Hi fellow watersports friends, there is a proposal to build a mega resort @ Yorkeys Knob (Cairns).
This will spoil our unique nature up here. Once the construction is underway it will take ages to get thru to our beach and parking spots will be hard to find. The extra influx of 10,000 + !!! people in that area on any given day of the year will have a major impact not only for the rest of cairns, but also our beaches, waterways & reefs.
Please help us to conserve our beautiful region & our fantastic kite surf spot @ Yorkeys Knob.
You can find more information and sign a petition to stop this monstrosity under www.communityrun.org/petitions/stop-development-approval-for-the-aquis-great-barrier-reef-mega-casino-at-yorkey-s-knob-cairns-1
Thank You for support!
Cheers, Andre'
perhaps before signing on the advice of 1 person, a more balanced view could be achieved if the plans, council minutes, present landscape, access, population, reef structure, public benefits, job opportunities, infrastructure, EIS, future plans for the surrounding area, population projection, diversity of wildlife, cross section of the local population stats, etc etc could also be provided for all of us not familiar with the development and the area's surrounds. all unbiased of course.
not being a smart arse but personally I'm not one to blindly sign stuff without at least a good idea of whats going on.
What salty said.
From what I've heard up there, a few people could do with some work. Onwards and upwards I reckon!
Hi Andre', I can't see how construction will effect the Yorkeys kite/windsurfing spot, construction access will be off Yorkeys Knob Rd and they won't be blocking that road, so you should still be able to drive by. I'd be more worried about the Thomatis Creek mouth.
Anyway like the majority of Cairns I'm for it, the region needs this to get things happening again. No disrespect just my 2c.
Select to expand quotefiriebob said.. Anyway like the majority of Cairns I'm for it, the region needs this to get things happening again. No disrespect just my 2c.
So... flood-proofing the Bruce, promotion as Gateway to the Daintree, the Kuranda (tourist) railway, the Casino and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway have all not met up to expectations? Or just passed their honeymoon phase?
To a degree, these attract tourists; some savvy ones stay - and introverted locals are left wondering what happened when they miss out on employment opportunities.
What salty said ^^^
Plus what's this "our beach" crap?
My house is OK but don't build anymore!
And Gee I'm sick of people standing in front of their 4+4 on a road, burning oil and saying
Protect the environment.
The car park you use to gain access to the beach is 'development' !
And honestly there are hundreds of miles of empty beaches along the coast with hardly
A foot print on them, so go protect them buddy.
Select to expand quoteWollemi said..firiebob said.. Anyway like the majority of Cairns I'm for it, the region needs this to get things happening again. No disrespect just my 2c.
So... flood-proofing the Bruce, promotion as Gateway to the Daintree, the Kuranda (tourist) railway, the Casino and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway have all not met up to expectations?
Of course they have but they're older than Adam, the skyrail would have to be 20 years old, what's wrong with someone spending 4+ billion here. There'll be plenty of opportunities, even for the introverted locals. That's now 4c and I'm off to bed 
I think the petition maybe a bit late now mate, last I heard its been approved by state government and the federal goverment is stepping in to speed up the process....most locals are not happy it's going to be another few years before actual development starts!
The only downside I see is that it's just another piece of turf china will own and no doubt they will be taking more profit home than us Aussies will receive. Also with all the Chinese coming over here to work the casino I can see realeaste going up again putting it out of reach for the less advantaged.
im for it, but i think it's interesting how they are building it over mangroves etc. Seems there wasn't a lot of enviromental considerations.
Select to expand quotesouthace said..
The only downside I see is that it's just another piece of turf china will own and no doubt they will be taking more profit home than us Aussies will receive. Also with all the Chinese coming over here to work the casino I can see realeaste going up again putting it out of reach for the less advantaged.
How much of the profit do you think we "Aussies" are entitled to? It's their money they are spending here, investing in development, creating jobs, paying tax, stimulating local business and suppliers for decades - and of course attracting foreign tourists with bags full of cash to spend. Are we entitled to ask for a cut of the profits from their business as well as everything else the development and the cash investment will provide?
If you are worried about foreign countries making more money off Australian dirt than we do, then you should take a closer interest in iron ore not real estate.
Will it have a couple of kiteschools also?
Maybe we can aim for something like Boracay? That would be great for tourism I think.
There is sweet FA to do up there anyways so I think that everyone should get behind this resort.
From my understanding they fast tracked the environmental impact studies, and jumped a few hurdles. There are some beautiful birds and swamp habitats in this area but at the end of the day money talks before environment.
The Chinese that come will not support our local community. I have worked in the trade. They will choose Chinese owned tours rather than the struggling local business. But they are happy to take photo! They don't have interest in our local history. They will spend money in the two Chinese owned casinos....visit the reef once (getting seasick and nearly drowning) and then return back to china.
