Leading the way in accessible tourism, the BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort team shone brightly alongside some of the state’s premier tourism operators at the Queensland Tourism Awards in Cairns last Friday.

Winning two gold awards, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort was acknowledged with top honours in the ‘Caravan and Holiday Parks’ category for the sixth time at a state level, as well as the inaugural ‘Excellence in Accessible Tourism’ category.

“This recognition reflects our position, not only as one of Queensland’s most loved family holiday resorts, but also as one of the state’s leading accessible resorts for guests of all abilities,” said BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort owner, Greg McKinnon.

“We’ve been told that there was a record number of tourism award entries this year and an increase of 25 percent on last year, so how fantastic is it to see operators in Queensland kicking so many goals.

“It’s such an exciting time in terms of where the Whitsundays is placed as one of the state’s most desirable holiday destinations,” said Greg.

On the back of the double gold win, Greg and the BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort team will now join the other Queensland gold winners who are automatically entered into the Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Darwin in March next year.

Owned and operated by the McKinnon family, this year saw the popular Whitsunday resort have its 30th birthday. After three decades of transformation, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is still ever growing.

This past year they have added another seven new cabins, developed a range of accessible accommodation and facilities, and finished construction of its seventy-one-bed “Bunk House” dormitory accommodation, catering to the Edutourism and groups market, in particular school groups.

Aiming to minimise obstacles guests may otherwise face, areas of focus this year have included new developments for the vision impaired and those with mobility issues, while also complementing its well-utilised Sensory Room, which caters for children on the autism spectrum and their families by offering a special holiday retreat.

“Winning this award reflects the offerings of our quality tourism product, our ongoing development and our exceptional standards of customer service,” added Greg.

“We are very aware of always exceeding our guest’s expectations so it is really wonderful for our family and our incredible team to receive these awards.

“We couldn’t ever achieve this without the support of our guests, many who return time and time again, so we thank them sincerely.”

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort offers a relaxed, family friendly environment with an extensive range of quality facilities and services, gorgeous cabins and happy, helpful staff.

Set amongst 10 hectares of beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, the resort caters for a variety of budgets with a wide range of accommodation options from camping and caravanning sites to luxury, three-bedroom condos.  

With over 15 onsite activities including a big, huge, mega waterslide park, lagoon style pool, mini golf, outdoor cinema, Kid’s Club, year-round activities program and much more, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort offers the ultimate holiday escape

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BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort team take home two gold wins

Photo supplied

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The team at Ocean Rafting brought home two gold accolades at the Queensland Tourism Awards on Friday night, further cementing their incredible achievements.

Winning two gold awards in the categories of Adventure Tourism and Major Tour and Transport Operators, Ocean Rafting Owners Peter and Jan Claxton attended the ceremony to represent their team and the three generations of family working in the business.

“It certainly was a night for the Whitsundays to celebrate, with so many of our region’s tourism operators being acknowledged for offering some of Queensland’s best tourism experiences.

“As a destination, we should be very proud of the unforgettable experiences on offer which were recognised and celebrated on the night,” Jan said.

“Personally, we are so very proud of these awards, our product, and our incredible team. Being family owned and operated, we all work very closely, and our staff are so passionate and invested in offering the experience of a lifetime.

“Everyone comes together to make the magic happen, from the moment they are picked up, out on the Whitsunday waters and up in the sky flying over the reef and islands, through to when they are dropped off at the end of the day.”

“After 26 years of operations, we have created experiences which showcase the best of the Whitsundays and we continue to grow and streamline each year, with more exciting developments planned for 2024,” Jan said.

Ocean Rafting’s wins follow recent success at the Whitsunday Tourism Awards, where they won the same categories, in addition to the consumer-voted People’s Choice Experiences Award. They will now join other Whitsunday operators and head to Darwin in March to represent Queensland at the Australian Tourism Awards.

This past year, Peter and Jan circled back to Peter’s aviation roots, adding a second plane to their fleet of vessels and planes, as well as a new travel shop and extensive work in the environmental sector.

Ocean Rafting is the only company in the Whitsundays with four Master Reef Guides, who are recognised as the world’s leading reef guides, interpreters and story tellers, in addition to a team made up of Marine Biologists and Eye On the Reef trained Eco Hosts.

They are also a coveted Ecotourism Australia Hall of Fame member, for being continuously Advanced Ecotourism Australia Certified for 20 years or longer, a Green Travel Leader and Climate Action Business.

