PROTESTERS met Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as she visited North Stradbroke Island this morning to hand 6483 hectares of ex-sand mining land back to its traditional owners.
Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation representatives and Indigenous elders were also among those who gathered at Dunwich for the handover of land deeds - mainly made up of areas under current and expired mining leases - accounting for almost a quarter of the island.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Quandamooka people would have land tenure ownership and the end of mining would allow access to sacred cultural sites for the first time in 70 years.
"This is an important next step for elders, with almost 25 years passing since the first native title claim for the island was lodged and more than eight years since the 2011 native title determination," she said.
Sibelco and QYAC also signed an agreement formalising their commitment to working to restore the natural environment.
Head of Sibelco Australia Tom Cutbush said 2249 hectares of mining lease under the responsibility of Sibelco had already been surrendered and transitioned.
But several Quandamooka people gathered to protest at the handover event at Dunwich, saying community consultation for the economic transition had been virtually non-existent.
Protester Dale Ruska said many people who lived on the island were worried about increased tourism.
"We don't agree with having one destructive industry closed to be replaced with another destructive industry," he said.
"We've seen the growth of tourism without economic transition over the last 30 years and the growth has been rapid. As a result ... the tourists are starting to have negative impacts on the natural environment and the integrity of this island.
"We want to see, before anything goes ahead, ecological, biological and cultural sustainability management plans to ensure the natural integrity of our island ... is going to be retained and maintained for future generations."
Head of QYAC Cameron Costello said there had been extensive consultation going back to 2010 and QYAC had no concerns about the direction the island was headed in.
"While we've got differing views among our own people... the vast majority of Quandamooka people are very confident in the leadership that's there."
He said native title had brought great benefits to the Quandamooka people, including the rights to care for and connect with country and to create employment opportunities for young people.
Mr Ruska said the community had turned to protesting as they felt they did not have much opportunity to have their voices heard.
"We've been quietened for generations on Stradbroke Island," he said.
"Some of us didn't consent to native title. Our processes that we used for generations prior which was about including family in all decision making has been totally disregarded and now its all about the exclusion of community."
He said some residents were also skeptical about the government's promises of jobs.
Ms Palaszczuk said employment was a priority for the transition.
"Now with the deeds and the handover there's going to be more opportunities (including) eco tourism, (a) cruise ship terminal (opening) next year, a second runway (and) we'll be able to get a ferry...from the mouth of the Brisbane river.
"There's going to be flow on impacts for tourism, eco-tourism, hospitality, it is going to be endless."
Mr Costello said about 100 jobs had been created through QYAC including rangers, tour guides, catering and corporate staff.
Ms Trad said about 60 more jobs would be created through construction activities next year for workers transitioning out of sand mining.
"Every single one of them has gotten a job or has started a small business on the island," she said.
Construction projects - including the re-development of the old Dunwich Secondary campus into an education and training centre, a whale centre and a Quandamooka art museum and performance institute - are set to create more than 50 jobs by mid-2020
The state government has spent nearly $25 million to transition the Minjerribah economy from sand mining to tourism.
Sand mining will be officially phased out on the island by the end of this month.