The Chinese that will work in the complex will shop at those Chinese supermarkets and will spike the rental property in cairns making it very difficult for Aussie locals to live,work and play in cairns.
That's my opinion anyway.
I have no knowledge about the environmental side of things, I am sure some facts will be dragged out if things are dodgy...
But are you saying that they have approval to bring in hordes of chinese national labour? I don't know but I cannot imagine that being the case...it just would not be allowed under australian employment and immigration laws. They could bring in managers to represent their interests, but the majority have to be sourced locally.
Maybe not all guests/workers will visit the local woollies and RSL, but that's not really the point....economically it can only be good.
If they want to buy property, then great, the economic benefits of a surge in housing demand is well documented....no matter who is buying it.
If you are uncertain about an influx of Chinese money and influence and that is unsettling - then say that, but don't say it won't benefit the economy and population in the area....
The Chinese tourists currently visit Woolworths Smithfield by the busload. They use it as a chance to buy 2min noodles etc and "see" the locals. As for the development, many of my friends are against it. Me I see it as exactly the same as the hoo-ha about Green Island (b4 many of my friends came up here). Well Green Island is still here and the Japanese aren't.... it's now owned by Quicksilver a Pt Douglas company. As for my or your opinion it's worth didley squat against the Newmanator.
As Keating famously said, along the lines of, "they can buy it but they can't take it home."
Select to expand quoteWollemi said... firiebob said.. Anyway like the majority of Cairns I'm for it, the region needs this to get things happening again. No disrespect just my 2c.
So... flood-proofing the Bruce, promotion as Gateway to the Daintree, the Kuranda (tourist) railway, the Casino and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway have all not met up to expectations? Or just passed their honeymoon phase?
To a degree, these attract tourists; some savvy ones stay - and introverted locals are left wondering what happened when they miss out on employment opportunities.
Flood proofing the Bruce Highway? When did that happen? Last time I went to drive from Townsville to Cairns the road was closed due to flooding (this year, post Ita)
thats right, and that's why we have a democracy, everyone vote for what benefits them. If there was some construction ie a bridge to green island, so we could sail whenever in 25 knots, drive there in half an hour and come home when you want, who would say no, regardless on how ugly the thing was. But if the bridge went some where else that you didn't care about, or didn't benefit you, you'd be saying no.
I own property in Cairns, and as such I give the aquis the thumbs up, cause my property goes up in value, do I care about the extra work for people, no, nor do I care whether it on some flodd plain, and because it's not next door to my house I don't care, call me selfish, but who isn't. I still remember Smithfield being built and no roundabouts and only 2 lanes, and yorkeys was bascially empty, even on weekends. Alot that oppose developemnt are the late comers that want to keep it all for themeleves. How about we make it that anyone born in Cairns can stay, or anyone who arrived say prior to the early 80s can stay, eveyone else go home. PS if we were knocking down rainforest, or killing some endangered species (apart from a cane farmer) I'd oppose it.
Select to expand quotebilltotal said...
[br]Hi fellow watersports friends, there is a proposal to build a mega resort @ Yorkeys Knob (Cairns).
Hooray!!Select to expand quotebilltotal said...
This will spoil our unique nature up here.
Will not. It's set inland and will not upset the lagoon areas or the beach itself at Yorkeys.Select to expand quotebilltotal said...
Once the construction is underway it will take ages to get thru to our beach and parking spots will be hard to find.
Rubbish. Where did you get that from?Select to expand quotebilltotal said...
The extra influx of 10,000 + !!! people in that area on any given day of the year will have a major impact not only for the rest of cairns, but also our beaches, waterways & reefs.
Again, no quotes, no evidence. Nothing.Select to expand quotebilltotal said...
Please help us to conserve our beautiful region & our fantastic kite surf spot @ Yorkeys Knob.
Locals and local businesses already do!
If anything this resort is going to be a huge boost to the local economy and encourage further development and investment in Cairns and NQ in general.
In fact the pool lagoons they plan to build could even be another kite spot! Local kite shops could teach toursists there, again making huge inroads into local businesses.
And I am a Greenie! I am all for this development. The area is a swamp anyway, does nothing to anyone other than keep some crocs alive if that.
Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said...
And I am a Greenie! I am all for this development. The area is a swamp anyway, does nothing to anyone other than keep some crocs alive if that.
You are a Greenie, like do you recycle your XXXX cans?
Tony Abbott said recently that he was a conservationist!
Pigs can fly.....
LOL
Actually I recycle my Corona bottles and VB cans.
XXXX cans I use to add extra float on my kiteboard. 
