Resort Eco Watch Geographical Issue

Resort eco watch

BY DARYL PASSMORE

Federal Environment Minister Peter
Garrett is being urged to block a
$1.5 billion tourism and residential
development in north Queensland,
to protect endangered turtles.
The area at Ella Bay, 9 km north of Innisfail, is
surrounded on three sides by World Heritage-listed wet
tropics rainforest and on the other by a 2.5 km beach
frontage to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The proposed development, by Satori Resorts on a
450 ha disused cattle property, has been dubbed ‘the new
Port Douglas’.
It would include four fi ve-star resorts totalling 860 units
and villas, 540 homes, shops, offi ces, restaurants, a golf
course, educational precinct and sports centre.
The largest master-planned community of its type in
Australia, the Ella Bay proposal was recognised by the
State Government as a project of state signifi cance in
2005 and a decision on the plan from the Co-ordinator-
General was expected in May this year.
But its future is now in doubt after Mr Garrett decided
to re-evaluate the project under federal environmental
legislation following the discovery of marine turtle
nesting sites.
Danielle Annese, from Humane Society International,
said all six species of marine turtles found in Australia
were listed as threatened. ‘They are already under intense
pressure from development,’ she said.
The turtle nests were fi rst spotted in November by
Russell Constable, from nearby Bramston Beach, who
then conducted a more extensive survey along that stretch
of coast.
He is not a member of any environmental group but
said he was keen to see the area protected.
But a report commissioned by Satori Resorts last week
says only one nest was found within the proposed area
and eight more 300 m north.
John Thoroughgood of independent consultants FRC
Environmental said the nesting habitat was ‘marginal’.
The development, over 10 years, would create
1500 jobs at the peak of construction and 760 once the
resort was operating, making it the biggest employer in
the Cassowary Coast region.
Satori director Rod Lamb was confi dent it would go
ahead.
A spokesman for Mr Garrett said a decision would be
made as soon as possible.
Source: Sunday Mail, 15 March 2009.


Read the newspaper article on the proposed
new resort at Ella Bay and answer the following
questions.
Which o a f the following geographical issues is
touched on in the article?
air quality, coastal management, land and
water management, spatial inequality, waste
management, urban growth and decline
b What is the spatial dimension of the issue?
c What is the ecological dimension of the issue?
d How have individuals, groups and governments
responded to the issue?