Recognised as Best of Queensland Experience and a Quality Tourism Accredited Business under the national quality tourism framework, Ocean Rafting is also the recipient of a TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award for being in top 10% of attractions worldwide every year since 2012 and a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award winner in the Top 1% of Tourism Businesses around the world and Top 10 Experiences in Australia.

Offering two exciting day tour adventures, the Northern Exposure and Southern Lights, Ocean Rafting takes guests on an exhilarating ride to Whitehaven Beach, the ultimate access to Hill Inlet and special snorkelling sites, as well as the Fly and Raft package, 60-minute scenic flights, a range of adventure packages, charter options and the Reef Seeker environmental educational program.

The fleet of eight semi-rigid inflatable vessels allow guests to experience Ocean Rafting’s signature adrenalin-fuelled ride amongst the beauty of the Whitsundays, while a maximum of 32 passengers allows for a personalised experience in the pleasure of a small group.

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James Unsworth, Environmental Manager/Master Reef Guide, Tiffany Brett, Sales & Marketing Manager, owners Jan and Peter Claxton, and Sales Captain, Nathan Fleming. Photo supplied.

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Renowned for providing unique and incredible experiences to over 800,000 guests this year alone, it is no wonder that Cruise Whitsundays’ truly memorable tours and accommodation offerings claimed two accolades at the Queensland Tourism Awards this year.

Bronze winners in the Unique Accommodation category and the Major Tour and Transport Operators category, Cruise Whitsundays proved once again that they excel across the board.

“Our team was very excited and grateful,” said Cruise Whitsundays’ Sales and Marketing Manager Renee Branton-Brown.

“This year’s win was very emotional, and a lot of heart and soul went into the writing of the submission.  

“We believe that Reefstays are Australia’s most unique accommodation, and this win echoes that sentiment.”

This is not the first year Cruise Whitsundays has brought home awards, in fact they have previously shone at other state awards and even at a national level.

Most recently, they were awarded Gold for Reefstays in the Unique Accommodation category and took home Gold for Major Tourist Attraction for Reefworld in 2022.

“Our Reefstay experiences are unlike any other offering in Australia,” said Renee.

“It literally immerses you into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.”

Reefsleep offers guests the opportunity to stay in luxury glamping style accommodation on the deck of the Reefworld pontoon located 39 nautical miles out to sea.

Guests can also book an exclusive Reefsuite and stay in Australia’s premium underwater hotel, waking up to a colourful wonderland of coral reef, visible through the floor to ceiling viewing window in the bedroom.

In 2024, Cruise Whitsundays will be celebrating an impressive 20 years of operation and its overall fleet consists of 27 commercial vessels.

There are 11 vessels operating between five departure points, offering 14 different day tours with customisable options and the two bucket-list overnight experiences throughout the Whitsundays.

Cruise Whitsundays also services over 160,000 cruise ship passengers per year.

At the heart of every successful business, however, is the incredible staff that deliver the exceptional products.

“The entire Cruise Whitsundays team deserves our sincere thanks for these awards!” said Renee.

“This includes our operations team and crew, who operate an amazing product and work tirelessly to deliver an exceptional guest experience; our sales and marketing team, who ensure the world knows about our not-to-be-missed offerings and wrote this year's submission; and our leadership team and Journey Beyond, for giving us the tools required to offer such unique products.

“A win for Cruise Whitsundays is a win for the Whitsundays region, and we celebrate with all the other tourism operators who won awards. We are lucky to call the Whitsundays home, and together, our industry works tirelessly to showcase the wonders of the Whitsundays to the world.”

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Sales and Marketing Executive Liza Muller and Group Manager Sales and Marketing, Renee Branton-brown at the Queensland Tourism Awards in Cairns. Photo supplied

Reefstays offer incredible accommodation options 39 nautical miles out to sea. Photos supplied

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Success keeps on coming for Magnums Airlie Beach, as they secured the gold award for 3-3.5 Star Accommodation last Friday night at the 2023 Queensland Tourism Awards.

In the heart of Airlie Beach, Magnums boasts affordable and comfortable accommodation that matches any price point for travellers on a budget.

From self-contained cabins to more budget friendly private rooms, no expense has been spared, with well equipped facilities and creature comforts.

Elizabeth Hackett, Executive chairman of Magnums, accepted the award on Friday night and said, “To be recognised amongst so many great Queensland operators is always a very special feeling for the entire team at Magnums.”

