Federal Labor has joined the Cairns community in calling on Federal Environment Minister, Ian Campbell to save False Cape from inappropriate development.

False Cape is a treasure amongst treasures. It is nestled between two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforests. It is an unspoilt peninsula near the heart of Cairns.

False Cape is under threat. A proposal for a 1 500 person residential resort development threatens to scar this beautiful place for ever.

The project was pushed through Cairns City Council without proper consideration of its environmental impacts. This is an indictment on the Cairns Mayor Kevin Byrne.

Ian Campbell can stop this development. It requires approval by the Environment Minister under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act because it adjoins two World Heritage sites and contains threatened species.

Ian Campbell should have made a decision in April 2005 but, as usual, there’s been nothing but silence from the Minister.

The Howard Government has been absolutely silent on coastal development.

Right around the country, people are concerned about inappropriate coastal development. The Howard Government has been blind to these concerns.

Federal Labor is committed to tackling inappropriate coastal development. We’ll work with State governments and local communities to ensure high quality planning requirements are developed and consistently implemented.