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APPROVAL BACKGROUND
In
March 2008, the proponent submitted an amendment to the original
development application, to Gympie Regional Council. This was
in response to a declaration made in September 2007, by the Planning
and Environment Court.
The amendment included minor modifications to the layout of the
site. The basic intent of the development remained unaffected.
As part of the normal application processes, several referral
agencies including Gympie Regional Council, Environmental Protection
Agency, Department of Natural Resources and Water, Department
of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and Department of Main Roads
issued an information request on June 24, 2008.
A response to the information request was prepared and submitted
to Gympie Regional Council in June 2009. The response then was
made available publicly. Interested community members were invited
to view and comment on the plan. All comments received were considered
by the proponent and Gympie Regional Council before the application
received approval.
WHERE
IS IT AT NOW?
On
February 10, 2010, the Gympie Regional Council and State Government
agencies including the Department of Environment and Resource
Management; Fisheries; Maritime Safety Queensland; and the Department
of Transport and Main Roads, approved, subject to special conditions,
the impact assessable components of the development application
for the proposed Fraser Straits Marina.
The
assessment completed by the key State Government agencies included
detailed consideration of all the environmental issues associated
with the whole of the proposed development. This led to comprehensive
conditions of approval through which the Government is confident
that potential impacts can be properly minimised and managed.
If they were not confident of this, approval would not have been
granted.
Although the formal scope of Council’s approval role was
limited to what is determined by Queensland law, Council also
was provided with detailed information about the entire development
including those aspects of particular interest to Council in its
local role.
The development proponent will ensure the approval conditions
are met. The process of finalising the detail of the conditions
is now being undertaken.
In considering the application, the Department of Environment
and Resource Management and Fisheries determined they would grant
a ‘part approval’ of the small section of reclamation
and kiosk at the western end of the proposed development. This
has precipitated a refinement in the layout of this small area.
While the refinement has some introduced some limitations on the
intended development function of this area, it has resulted in
benefits including:
-
A reduced footprint on mangrove and intertidal area
-
Reconstruction of the existing, deteriorating rock walls
-
Less disturbance in and near the dolphin viewing area
-
Reduced construction period in this area.
The
latest plans for the development, including the refined western
reclamation and kiosk layout, are available on the ‘Proposed
Marina’ page of this website.
The proposed development has now progressed to the Federal Government’s
approvals processes where issues surrounding the EPBC Act will
be examined. This assessment is underway and will be completed
over the coming months.
Federal
Government approval from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage
and the Arts (DEWHA), is required as the proposed development has been determined to be a ‘controlled action’ to be assessed by Preliminary Documentation.
The Preliminary Documentation has been prepared and DEWHA has issued a "direction to publish" this information. The Preliminary Documentation has therefore been placed on public display for comment until September 23, 2010.
For a detailed explanation of the documentation on display, a list of places where it can be inspected and relevant closing dates for comments and contact details, please click here.



