|
|
Sponsors - SOS AllianceNext MeetingTuesday 7th July, 5 pm Executive Room Southport SLSC Please return all petitions to Gecko (address below)
Save Our Spit Alliance by Lois Levy.The SOS Alliance has been very busy over the past month and continues to meet every fortnight to pursue the campaign to keep the public open space on the Spit for the people of the Gold Coast and to protect the waters of the Broadwater for the marine species and the human users. Delegation. On 29th April members of the Alliance met with Dr Leo Kelliher, Director General of the Premiers Department, and representatives of the Department of State Development to present our case. The Alliance was represented by Methven Sparkes, Nerang Community Association; Steve Gration, Main Beach Progress Association; Lyn Wright, Friends of federation Walk; Shona Pinkerton, Devocean Dive Company; John Johnston, Sunfish recreational fishers association, and Lois Levy, Gecko, Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council. Steve Gration also presented the case for Surfers Against Ships. The outcomes of the meeting were:- The Government was interested to hear all arguments and appeared very interested in the submissions from the dive and recreational fishing industries as a new perspective and they agreed that there would be no backdoor deals and that any decision would be based on sound environmental science. They stated that they had not yet considered the preliminary feasibility study or the simulation study, but if it looked promising it may go to an environmental impact assessment with full public consultation. Requests for copies of these documents were met with refusal unless we went through FOI. It was made clear to the Government that the Alliance would not wait for any EIA process and the community would not accept a developer gaining access to public open space for his own benefit. Labor Branch Meeting. The Alliance was invited by the Burleigh Heads branch of the Labor Party to present its case. The invitation was for a 10 minute presentation, but Steve, Shona and Linda were so persuasive that the discussion continued over an hour and the branch members resolved to support the Alliance and lobby the Government. Million Paws Walk. A brave sole campaigner, Linda Ray, staffed an information stall on the route leading to Sunday's Million Paws Walk. This event was targeted as the dog lead-free beach on the Spit would not be accessible(in the event of a cruise terminal), to the hundreds of dogs (and their owners) who use it for recreation. Linda handed out information on a People and Parks day planned for early July at which many doggie events will take place including a best dressed protesting pooch competition. She was well received by the dog owners and many also signed the petition. Our Marine Treasure- the Seaway. At a recent meeting of the Alliance, underwater photographer, Ian Banks, presented a 10 minute video of two nights filming of the marine life in the Seaway. It is a beautiful film of amazing sea creatures and fish I have never heard of or seen including the rare and strange waspfish. The sea life there now has taken nearly 20 years to recover from the impact of building the Seaway. The constant dredging required for a cruise liner terminal will see the permanent destruction of this marine life. Ian will take more film and develop it further into a very convincing visual presentation of why the Seaway should not be dredged. People and Parks Day. On the 31st of July, the Alliance held a day when all the people who use the Spit for an amazing variety of activities will be came together and celebrated the Spit and Broadwater's reserves and open spaces. The day was a huge success with those who attended with the highlight being a play. Check images of the action from the Gallery. Trinity Lutheran College Cruise Ship Terminal Debate20th April 2005 Report by Steve Gration Trinity Lutheran College, Gold Coast, invited me recently to participate in a debate about the proposed cruise ship terminal for The Spit and Broadwater. Approximately sixty Year 11 students had spent the day with their teachers, including Biology teacher Mr. John Allwood, out in the field observing the Broadwater, South Stradbroke Island and their environs. After dinner at the Nara Resort, we gathered in a conference room. Dean Leigh-Smith represented the 'Pro' cruise ship terminal argument and I presented the argument against. We each spoke for approximately 20 minutes and the debate was conducted in a good spirit. The students asked many challenging and astute questions of the two debaters at the conclusion of our presentations. After question time the students were asked by Mr. Allwood to vote with their feet by congregating with the debater they supported. A student debater was then selected to represent the students side of the argument in a 5 minute presentation. Students assisted their chosen presenter by listing the main points of the argument they had noted from the guest debaters and adding their own beliefs and concerns. Approximately 75% of the students crossed to the 'Against' a cruise ship terminal side of the room to support my stance of 'No Cruise Ship terminal in the Broadwater, No dredging of the Seaway and No constructions on The Spit.' The two student representatives presented their summaries of the arguments and once again their was overwhelming support for the 'No Cruise Ship Terminal' point of view. I was delighted with the conduct of the students throughout the evening. They displayed a mature and informed approach to the debate. The Trinity Lutheran students I met on the night were a credit to themselves, their teachers, their school and the Gold Coast Community.
|
|
home
| sponsors | volunteers | contact us | downloads | links |
.jpg)