‘No’ to resumption of North Wall Beach

Speech presented by Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP to the Queensland Legislative Assembly on December 1, 2022.

Chloe, aged 8, and her dad Todd are one of many residents who swim and surf at North Wall Beach.

I want to talk about consultation or, I should say, the lack of consultation by TMR and Minister Bailey’s office, particularly in Central Queensland.

On Sunday I had the privilege of meeting Chloe, an eight-year-old girl who was learning to surf at North Wall harbour with her dad, Todd. She had put a lot of effort into making a sign that said, ‘Save our North Wall turtles’. I spent the morning with almost 300 residents from Mackay and my electorate of Whitsunday.

We went onto the beach and, with all the manpower we had, spelt out a big ‘No’.

The community of Mackay will not see North Wall Beach taken from the community and, more importantly, the over-128 long back turtle hatchlings that have nested there over the past three years, even though the Minister’s own department said publicly that there are no turtles on North Wall Beach. That demonstrates a lack of consultation and how out of touch the Minister and his department are.

I acknowledge the work of Mick Rowan, Mick Depinto and Kim Edwards and thank them for their advocacy. It was only when I attended that event with over 300 others that I learned that they have gone to the Member for Mackay to seek her advocacy. It sure would have been great to see her on the beach at 7am last Sunday.