How you can help save North Wall Beach
The iconic surf beach at Mackay Harbour is under threat and I encourage you to have your say through a submission to TMR.
‘Leave our beach and turtles alone’
Well done to the hundreds of people who came to North Wall Beach at Mackay Harbour to show their support for a much-loved piece of coastline and turtle nesting area. And a huge thanks to the volunteers who put this event together at short notice. You make me proud to represent our community.
You may not be aware that large amounts of North Wall Beach are earmarked to be resumed by the Queensland Government under the Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Department’s Priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay plan.
This will possibly mean closing public access to North Wall Beach — a favourite spot for swimmers, surfers, nature lovers, and the ocean turtles that use this area for nesting.
I’m all for planning and growth but the Queensland Government has tried to sneak this through without genuine community consultation.
Here’s what you can do
I have called on the Minister to extend the consultation period by one month to ensure people are aware of the plan and have time to make a submission. I look forward to his reply but in the meantime, here are two things I strongly encourage you to do.
Make your voice heard through a submission to TMR, which has not properly consulted with the community. Submissions close on Monday, December 12.
What I’ve been fighting for lately
In Parliament this week I stood up for the people of the Pioneer Valley who will be impacted by Queensland Labor’s proposed Pioneer Burdekin Hydro Scheme.
I also recently spoke in Parliament in support of mandatory seafood labelling in cafes and restaurants across Queensland. Country-of-origin labelling will help consumers be more aware of where their seafood is from and help them to support our local fishermen and seafood vendors.
I called on Cannonvale residents to have their say on the site of their new fire station via a Queensland Parliament petition.
This month I continued to advocate for a solution to the Shute Harbour Boat Ramp problem and the issues involving the Mackay Hospital and Health Service, along with many other issues that people bring through my office.
Queensland grants: What’s up for grabs
It’s wonderful to see grant funds coming into Whitsunday, improving our schools, community and sporting facilities and giving businesses a boost. Here is what’s on offer and what’s coming up:
Round 116 — a ‘super’ $100,000 round — of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund will open mid-January 2023 and close at midnight on February 28, 2023. This fund helps not-for-profit groups provide services, leisure activities and opportunities for Queensland communities.
Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants offer up to $200,000 as a co-contribution grant to strengthen primary production sectors and bolster rural communities. Round five expressions of interest opened on November 9, 2022 and will close on January 30, 2023.
Applications are now open for the Queensland Government’s Celebrating Reconciliation Grants Program for 2023. These grants fund reconciliation events and activities to the value of $3000 to be held in or around National Reconciliation Week. Applications close on Friday, December 23, 2022.
Seven not-for-profit community groups from the Whitsunday electorate shared in more than $162,000 through Round 114 of the Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
Congratulations to Proserpine Bowls Club, Fauna Rescue Whitsundays Association, Proserpine Golf Club, Seaforth Men’s Shed Association, Queensland Country Women’s Association Proserpine Branch, Soroptimist International of Mackay, and Proserpine Historical Museum Society.
Learn how each group will be putting its funding to good use.
I’ve joined TikTok!
As part of my quest to encourage people of all ages to engage with politics, I’ve signed up to TikTok.
You can follow me here.
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Our Queen led with service and a stoic style and was a true inspiration to many. I was honoured to be able to offer my condolences in Queensland Parliament, reflecting on Her Majesty’s influence on the Mackay/Whitsunday region.
Turning up the volume for Whitsunday
Until we meet again with my next edition of the Camm Connect e-newsletter, you can have your say on key issues of importance through my 30-second community survey, or contact me through my various communication channels.
Best regards in what I hope will be a busy but beautiful month for everyone.
