Media Release

14 September 2017: KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter used Question Time on Tuesday to seek intervention by the Minister for the Environment and Energy given the unacceptably slow progress made on the Mission Beach breakwater project.
The project is currently with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), a process which could take a further 12 months.
Mr Katter’s question read:
“Environment Minister, Mission Beach – the jewel in the crown – jungle, waterfalls, 14km beach.
· Harrold Holt’s refuge from cold Victoria
· home to actress Diane Cilento wife of 007
· And acclaimed artist Helen Wiltshire
· And where Australia lost its innocence, when Helen Mirren lost her clothes.
Since there’s no safe harbour between Townsville and Cairns $5.5m for Yasi recovery – went to a safe harbour breakwater.
Visitor numbers pre-Yasi 36,000 - now 20,000. 23 businesses gone - a little town dying.
Yet GBRMPA advises the breakwater’s still a year away. Minister will you be our 007 and rescue Mission Beach?”
Minister Frydenberg replied that the Federal Government would not stand in the way of delivering a breakwater safe harbor to the Mission Beach community.
Following this question Mr Katter met with the Minister along with James Neville Smith, one of Mission Beach’s biggest tourism ambassadors and investors as well as being owner of Castaways Resort and Spa.
The Minister committed to calling the Head of GBRMPA and the project being looked at as the priority.
Mr Katter said it was astounding that in the six years since funding has been awarded, nothing had been done and that by asking the question publically it would bring the project back into the limelight.
“Mayor John Kremastos and the other Councillors said that $230m of development depends on the breakwater – Dunk Island, Bedarra, Castaways, Tam-O-Shanter and I hope three other developments.
“Nobody wants Mission Beach to be a Surfers Paradise by the sea, but for economic survival we need safe access to the sea.
“Not only is Mission Beach the closest mainland access point to the Great Barrier Reef, but reef is also visible at low tide at the nearby Garners Beach.
“Using a ramp with is invariable slippery and dangerous, your legs in water that contains irukandji and box jelly fish, crocodiles, sharks and stingrays that precludes us from access to the sea as Mission Beachers and Nth Qlders.
“There is going to be blood everywhere unless there is a breakwater built from Clump Point immediately,” Mr Katter said.
“The money has now been sitting there for over six years, but a little town where over 23 businesses have closed is being strangled to death by Government red tape”.
Mr Katter paid tribute to all the Mission Beach fighters who have continued to push for his project, over all of the years. He also paid tribute to State Member Shane Knuth MP who was instrumental in getting the location decision reversed back in 2015.
Mr Neville Smith agreed, “For too long Mission Beach has been held back. We need investment in the future and this safe boat harbor will open the flood gates to investment into Mission Beach” he said.
“As soon as we see that the project will be proceeding we will commit additional investment in the form of support inventory at Castaways Resort and Spa. And the Mission Beach community will see economic benefits the rest of the country has enjoyed from appropriate tourism infrastructure development”.
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