PLANS to end mining on North Stradbroke Island in 2019 have sparked widespread debate.
Redland City Bulletin asked the community its thoughts on a visit to the island on Tuesday last week.
Cleveland MP Mark Robinson, who also visited the island at the same time, said residents voted to end mining after 2019 at the January election.
He said the ALP government needed to consult the miners and community and come up with an economic transition strategy.
He said his LNP party had not designed such a transition strategy as the LNP was not ending mining in 2019 and wanted it to continue until 2035.
"The political message is that we never had a bull's roar of winning the island until the issue of ending sandmining early and the jobs losses arose in 2012 and again in 2015," he said.
"This means economic uncertainty as the government has not put forward a plan as to how they are going to manage the transition (away from mining).
"Toondah Harbour will not fill in the jobs void for Straddie because the timing doesn't coincide with the end of mining.
"I want to see the plan where the guys from the mines are all going to be gainfully employed."
Capalaba MP Don Brown said Mr Robinson's approach was to "do nothing" and it lacked economic vision and ignored economic realities.
"Sibelco has been shrinking for a long time, closing mines of their own accord, the end of sand mining was inevitable," Mr Brown said.
"My party had the closure of sand mining as an election commitment at the last two state elections.
"You cannot grow a tourism industry on the islands while sand mining exists heavy industry and tourism do not work mixed together.
"Under the new Queensland Infrastructure authority, we will see new infrastructure in our area that will make our economy stronger," he said.
Mr Brown said the state had a long-term economic vision for the Redlands which involved a transition to tourism. He said it included great projects such as redeveloping Toondah Harbour, expected to generate 1000 jobs and act as a catalyst for a bay-based tourism sector.
HERE are some of the responses from island people:
PRO 2019 END TO MINING
Jenny Truman, Point Lookout, business owner: "We are over it. We don't want Sibelco's propaganda to be dividing the community. Why should we put up with that and the fear and suspicion put out there? Sandmining is a finite business - it was always going to shut down. Mining is not the island's biggest employer and we don't need another economic transition strategy."
John Truman, 56, Point Lookout, shop owner: "It means opportunity and means people need to look what's ahead instead of what's behind them. I grew up in Dunwich and I was a miner so I can see both sides of the story. The tourism in Dunwich has not been tapped into and that's where the tourism centre of the island really is. At the tourism level, it is only just starting."
Caroline Brudell, 61, Keperra, retired: I recall sadly, the magnificent sandhills of Main Beach, which were systematically flattened by mining - rehabilitation doesn't undo the damage."
Jon Goebel, Point Lookout resident since 1953: "During the first 40 years of mining here - 1950s-1990s, monitoring of this activity was minimal and even today, a great deal of the damage is not reported - as the inquiry into non-mineral sand extraction and sale indicated."
Jackie Cooper, 64, editor, Point Lookout: (requoting Paul Keating) "What you need, above all else, is imagination to know that a place like Stradbroke can do better - particularly juxtaposed with a big city like Brisbane."
Keiron Costelloe, 42, Dunwich, Health worker: "Mining never worried me - whether they are here or not. Mining helped our family out years agowhen it was hardship times. These days there are a lot more jobs and more opportunities. I would rather see the land go back to the way it was."
Andrew Ape-Perry, 22, Dunwich, kitchen hand: "You can't just go around digging sand - it takes years to regenerate and to go back to how it was. It has created a lot of tension over jobs on the island,"
Lisa Iselin, 46, Point Lookout, shop assistant: "I don't know how it will affect the community or the economy and I appreciate that's nerve-wracking but I want the end of the destruction and I want the island rehabilitated which will lead to jobs. Tourism is not going to increase after mining but there is still no plan."
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AGAINST 2019 END TO MINING
Jonathan Watts, 46, Dunwich, systems analyst Sibelco: "It will have a devastating effect on families given the fact that 25 per cent of Stradbroke Ferries business is from the mine. That one increase in cost will have a flow-on. It will affect schools, day care, fuel supplies and transport."
Christine Moyle, traditional land owner, Dunwich: "The decision by the Labor government to stop sandmining in a time set by 2019 will cause a negative social externality for closing the gap of Quandamooka Traditional Owners on North Stradbroke Island. We believe the Labor government's decision is not rational and is a contrasting verdict of the previous LNP government's repeal of the NSI Sustainability Bill."
Robert See, 67, Point Lookout, proprietor (fuel sales): "It means higher costs and less business. I would not be able to get the benefits of buying fuel from commercial tankers that go to the mines. What's wrong with using three per cent for mining when 97 per cent will not be mined?"
Merrilyn Simmonds, 58, Dunwich, Allied Health coordinator: "I don't believe tourism can sustain the local economy as there is no other industry here. The government needs to sit down with community to find a solution to keep a sustainable economy.
Pam Borey, 60, Dunwich, newsagency shop assistant: "I'm most worried about a drop in valuation of my house. I'll probably leave the island because there will be nothing left."
Boris Kabanoff, retired, Point Lookout: "I am not a supporter of early closure since a healthy community is one that provides jobs and creates wealth. Most of the opposition to the mines comes from people who have no understanding or sympathy for those two facts."
Phil Smith, 43, Brisbane, truck driver: "Our concern is for the locals and local business on the island and the impact it will have on tourism."
Cathy Smithy, 54, Keperra, childcare worker: "Real estate prices will plummet, therefore locals will be unable to sell, which will affect the local economy."
Ron Jorgensen: 68, Dunwich, self-employed: "Over 60 per cent of Dunwich people voted Labor, thus voting themselves out of a job. Loss of mining will mean, to me, loss of trade, rising prices of all commodities coming to the island, including beer."
Judy Dragona, 65, Thornlands, customer services: "It's devastating for the community because Sibelco supports the clubs and charities. If all the clubs close down and barge fares go up, we are not going to get tourists."
Jane Rogers, 35, Dunwich, retail: "They need to give us heaps of warning so we can organise our future work paths they can't just stop mining and leave us without jobs."
Blazenka Jagarinec, 52, Amity Point, retail assistant: "They need to open up all sections of the island for tourism to hire out bikes, or take fishing tours or go driving on the beach. There's nowhere to hire boats and people are not allowed to go into most parts of the island. Tourism on the island is a joke."
Christine Venditti, 47, Dunwich, owner of Shabby Shack: "I run a fledgling business and it's been tough for me. I'm thinking about going if barge prices go up. It's four years away and Sibelco is a big supporter of the island."
Raelene Gray, 77, Dunwich, retired: "There won't be anything here and no jobs. My family has been miners for four generations and puts food on our table."
Angel Black, 42, Dunwich, photographer: "It is a complex issue and we need to find a balance between meeting our obligations to the environment and a well-thought-out strategy for Straddie's transition."
