CAPALABA MP Don Brown has blamed the federal government for a lack of Redlands jobs’ growth.
Mr Brown told Parliament that one thing holding up jobs in his local area was the inept federal government which was delaying the $1.39 billion Toondah Harbour redevelopment.
“Not once, not twice, not even three times but five times the federal government has delayed the Toondah Harbour project,’’ Mr Brown said.
“Two thousand construction jobs and an ongoing 600 jobs at the site have been put in doubt because we have an inept federal government that cannot approve Walker Group going ahead with the project.
“...I implore the member for Cleveland, who is interjecting at the moment, to pick up the phone to his colleagues (environment minister) Josh Frydenberg and (MP) Andrew Laming to get this project to go ahead.
“The delay is costing jobs in our local area and it is having an impact on business.’’
Federal and state MPs fired back, saying Mr Brown had it wrong and that it was the proponent asking for delays.
In December, the Environment Department agreed to suspend Walker’s referral until July 17 at the request of the developer.
Cleveland MP Mark Robinson said the delay was related to meeting federal environment laws and questioned whether Mr Brown was suggesting that the project’s potential environmental impact should be forgotten.
“So forget the environment hey?’’ he said.
A spokesperson for Mr Frydenberg said proponents could ask for extensions.
“At the request of the proponent, the time frame for a decision on the referral has now been extended ... including for further discussions with stakeholders,’’ he said.
Walker Group executive chairman Lang Walker said his company and federal and state agencies were identifying the best way to assess the development.
“Once an approach and terms of reference are agreed, Walker will commence a rigorous assessment of the project’s potential environmental, economic, and social impacts, which will include an extensive community consultation process,’’ he said.
Mr Laming said he supported the Toondah proposal. “But it falls to my government to assess any application under the existing laws,’’ he said.
He did not respond to questions about whether he had concerns about environmental aspects of the project or whether its impacts on the environment and liveability of Cleveland might be too much.
When announcing the delay in October, Mr Walker said his company was looking at ways of enhancing the ecological character of Moreton Bay, including a migratory shorebird offset in the Yellow Sea, off the Chinese coast.
The proposal produced a strong reaction from scientists and bird watchers, who said species needed protection on Moreton Bay foreshore areas, as well as the Yellow Sea. They argue that the harbour needs redeveloping but on a smaller scale.
Walker Corp proposes to build a ferry terminal and tourism precinct, 3600 dwellings and 400-berth marina. The plan is backed by Redland city, the state government and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation but there are major concerns about its impact on corals, bird and koala habitat.
