Another Battleground has surfaced at Tin Can Bay. There is a development application being referred to the feds for a massive new marina here. The application also includes the reclaiming of several acres of the Snapper Creek sandbar at Norman Point.
As per usual, the locals are devided with the majority against it. The main concern is the habitat of the Pacific Dolphins, Turtles and Sea-Cows and the loss of our town.
The increse in traffic thru the sandy straits and the Tin Can inlet will play mary hell with all of these species. Boat strikes will increase dramatically. Then they will make the entire straits OFF THE PLANE areas
Add to that the neverending number of commercial fishermen opperating out of here, and you may as well sign this areas obituart now if it goes ahead.
The number of fringe dweller commercial fishers in this areas is unforgivable. Small flatties, long nets, multiple harvesting of the same sand-flats by progressive opperators on every available tide. You are flat out catching a legal whiting on the flats anymore. Their plant and equiptment is in a dismal state and it is rather obvious they are not reaping much benefit from their endeavours. The government must reduce the number of licences in this area by buy back,
The results in the Burram river system could be repeated here.
The shift from 12 ft tinnies to 16ft. centre consoles is indicitive of the need to sail over what used to be productive fishing grounds to go outside and fish areas their nets cant reach.
If this goes ahead, the nursery of the Great Sandy Straits will be taken over by Gin Palaces and large sailing craft.
I saw at Christmas time the marina development at Cardwell. That marina was at the far end of the town and did not realy impact on Cardwell as a small fishing village.
This development is proposed right in the middle of Tin Can and in fact will become the focal point of the Bay. The village will no longer exist . It will be swallowed up .
I am writing to David Gibson my local member to voice my concern. Maybe some of you could do similar.
Chappy