“At Magnums, we don’t stand still!  Every year we are strategic in ensuring we are setting ourselves new benchmarks to meet and exceed our guest’s expectations. We take our Eco journey very seriously and are committed to best practice.”

Being one of the first accommodation providers in Airlie Beach, Magnums is steeped in Whitsundays history, and has seen many a traveller traipse through their tranquil and scenic grounds.

Located centrally in Airlie Beach, Magnums is ideally equipped for travellers to make the most of their stay, visiting the Islands, taking day adventures, and exploring the most of Airlie Beach.

“It is the broader tourism industry in this region that contributes so hugely to our success,” Elizabeth explained.

“The tour operators are undoubtedly the attraction that our guests come to experience. We are so grateful to all of them, many of them also were highly awarded at the recent award ceremony.”

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Elizabeth Hackett, Executive chairman of Magnums, picked up the award last Friday. Photo supplied

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Adding another notch to their success belt is none other than Pinnacles, Airlie Beach.

Taking home the first place accolade for self-contained accommodation at the 2023 Queensland Tourism Awards, Pinnacles stands as a testament to luxury accommodation.

With 29 stylish apartments, catering for families, couples, and groups Pinnacles offers a range of one, two and three bedrooms, perfect for any size group.

Each apartment either includes a luxurious balcony jacuzzi or a beautiful internal spa with unbelievable views, that are sure to take your breath away.

A true gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands, Pinnacles ensures a romantic and sensuous experience for every guest.

And the assistance doesn’t stop there, with Pinnacles onsite tour desk able to offer and organise the very best experiences and adventures within the Whitsundays.

Being only a short walk to the main thorough-fair of Airlie Beach, Pinnacles offers convenience and comfort. Pop down to the weekly markets, enjoy a lazy coffee at a local cafe, before returning to your private space for a midday rest or indulge in a home-made meal.

And why would you want to leave the lavish grounds, when Pinnacles have guests covered with a beautiful 20 metre wet edge swimming pool, an exquisite sauna, and a well-stocked gym, to be sure your exercise regime is not too badly hindered while on holiday.

Ultimately, just relax, stay and unwind at Pinnacles, Airlie Beach.

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The Pinnacles Resort team, Therese Moran, Brent Jones, Susan Watson, and Lee Irvin. Photo supplied

A neighbourhood dispute highlighted the overarching issue of urban greenery this week when a local couple witnessed the last remaining tree in the property adjacent to theirs culled to provide the new property owner with more space.

Mandy Coles and her husband Iyas Shaheen have resided in their Waterson Way address for 15 years and during that time they believed that the mango tree in question was located on a Council watercourse that ran between the two properties.

This was thrown into question several weeks ago when they were informed that the owner of the neighbouring property believed the tree was on his land and would be cutting it down.

The couple were furious because, not only does the tree produce delicious fruit each season, it was also the last remaining barricade that offered their property any privacy from the nearby road.

Councillor Jan Clifford attended the scene along with Mark Callaghan, Manager Parks and Gardens for Whitsunday Regional Council.

During the meeting it was decided that Council would pay for an independent survey to be conducted, the outcome of which confirmed the tree was indeed on the neighbour’s land.

As a result, the mango tree was cut down earlier this week.

This represents the sixth tree cut down on one property and, although the owner must re-plant within the next 12 months, it has permanently altered the urban canopy of the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, another concerned resident from Cannonvale wrote into the paper this week describing his uproar about several mature trees that were cut down to make room for the new Fire Station.

Works commenced this week at the site of the new station on the corner of Macartha Drive and Shute Harbour Road.

A resident of Banksia Court, a road that also borders the site, observed that several mature trees had been cut down, displacing countless roosting birds.

“We were completely dismayed that authorisation has been given to chop down these roosting trees,” he commented.

“I spied a gang of some 50 confused Sulphur Cockatoos circulating the now vacant block. They were wondering where their roosting tree had gone. I have lived here for a decade and the Cockies have roosted in these trees nightly for that time.”

These two separate incidents highlight the growing conversation surrounding the importance of preserving local trees.

Do you have a tree story to share? If so, send an email to rachael@mackayandwhitsundaylife.com.

Councillor Jan Clifford attends the Waterson Way property to speak with owner Mandy Coles. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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With The Tiny Homes Project

The Tiny Homes Project has rounded out 2023 with a fantastic rock n’ roll Christmas celebration, raising a massive figure of $15,050 on the day, bringing the overall project total to a mammoth $681,601.

