Our Kuranda property was recently sprayed with the herbicide Roundup by Council workers without our authorisation. Our property adjoins Jumrum Creek which ultimately flows to the Great Barrier Reef via the Barron River. Due to the ecological sensitivity of our property and region, we initiated a formal complaint through the Queensland Ombudsman. Mareeba Shire Council’s actions and subsequent dismissive response reveals a common belief that Roundup is innocuous. While this complacency has been fostered through decades of aggressive marketing by agrochemical company Monsanto, there is mounting research suggesting Roundup is toxic not only to the environment, but to human health.

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified Roundup’s declared principle ingredient ‘glyphosate’ as "probably carcinogenic to humans"[1]. The European Chemicals Agency has classified it “a substance causing serious eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects"[2]. After bitter division in 2017 the European Union approved a limited 5-year licence for glyphosate, with France declaring a ban within 3 years. Currently, more than 700 US farmers, landscapers & gardeners are involved in a lawsuit against Monsanto claiming that exposure to glyphosate caused their cancers.[3]

Wednesday 3rd January

6pm, 

Kuranda: 11 Kuranda Cresc, [text: where is the meeting again? 0403214422]

Members and Friends and potential campaigners! Bring your friends

You are invited to the FoE FNQ New Year tea party this Wednesday 3 January at 6pm, at 11 Kuranda Cresc. Celebrate the wins of 2017 and help set our priorities for 2018. Bring a plate and share a meal in the rainforest while putting the world to right.

All welcome who are interested in protecting this very special area. You and your valuable time and energy are appreciated and needed.

If you cannot come to the party but would like to be involved, please let us know your availability so you can come next time! We can organise video links in 2018 if that works best for you... You are important to us. 😀

And in the meantime have a very Happy New Year.

Thank you all for your support in 2017!

John, Margaret & Sarah

http://www.foefnq.org.au/

Successes and Activity 2017

KurWorld assistance

Stop Adani communications, database and action support

Cassowary Keystone strategy assistance

Bat interventions at Mareeba

Supporting Koah community's campaigns about contaminated bore water & fire management

Plans and issues for 2018 include:

Land clearing and land use in FNQ

Poison use in the region

Establishing a Tablelands FoE working group based in Mareeba

plus bring your concerns and campaign ideas.

http://www.foefnq.org.au/

Mareeba Council Fails Kuranda Community Again

At the July 2017 council meeting, it took just nine minutes for council to pass more than four motions, two of which allowed assessment of high density, rural residential developments in an environmentally fragile area (Myola Valley, Kuranda) under the old, 2004- and now superseded planning scheme.

 The high density. rural residential development applications are for the Kuranda vets' land (subdivision into approximately 48 blocks of around 2 acres in size) and the Barnwell road property (site of the ambitious and possibly fictional KUR-World project) of 176 blocks also of around 2 acres each.

These subdivisions would not be deemed appropriate according to the Mareeba Shire Council 2016 plan, the FNQ2031 plan and the State Planning mapping (Matters of Environmental significance). Hence this extraordinary tactic of trying to have the developments assessed under the old plan, which was rejected a decade ago by the Kuranda community and eventually by the State Government.

Mareeba Council Fails Kuranda Community Again

At the July 2017 council meeting, it took just nine minutes for council to pass more than four motions, two of which allowed assessment of high density, rural residential developments in an environmentally fragile area (Myola Valley, Kuranda) under the old, 2004- and now superseded planning scheme.

 The high density. rural residential development applications are for the Kuranda vets' land (subdivision into approximately 48 blocks of around 2 acres in size) and the Barnwell road property (site of the ambitious and possibly fictional KUR-World project) of 176 blocks also of around 2 acres each.

 These subdivisions would not be deemed appropriate according to the Mareeba Shire Council 2016 plan, the FNQ2031 plan and the State Planning mapping (Matters of Environmental significance). Hence this extraordinary tactic of trying to have the developments assessed under the old plan, which was rejected a decade ago by the Kuranda community and eventually by the State Government.

There have been numerous Cassowary sightings reported to conservation groups across the Myola area over the past years, which indicates it is Cassowary habitat. The valley is home to two species that are both highly endangered and entirely unique to this small area. In general, Myola is an area of exceptional biodiversity and an important buffer zone for the World Heritage Wet Tropics.

Council refused conservationists permission to speak at the Council meeting. For months, Councillors have refused to engage with us about the Myola development on the grounds that the 'KUR-World' project has become a State matter. Now they have voted to assess an application for subdivision of the very same land under the old planning scheme. Legal or not, this is an appalling breach of process from the vast majority of Councillors . The decisions were not unanimous with at least one councillor, Lenore Wyatt, abstaining from voting on these motions. We thank Lenore for representing our community views.

