COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA SENATE Official Committee Hansard ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS REFERENCES COMMITTEE Reference: Hinchinbrook Channel THURSDAY, 30 JULY 1998 CARDWELL BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE CANBERRA 1997 INTERNET The Proof and Official Hansard transcripts of Senate committee hearings, some House of Representatives committee hearings and some joint committee hearings are available on the Internet. Some House of Representatives committees and some joint committees make available only Official Hansard transcripts. The Internet address is: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard SENATE ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS REFERENCES COMMITTEE THURSDAY, 30 JULY 1998 Members: Senator Allison (Chair), Senator Tierney (Deputy Chair), Senators Hogg, Lundy, O’Chee, Payne, Reynolds and Schacht Participating members: Senators Abetz, Bartlett, Bolkus, Boswell, Brown, Calvert, George Campbell, Chapman, Colston, Coonan, Cooney, Eggleston, Chris Evans, Faulkner, Ferguson, Ian Macdonald, Margetts, McKiernan, Neal, Patterson and Woodley Senators in attendance: Senators Allison, Hogg, Ian Macdonald, O’Chee and Payne Terms of reference for the inquiry: 1. The relationships between Federal, state and local governments and developers in the Hinchinbrook Channel. 2. The effect of developments on the environment of the Hinchinbrook Channel and surrounding environs. 3. Whether governments have met their obligations under the various acts and agree- ments that deal with the Hinchinbrook area. 4. Alternatives to the existing regime. 5. What lessons have been learned and what can be done to prevent problems like this occurring in the future. WITNESSES ADCOCK, Mr Ian Douglas, Director, Corporate and Community Services, Cardwell Shire Council, PO Box 401, Tully, Queensland 4854 ..................... 90 ANDERSON, Ms Denise, Treasurer, Concerned Residents of Cardwell Shire Association Inc., PO Box 21, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ................. 81 FISK, Mr Paul, Executive Officer, Girringun Elders and Reference Group Aborigi- nal Corporation, PO Box 303, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ................ 54 GIANDOMENICO, Mr Giuseppantonio, Mayor, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, PO Box 366, Ingham, Queensland 4850 ................................. 66 HALLAM, Mr Lindsay John, Chairman, Port Hinchinbrook Subcommittee, Cardwell Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 14, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 .... 2 HARVEY, Mr Alan Sydney, Chief Executive Officer, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, PO Box 366, Ingham, Queensland 4850 .............................. 66 HUNT, Mr Ronald Alexander, Deputy Mayor, Cardwell Shire Council, PO Box 401, Tully, Queensland 4854 .......................................... 90 KIMBLE, Mr David Alan, Management Committee Member, Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation, P.O. Box 165, Mission Beach, Queensland 4852 ........................................................ 112 KUSKOPF, Mr Colin, Vice President, Concerned Residents of Cardwell Shire Association Inc., PO Box 21, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ................. 81 McCRISTAL, Mr Victor Francis, Member, Sunfish, P.O. Box 330, Aitkenvale, Queensland 4814 ............................................... 21 McINTYRE, Mr Frank Christopher, Town Planning Officer, Cardwell Shire Council, PO Box 401, Tully, Queensland 4854 ......................... 90 MULLER, Ms Carolyn, Honorary Secretary, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (Tully & District Branch), P.O. Box 771, Tully, Queensland 4854 . 112 OELLERMANN, Mrs Rosamond Elizabeth, Member, Cardwell Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 14, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ..................... 2 PARKER, Mr Ken, Friends of Hinchinbrook Society Inc, PO Box 281, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ............................................... 39 PETTIGREW, Mr John William, Deputy Director, Engineering Services, Cardwell Shire Council, PO Box 401, Tully, Queensland 4854 ..................... 90 PRIOR, Ms Margaret Elizabeth, Proprietor and Chief Pilot, Cardwell Air Charter, P.O. Box 225, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ............................ 104 RIST, Mr Phil, Native Title Coordinator, Girringun Elders and Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation, PO Box 303, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 .......... 54 SHEEDY, Mr Peter Edward, Manager, Canegrowers Herbert River District, PO Box 410, Ingham, Queensland 4850 ................................. 66 SUTTON, Mr Paul Joseph, President, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (Hinchinbrook Branch), P.O. Box 1184, Ingham, Queensland 4850 ......... 112 THORSBORNE, Mrs Margaret, Secretary, Friends of Hinchinbrook Society Inc, PO Box 281, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ................................ 