This means the group are on-track to deliver four ‘tiny homes’ to homeless women over 55 in the Whitsundays by mid-2024.

“We completely filled up the Sailing Club dining room,” Sandy Clark, Fundraising Coordinator for Tiny Homes Project, explained.

With the themes of 60s Christmas, outfits consisted of classic rocker, with hints of red and the best tinsel.

“We had such fabulous outfits, and everyone embraced the rock n’ roll theme!”

The event included a live auction and silent auction, with the hot ticket items of a pink guitar signed by the 2018 Airlie Beach Festival of Music stars, a voucher to Eastwoods Dining and Bar, and a fantastic Stevie Nicks artwork.

While this event was the last for 2023, Sandy and the Tiny Homes Team are excited to regroup in the new year and continue their efforts.

“We plan to continue. We’ll kick off with the four tiny homes, but we’ll be ongoing. This need isn’t going away, and it isn’t just a Whitsundays issue, but a national issue.”

With only a short $18,399 left to reach their overall target of $700,000 the Tiny Homes Team are welcoming any and all donations to their cause.

To donate or learn more, feel free to follow the QR Code.

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The perfect Christmas celebration: Fiona Donnellan from the Tiny Home Project, Joanne Moynihan CEO of Whitsunday Housing, Mayor Julie Hall and Sandy Clark from the Tiny Homes Project. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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Visitors and locals travelling through Strathdickie are being greeted by Santa’s train, imaginatively constructed using haybales, tinsel, a plywood caboose, and decorated with presents for children.

A bit of a local legend, this Strathdickie farmer regularly constructs haybale structures to celebrate the holidays, with many locals also remembering the Easter Bunny from a few years ago.

For many families, it has become a yearly tradition to stop by and grab a family photo with the imaginative creations.

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Santa comes to town! Photos supplied

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Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine rewarded the Whitsunday community at their annual general meeting and community event last Wednesday, November 15.

In total, $1000 was gifted to three local organisations, which will aid the community.

Whitsunday United FC were awarded the major prize for the evening, with $500 given to the community sporting club.

“Thank you on behalf of the Club for hosting tonight’s event and for involving local clubs and organisations, it’s a great initiative. Our prize will be put towards our new goal nets,” said Club representative Allan Milostic.

Rotary Club of Airlie Beach were awarded $300, which will go towards a local student.

“We are co-sponsoring a year 11 Proserpine State High School student to attend the National Youth Science Forum in Brisbane in January. Tonight’s $300 prize will form part of our contribution to her travels,” thanked Merewyn Wright from Rotary Club of Airlie Beach.

The last prize of $200 was awarded to the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“What a wonderful event, thank you Bendigo Community Bank! The Chamber will put the prize towards one of its local business education events next year, with a focus on financial management and banking in regional businesses,” said Chamber Board member Melinda Louise Hutchings.

“At Bendigo Bank, our customers and the community always win. Our success is based on our profit-with-a-purpose model which sees around 50% of the profits generated by our independently owned and operated Cannonvale-Proserpine branch invested back into the community” said Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine Chairman Mark Henry.

“Over the past seven years we have invested just over $178,600 into local schools, social programs, sporting groups, arts and culture events, conservation initiatives, and community prizes.”

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(L-R) Community Bank Chairman Mark Henry, Community Bank Board Director Cait Fleming, Whitsunday United Football Club representative Allan Milostic, Community Bank Board Treasurer Krys Halsey, and Branch Manager Chantelle Cendrillion. Photo supplied

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Hi Everyone,

Earlier this week my six-year-old son asked me why people on the news always talk about “murders and dying”.

When you think about it, the fact that our news is often monopolised by death and tragedy, makes for quite a sad reflection on life.

And to think that this is what young kids are experiencing about world around them – it is no wonder that we have a generation of extremists – either emotional and worried about life or the opposite, taking crazy risks in order to feel alive.

While of course we all share immense empathy for people who have experienced tragedy, whether that be the sudden death of a loved one or the shock illness of a life cut short, do we really need to relive each trauma in the news we digest?

This is a subject we often battle with when putting the paper together each week.

We want to report the news, we must include the significant events that happen (such as a car accident), but we also want our readers to have a positive experience and feel uplifted by the content.

