Andrew McKinnon from Save Our Southern Beaches Alliance has been here before. In 2009 it was to save Kirra from the Tweed Sand By-Pass pumping operation that had devastated the once famous world class wave. Now the threat of a cruise ship terminal at North Kirra is threatening to cripple the environment and destroy the wave forever.
A war of words is currently being slung across the airwaves with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate calling Sunday’s Big Paddle Out at North Kirra, “a protest over nothing.”
Tracks talked to Andrew McKinnon from Save Our Southern Beaches Alliance.
How is the Gold Coast surfing community banding together to stop the proposed terminal?
By paddling out at the Big Paddle Out event on Sunday 19thJanuary at 10am Qld at North Kirra. We ask as many people to join in if you can’t paddle, please come down to the beach to make your mark. Try and get there an hour earlier so you can register and get a good park. Also sign our online petition at www.change.org/savekirra
Has the Queensland state and local government listened to the concerns of the community?
I think they are now listening very carefully and I hope our peaceful protest convinces the State Government that the Cruise Ship Terminals on the Coast are terminal. Our rallying call is No Terminals, No Casinos, No Public Land Grab on our 38 kilometre Coastal Strip from South Straddie to Coolangatta.
What do you think will happen to the beaches north of Kirra if the terminal were to go ahead?
Erosion and pollution will be scour the waters going north with the longshore south to north drift. This happened to an Ocean Marina at Brighton in the UK.
What do you envision will actually happen to Kirra if the terminal is built?
The sand will build up again and turn it into the desert that we fixed after our 2009 Australia Day Paddle Out. Notwithstanding the backwash effect from the Super Marina that will sit one kilometre out in the Ocean and Huge Ships changing the line-up swell shape. It would never be the same again.
What is going to happen with the sand flow and how will it destroy the wave?
The Sand flow will gridlock on the Southern side which is what happened on the Coolangatta side from Big Groyne Kirra. The Developers believe they have the necessary pump apparatus to redirect the sand flow. But what happens if their pumps break down. I think they have grossly underestimated the forces of nature, in terms of everyday ocean swells and strong currents that will overtake any man made machine eventually. Don’t fuck with Nature especially in the Cyclone season.
Andrew McKinnon from Southern Beaches Alliance needs your help to save Kirra. Photo by Brent OsmontWhat affect would the terminal have on surf tourism on the Gold Coast?
It would decimate it. Already people have said if it went through, they would leave. The international reputation would be ruined and surfers would travel elsewhere.
What will it take to put an end to development proposals that risk jeopardising the natural environment along the Queensland coast?
A strong will by Government to fully protect the Coastal strip that is already listed as a surfing reserve but you need proper legislation like heritage listing for it to me fully protected.
Press statement from Save Our Southern Beaches Alliance – 15th January 2014
Organizers of this Sundays Big Paddle Out Event have debunked a comment from the Gold Coast Mayor’s office published online that the Gold Coast Ocean Terminal proposal for North Kirra/Bilinga is nothing more than a plan written on the back of a napkin and that this Sunday’s Big Paddle Out at North Kirra is a protest over nothing.
Save Our Southern Beaches Alliance has produced clear evidence that the threat is real justifying the need to demonstrate with the Big Paddle Out Event for this Sunday at North Kirra against any such public land development on the 38km strip from South Straddie to Coolangatta.
On the eve of the Big Paddle Out Event for this Sunday 19th January at North Kirra where the public have been invited to protest their opposition to the proposed $2billion dollar Ocean Terminal, a war of words has erupted between the GC Mayor’s office and Organizers of the Big Paddle Out, Save Our Southern Beaches Alliance.
According to reports in an interview published online from the Australian Surfing Life ASL Magazine, Hermann Vorster, Media Advisor for GC Mayor has been quoted as saying that the organizers of the Paddle Out are protesting over nothing, and that the so called plan was written on the back of a napkin.
Media Advisor to the Gold Coast Mayor, Hermann Vorster, said
“It’s nothing more than a sketch on the back of a napkin, despite what you’ve heard or read or even what the developers have said. There has been absolutely no proposal put to council or the state government. Practically speaking, there’s nothing to protest against except a fanciful sketch. It’s an idea that completely ignores the political reality, which is that the council and state government only have one project for a cruise ship terminal.”
However a spokesman from SOSBA reiterates their position that the plan is real, that the Gold Coast Ocean Terminal received Federal Government approval re a 25 page report (link provided below) and that SOSBA has provided clear evidence of the Gold Coast Ocean Terminal’s intention with the consultant’s plan graphically illustrating the size and magnitude of the proposal.
http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6610/2012-6610-referral-decision.pdf
“I completely debunk Hermann’s interpretation that this plan has been written on the back of a napkin as you can see from the graphic illustration from a consultant for the proponent. It is far from that.
Our campaign has now embraced the campaign of fighting for the Broadwater and Kirra against such a coastal development that reclaims public land from South Straddie to Coolangatta. We will re-enforce that message at this Sunday’s Big Paddle Out Event.”
The Gold Coast Mayor Media Advisor, also accuses Andy Mac of not applauding the Mayors achievements with the completion of Big Groyne Kirra.
“We fought for the last 10 years to have Big Groyne rebuilt and are naturally delighted that the Mayor followed our repeated calls. Initially Tom Tate’s office had said as reported in the media that Mick Fanning could build it (Big Groyne) when the Mayor was not impressed with Fanning’s support of SAVEOURSPIT campaign opposed to the Mayors Broadwater plan of Cruise Ship Terminal on the public land of Wave Break Island.
Initially the Mayor walked away from his commitment to Big Groyne Kirra and then back flipped to renew his promise after a public outcry. We are indeed thankful that he honoured his Mayoral pledge. And I am personally happy that the Mayor took idea I proposed of dedicating the resurrection of Big Groyne to my friend the great and late “King of Kirra” Michael Peterson.”
World Champion Mick Fanning and the kids don’t want a terminal at Kirra. Photo by Peter SturmSOSBA would like to say that this campaign of ours is not a beef with the Mayor who won’t say what his position will be re the Gold Coast Terminal at North Kirra if his Broadwater Plan is defeated by QLD State Government, who will meet in February to make a decision.
“Our campaign is not about denigrating personalities and politicians, it’s about creating public awareness and driving a new policy of No Cruise Ship Terminals, No Casinos, No Public Land Grab on our Coastal Strip from South Straddie to Coolangatta and asking State Government to once and for all reject this type of development for the Gold Coast. We maintain the Port of Brisbane is a far better venue for a development of this magnitude. Ultimately it is the State Governments decision on the Broadwater and if rejected, the focus swings back to the North Kirra Bilinga proposal and the Ocean Terminal becomes a real threat and not something written on the back of a napkin. That is why we are paddling on Sunday to demonstrate against this type of development on public land that can threaten our greatest natural assets on the Gold Coast strip from South Straddie to Coolangatta.
Throw your support behind the Save Our Southern Beaches Campaign and sign the petition.
Head to www.facebook.com/SaveOurSouthernBeachesAlliance
The Big Paddle Out Registration link - http://surfingqueensland.com/event.php?id=247