39 TURPIN, Mr Paul, Wet Tropics Liaison Officer, Girringun Elders and Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation, PO Box 303, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ..... 54 VEITCH, Mr Vernon Maxwell, Branch Deputy Chair, Sunfish, P.O. Box 330, Aitkenvale, Queensland 4814 ...................................... 21 VITALE, Mr Vincenzo, Member, Sunfish, P.O. Box 330, Aitkenvale, Queensland 4814 ........................................................ 21 WHITEMAN, Mr William Grant, Deputy Chair, Cardwell Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 14, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 .............................. 2 WHITEMAN, Mr William Grant, Pilot and Business Associate, Cardwell Air Charter, P.O. Box 225, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 ..................... 104 ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS REFERENCES COMMITTEE Hinchinbrook Channel CARDWELL Thursday, 30 July 1998 SENATE—References ERC&A 1 Committee met at 9.05 a.m. CHAIR—I welcome you all to this first public hearing of the Senate Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts References Committee’s inquiry into Hinchinbrook Channel. Before proceeding, the committee wishes to stress that, although it examines witnesses at its public hearings, a committee hearing is not a court of law. The purpose of the committee’s inquiry is not to stop the Port Hinchinbrook development, nor is it to give it official approval. In its role of Senate environment committee, the committee’s primary focus is on environmental issues. For this reason we have not accepted submissions and will not hear evidence which does not address environmental issues related to the proposed develop- ment at Port Hinchinbrook. Committee public hearings give to a wide range of people an opportunity to have their concerns heard in a parliamentary forum. The committee recognises the sensitivity of the issues before it and the strength of feeling generated by those issues. However, we ask that all those present respect the right of each witness to be heard in silence. If there are any disruptions to the evidence of any witness, we intend to suspend proceedings immediately. I call for your cooperation for the democratic process to take its course. Those who wish to respond to issues raised in the evidence of witnesses heard today will be able to do so in writing to the committee. The committee prefers that evidence be given in public, but, should you at any stage wish to give your evidence, part of your evidence or answers to specific questions in camera, you may ask to do so and the committee will consider your request. I point out, however, that evidence taken in camera may subsequently be made public by order of the Senate. I welcome Mr Greg Smith and other representatives of the Cardwell Chamber of Commerce to the table. ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS ERC&A 2 SENATE—References Thursday, 30 July 1998 [9.07 a.m.] HALLAM, Mr Lindsay John, Chairman, Port Hinchinbrook Subcommittee, Cardwell Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 14, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 OELLERMANN, Mrs Rosamond Elizabeth, Member, Cardwell Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 14, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 WHITEMAN, Mr William Grant, Deputy Chair, Cardwell Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 14, Cardwell, Queensland 4849 Mr Whiteman—Just to correct the record, Mr Greg Smith, the chairman of our chamber, will not be attending this morning. We wish to pass on his apologies. He had an accident last night and is in hospital in Townsville today, so I will be acting chair. CHAIR—Thank you. The committee has before it submission No. 123 which it has authorised to be published. Are there any alterations or additions you would care to make before I invite you to make an opening statement? Mr Whiteman—No. CHAIR—We invite you to make a brief opening statement or we can proceed straight to questions. Mr Whiteman—I have a short opening statement. First of all, I would like to welcome the committee to Cardwell. Unlike other Senate inquiries, we appreciate you taking the opportunity to come to Cardwell to discuss with us as local representatives local issues regarding Port Hinchinbrook and the Hinchinbrook Channel. Our charter is to ensure the best future management of our area. The vast majority of residents know that the Port Hinchinbrook development is consistent with this goal, and our membership comprises a wide cross-section of our community ranging from farming to light industry, tourism, small business and genuine conservationists. This morning we would like to concentrate on the positive benefits that will be enjoyed, and are already being enjoyed, by our community through the Port Hinchinbrook develop- ment. Lindsay Hallam, the chairperson of our Port Hinchinbrook subcommittee, will address these benefits from a community and business point of view, while Ros Oellermann will respond to tourism issues. Bill Whiteman, our vice-president, will address your committee