/4093 8393 ~~ Email: [email protected] ~~ Write: PO Box 494 Kuranda 4881
