The crystal clear waters and picturesque headlands of Queensland’s coast could seem a great distance from busy polling cubicles.
However the end result of at present’s election may affect among the finest surf breaks on the planet.
Noosa, Snapper Rocks, Kirra, and Burleigh are excessive on the checklist of any surfer’s dream locations.
They’re additionally among the many nation’s hottest tourism hubs and are underneath fixed menace from builders.
These seashores have the symbolic safety of a plaque and a handshake settlement to not construct something that might wreck the waves, however there is no such thing as a assure future leaders will honour the deal.
The southern Gold Coast suburb of Coolangatta is dwelling to the “superbank”, top-of-the-line waves on the planet. (Provided)
Path to surf reserve
Again in 2016, the 16 kilometres of shoreline between Burleigh Heads and Snapper Rocks turned a World Browsing Reserve, in response to a controversial proposal to construct an offshore cruise ship terminal at Kirra that surfers argued would destroy the southern Gold Coast’s famed sand-bottom level breaks.
The 5km stretch from the Noosa River across the Nationwide Park headland to Sunshine Seaside adopted quickly after.
Noosa, on the northern reaches of the Sunshine Coast, is a particular place for surfers. (Provided: David Cook dinner)
Reserves have been established at 12 of the globe’s premier browsing places, recognising their environmental, cultural and financial significance, and defending the waves from improvement.
Whereas the title of World Browsing Reserve is ceremonial, most jurisdictions have gone on to enshrine them in legislation — just like protections supplied to nationwide and state parks.
Queensland has not.
Damaged guarantees
The state authorities did not ship on a promise of authorized safety for the Gold Coast and Noosa World Browsing Reserves.
Former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared the laws was a “prime precedence” throughout a world browsing convention on the Gold Coast in February 2020 and doubled down on the dedication through the election marketing campaign that yr.
The Labor authorities was re-elected however after 4 years of session, ministerial roundtables, dialogue papers, draft insurance policies, and an interdepartmental working group, there’s nonetheless no authorized safety for a few of Australia’s most celebrated waves.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles, browsing legend Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, and former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk through the 2020 election marketing campaign. (Provided: Queensland Labor)
A brand new safety coverage — to be carried out via an modification to the coastal improvement and tidal works code underneath the Planning Act — was authorized in July however was not signed off earlier than the federal government entered caretaker mode for the election.
It will perform as a further layer of crimson tape for any improvement that might adversely have an effect on wave formation.
A letter despatched by Premier Steven Miles final month assured the Gold Coast World Browsing Reserve the coverage can be finalised subsequent time period.
Labor is extensively tipped to lose the election, however current polling suggests the race has tightened.
Unsure future
The chair of the Gold Coast World Browsing Reserve, Andrew McKinnon, has led the decade-long marketing campaign for defense of the waves and stays optimistic a brand new authorities would honour the laws.
Save the Waves Coalition chief govt Nik Robust Cvetich and Gold Coast World Browsing Reserve chairman Andrew McKinnon on the launch ceremony in 2016. (Provided: Luke Sorensen)
“I wish to see this as a bipartisan factor; it should not be political,” he stated.
“It’s such a precious asset and it is not solely the Gold Coast we’re speaking about right here, it is Noosa as effectively.”
The 5 iconic level breaks at Noosa Heads Nationwide Park — First Level, Little Cove, Boiling Pot, Tea Tree Bay, and Granite Bay. (Provided: Paul Smith, Noosa World Browsing Reserve)
The Gold Coast council has by no means been a fan, voting unanimously to voice its “sturdy opposition” to laws of the World Browsing Reserve when it was introduced, due to fears it could possibly be used to dam improvement on the beachfront.
Whereas some councillors have since softened their stance, the town’s Mayor Tom Tate has not and stated he hoped the laws “will get shredded”.
“Once we supported it, we honoured the title of world browsing reserve however there was to not be any future laws in anyway,” he stated.
“My perspective is they need to persist with what they agreed on.”
The Gold Coast’s surf life-style makes it a sexy possibility for abroad and interstate traders. (ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale)
The LNP wouldn’t decide to supporting Labor’s coverage in its present kind, that means authorized safety of the surf breaks could possibly be delayed or scrapped altogether.
“Labor badly let down surfers once they broke a promise to guard Burleigh’s iconic break,” the LNP’s Burleigh candidate and former councillor Hermann Vorster stated.
“If elected this Saturday, I will work with the surfers and the council to see whether or not the proposed coverage is sensible or wants a recent look.”
