PDA

View Full Version : Should Rec Fishos Join Surfers In Next Election



Derek_Bullock
06-02-2006, 06:33 PM
The following appeared in the news. Will recreation fishers and in particular the Fishing Party join surfers to wipe out labour at the next election.

Something to ponder and think on.


Derek


Surfers promise to wipe out Labor

Paul Weston

05feb06

SURFERS are predicting a wipeout for Labor on the Gold Coast if the State Government proceeds with a cruise ship terminal on the Southport Spit.

They say the Gold Coast's army of 50,000 surfers would mobilise to defeat Labor if the terminal plan proceeds.

Thousands of surfers, divers, boaties and anglers are expected to attend a land and sea rally at the Gold Coast Seaway at noon today as the campaign heats up to have the proposal scrapped.

"Anyone who ran as an Independent on this issue in Southport would be a shoo-in," said broadcaster and former Surf Queensland president Andrew McKinnon. "The message needs to be driven through to Peter Beattie.

"Everybody I've spoken to doesn't want it."

Environmental scientist Tom Alletson, a member of the Surfrider Foundation and Save Our Spit alliance, said today's rally would deliver a simple message.

"That message will be you can stick your cruise ships where they fit – not the Spit," Mr Alletson said.

An preliminary report confirms surfers and other recreational users will be excluded from the seaway if a cruise ship docks at the proposed terminal.

The report reveals the terminal will be built on the northwestern end of the spit within the seaway to accommodate vessels up to 300m long. It is the spot from which surfers launch to get to South Stradbroke Island.

Surfers believe the report backs up their initial fears about the seaway having to be regularly dredged once the terminal is built.

They fear dredging will permanently damage sandbanks off South Stradbroke Island which create perfect waves.

South Straddie provides more surfing days each year than any other beach and you can get 400 surfers over there on a Saturday," Mr Alletson said.

Save Our Spit alliance acting president Steven Gration said the alliance was considering running candidates in several Coast seats.

"I also noticed that the Nationals passed a resolution of no cruise ship terminal, so a National could win a marginal Labor seat down here," he said.

"There could be independents running on this issue. We feel confident they could take some of the seats," Mr Gration said.

"Peter Beattie is deluding himself if he thinks the cruise ship terminal is a vote-catcher on the Gold Coast.

"The feeling we get from local people is they believe they are being betrayed by their members."

Senior Labor Coast MP Peter Lawlor, who enjoys a 10 per cent margin in Southport, acknowledged the terminal was a major issue.

"If they want to run an Independent, so be it. I'm not complacent," Mr Lawlor said.

"It's an issue that has to be to handled properly."

Nine consortiums have expressed interest in the project, which the Government says will create up to $80 million a year in additional tourism revenue.