I think a lot of mainstream media have fallen into the trap of sensationalising tragedy and creating ‘click-bait’ content that turns a personal tragedy into a drama for vultures to feed upon.

This makes me feel sad as it is creating a culture that receives a bigger kick when hearing shocking news than it does when hearing a positive story of triumph.

Well, that’s what mainstream media tells us “sells” anyway.

But, back to what we do here at your local paper – we endeavour to fill our pages with positive news about people living great lives.

When there is a local tragedy, however, we always do our best to report on it with sensitivity and dignity.

We will make it personal, talk to the family if possible and include details that celebrate life rather than dramatise death.

When I asked my son what we should talk about in the news he said he wasn’t sure because it was like a devil was on one shoulder and an angel on the other.

Very perceptive, I couldn’t agree more!

Rach

Quote of the Week:
“News is the first draft of history” (Ben Bradlee)

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With Andrew Willcox, Federal Member For Dawson

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is calling for an investigation into supermarket meat sale prices from Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.

Mr Willcox said Treasurer Chalmers and Minister Watt must urgently direct the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to hold a price inquiry.

“According to Meat and Livestock Australia, some sheep and lamb categories have fallen by up to 70 per cent in the saleyards in the last 12 months,” Mr Willcox said.

“Lamb prices have drastically reduced and cattle prices have fallen by about 60 per cent. Yet families at the supermarkets in Dawson have barely noticed a difference in prices.”

Dawson supermarkets are charging an average of $28 per kilo for rump steak, $24 per kilo for beef rump roast and $15 for a kilo of lean beef mince while a farmer’s payment for cattle (eastern young cattle indicator) has fallen from $10.21 per kilo to just $3.65 per kilo over the past 12 months.

Mr Willcox said a competition taskforce recently established by the Australian Government to conduct a review of competition policy settings over a two-year period failed to provide the urgent response that families and farmers required.

“This is impacting family budgets in Dawson right now,” he said.

“It needs an urgent response because families and farmers can’t afford to wait potentially two years for answers.”

Mr Willcox said unlike a review, the ACCC would also have greater power to act.

 “Many families are struggling to afford their grocery bill each week so it’s important the government acts swiftly to ensure there’s transparency in meat prices.”

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Get Set For Work Program Success

The last we heard from Zaine van Poelgeest, one of the four Term 3 graduates of the PCYC Whitsundays Get Set For Work Program, he was looking to start his career at sea, hoping to secure employment at one of the major marine operators.

And this week, his dreams have come to fruition, as he begins his induction with Cruise Whitsundays.

Under the tutelage of Get Set For Work program coordinator, Scott Lynch, Zaine has flourished.

Get Set For Work is a 10 week program to equip youth with necessary skills and certificates to secure employment, for 14 to 19 year old’s who have left full-time education.

Zaine came to the program keeping his “cards to his chest,” describes Scott.

“There’s a lot more to Zaine than he puts across,” he explained.

“He’s got a great poker face and keeps all his winning cards hidden until he’s ready to show them.”

Zaine initially completed a week of work experience with Cruise Whitsundays, through the program.

“We put him through his shipboard safety skill set and got him this work experience with Cruise Whitsundays. And in his appraisal, Cruise Whitsundays couldn’t have said anything better about him! Zaine told us that he was encouraged to apply for a few positions they had available,” Scott explained.

“We helped him with his cover letter, and we were just waiting to hear back, but look at him now!”

Zaine is now eager to get started with Cruise Whitsundays.

“School just wasn’t for me, and with the program, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I enjoyed the work experience so much,” Zaine explained.

His official title is Cruise Attendant, which will have him across all aspects of the business.

According to Elise Forbes, Human Resource Advisor for Cruise Whitsundays, Zaine’s work experience appraisal was amazing.

“He was very punctual, enthusiastic and keen to learn,” she explained.

“He has already been positively received by the crew, so we’re excited to have him on board.”

To learn more about Get Set For Work, contact PCYC Whitsundays, (07) 4948 1144 or whitsunday@pcyc.org.au

Get Set for Work is one of eight programs that make up the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

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Elise Forbes, Human Resources Advisor of Cruise Whitsundays, Zaine van Poelgeest, Scott Lynch, Get Set For Work program coordinator, and Sergeant Billy Li, PCYC Youth Club Manager. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge

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The Whitsundays is set to welcome the maiden voyage of a brand-new adults-only cruise ship which is due to arrive in local waters next Friday, December 1.

Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages’ third ship, debuted in Europe earlier this year and is making its way over to Australia, stopping first in Darwin, Carins and Airlie Beach before docking in Port Melbourne for the summer cruising season.

It will be given a special acknowledgement next week with a smoking ceremony and a welcome to country followed by a plaque exchange between the captain on the ship and Mayor Julie Hall at the Cruise Whitsundays terminal.  

On-hand as usual, the dedicated volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassadors will be ready to greet each of the 2,762 who decide to disembark and explore Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays.

Resilient Lady is a five-star cruise ship experience, and its adults-only policy is proving very popular.

Founded in 2021 the Virgin Voyages ships are different to any we've see in The Whitsundays before.

Virgin Voyages is currently the Cruise Critics Cruisers’ Choice for 2023 and Conde Nast Traveller’s Best New Cruises in the World in 2022.

Inspired by a superyacht design, the vessel brings glamour to the high seas with spaces designed by world-renowned architects and designers, including Tom Dixon and Concerte Amsterdam.

A total of 31 cruise ships have called into the Whitsundays between August and December this year.

There are also 103 ships scheduled for next year.

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Resilient Lady will arrive in Whitsunday waters next Friday. Photo: supplied

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To Trial Pedestrian Crossings

Traffic and pedestrian flow in Airlie Beach Main Street will experience a change from December 1, with the Whitsunday Regional Council beginning a six-month trial of pedestrian crossings along Airlie Beach Main Street.

The trials will see four pedestrian crossings across Airlie Beach Main Street.

There will be one in front of NAB Bank, a second at the Magnums crossing, a third on the Esplanade  and a fourth in front of Airlie Beach Hotel.

Planter boxes will be erected at the former crossing points, in order to mitigate confusion, prevent people crossing where they don’t have priority and balance traffic.

Speed bumps will also be placed at the entrance of Airlie Beach Main Street at the north end, as well as a left turn only exit out of central car park, beside the lagoon.

Mayor Julie Hall said Council is developing an overarching Airlie Beach Masterplan and this six-month pedestrian crossing trial will capture key information that will help inform an ultimate streetscaping solution for the Main Street.

“During the six-month trial Council will be capturing direct formal and informal feedback from all users to help identify what works and what doesn’t work so we can utilise this information for future considerations for the Airlie Beach Masterplan to be developed in 2024.

Mayor Hall said that Council’s focus was on planning for the future and this trial aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance Airlie Beach's streetscape infrastructure and safety measures.

“We want to develop a solution that creates a pedestrian-friendly town for all ages and abilities, supports local businesses and our community and encourages safer speeds for drivers in the Main Street precinct.”

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Pedestrian crossings to be trialled in Airlie Beach. Photo supplied

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Ahead Of Gillnet Ban

A package between Commonwealth and Queensland Government has been announced to support commercial fishers, ahead of further fishing industry sanctions.

Worth $186 million, the package includes compensation measures such as buy backs, reskilling and financial advice, in an effort to ease the impact of the phasing out of gillnet fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Area by 2027.

A total of $125 million has been committed to phasing out gillnets, rezoning the Great Sandy Marine Park and increasing protection from gillnet impacts in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

This portion also includes around $90 million to financially support eligible fishers and related business in the transition, $1.5 million to reskill, $2.25 million to support employees, $15 million to construct a new strategy, $4.5 million to develop and trial sustainable alternatives, $2.95 million for the creation and sustaining suitable regional jobs, and $1.5 million to ensure hammerhead sharks are a no-take species for commercial fishers.

The remaining $60 million has been committed to discover more independent data validation and further reduce bycatch in high-risk fisheries.

The transition period begins December 31, 2023, to adopt these new agreements.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said that “these are landmark investments that demonstrate the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to a sustainable fishing industry supporting good jobs well into the future.”

“This package gives the certainty that our commercial fishing industry needs to plan and be able to ensure the ongoing supply of Queensland seafood that has built a global reputation,” Mr Furner said.

However, local fisherman Trevor Draper is frustrated.

“We got this text about some paperwork, and it said we would receive it shortly, whatever that means.”

For Trevor, he says he is “beyond reskilling”.

“The entire thing won’t help at all. We do this work because we like it, and it makes ends meet. We’re not in it for the money. And it will be very difficult, to get some fisherman to do something else, something they don’t like doing.

“And how will money handling and financial advice help, when we don’t have jobs?”

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