Along with other conservationists, we shall seek legal advice with a view to overturning this appalling Council decision. We also believe the State Government has a clear responsibility to intervene and nix this backdoor subdivision scheme before it wastes any more of the community's time. Craig Crawford must now show he cares about this region’s environment- and stand up for due process and genuine integrated planning.

Premier gives Kuranda the thumbs up

The Premier got a roasting from many of us over the Adani mine at the Cairns Leagues Club in early July. However she showed genuine concern over the KUR-World proposal and expressed a personal affection for Kuranda. Most of our local Council may not appear to care about protecting Kuranda's environment but intelligent outsiders are often more sympathetic.

NEXT EVENT: Free FoE Workshop in Koah with Phil & Sam of FoE Australia 'Organising Successful Campaigning in a Digital Age' -10.30am – 1.30pm Wed 16 August. Ring Sarah on 4085 0054 to book your place. See www.foefnq.org.au and follow us on Facebook to keep informed about FoE events and meetings.

In previous articles we mentioned the dangers associated with conventional agriculture as bores have turned up with too high levels of arsenic in Koah possibly due to the use of arsenic during tobacco farming times. Conventional farming uses many dangerous chemicals. Some insecticides, for example the much used Methomyl and Chlorpyrifos are anti-cholinesterases(nerve poisons) just like Sarin. In fact it was only after some potent insecticides were developed that armies also saw their usefulness in chemical warfare.

It follows that keeping conventional agriculture as far away as possible from environmental values and populated areas is a safe precaution.

In previous articles we mentioned the dangers associated with conventional agriculture as bores have turned up with too high levels of arsenic in Koah possibly due to the use of arsenic during tobacco farming times. Conventional farming uses many dangerous chemicals. Some insecticides, for example the much used Methomyl and Chlorpyrifos are anti-cholinesterases(nerve poisons) just like Sarin. In fact it was only after some potent insecticides were developed that armies also saw their usefulness in chemical warfare.

It follows that keeping conventional agriculture as far away as possible from environmental values and populated areas is a safe precaution.

FOE Questions the Subdividing of KOAH until Issues of Water are Resolved

see Cairns Post Article Nov 19 2016

Mareeba Shire Council continues to subdivide Koah region without solving water issues. Mareeba Shire Council is giving different messages regarding its responsibilities regarding safe drinkable water.

Planner Brian Millard wrote to Kuranda Region Planning Group that

“In terms of planning requirements for subdivisions outside of a reticulated water supply network, the developer must show an adequate water supply.”

He suggests it’s up to the owners to test and treat their own water. But this appears to contradict other advice and regulations attached to subdivisions.

It’s true that Council is not directly responsible for bore water quality. However when the Planning Department of the MSC makes a subdivision subject to potable water (“each lot must be provided with potable water”) this surely means that the water is drinkable and not just available. 

Foe FNQ is assuming that the definition of “potable” is drinkable according to particular Standards. Who's responsibility is it?

Write to the Council NOW

We need you to take action about the potential long term harm of Pesticides in the Barron.

They harm the people's health.

They harm the fragile reef.

They harm the ecological balance of the Wet Tropics.

Email Mayor Gilmore and your local shire Councillor NOW!

Make the following points

1. We can't possibly know what pesticides are in the Barron because tests are only for a small proportion of the pesticides potentially used in the region. Tests are only conducted a few times a year - and not necessarily after the wet when the worst run-off occurs.

2. The Risk Assessment regime is therefore flawed

3. Pesticides have been shown to have long term harm to human health [e.g. neurological effects and cancer in humans] and upset the natural ecological balance [e.g. killing frogs and bees]. 

4. Council must put out a disclaimer that they CAN'T GUARANTEE that the Kuranda or Mareeba town water is safe to drink.

5. Council must do comprehensive testing.

Get email addresses for your Councillor

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The health of children along the Barron is at risk

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER 

to campaign for proper testing of the Barron River Water Quality

Chain Reaction is the journal for Friends of the Earth Australia.

The August 2016 edition had the following two articles written in the Far North by FoE FNQ president John Glue and Margie Pestorius.

Will militarism block the climate change movement?

At the start of the election campaign Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt visited Cairns to re-announce $50 million in new projects to boost water quality, including efforts to keep sediment, fertilisers and pesticides off the Great Barrier Reef. This re-announcement was partly to allay concerns over research showing 93% of the Reef had been bleached and dire predictions that the Reef will be terminal in as little as 5 to 20 years.

Read More