10th March Gold Coast Bulletin
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/04/10/206645_gold-coast-news.html
NEWS FLASH... Bermuda Triangle Politics
Support the sustainable vertical integration of environment objectives and community needs... don't just close the mountain down.
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Potential demolition of more than 23 homes & businesses
* support the community petition seeking to provide these houses to Australian families who have lost their homes due to financial hardship and other circumstances
contact MP Ros Bates (Mudgeeraba) for e-petition details or sign the petition at Springbrook General Store
Local Tourism Businesses Purchased by the Qld Govt and now CLOSED DOWN
"The properties that have been bought by the Government that have tourism facilities on them will continue to run as such...
Contracts will be let to operators to run those enterprises so that tourists can come to the Gold Coast Hinterland and see what we have in our National Parks"
Di Riley Labour MP - Hansard Queensland Parliament Record of Proceedings 10th October 2007
- Heated double Spa Baths with private outlook to Rainforest.
- Double Showers
- Queen sized Beds , all linen & Towelling
- Standard sized gas fired Saunas accessed from Bathroom (4 Chalets)
- Glass fronted Fireplaces (4 wood burning, 1 gas)
- Couch, table, chairs, CDTV / DVD ( one without by request)
- Fully equipped self contained Kitchenettes.
- Gas Bar-b-que on roofed timber deck off living room.
Tates Oregon Timber Mansion @ 352 Repeater Station Road CLOSED
Had approval for 12 cabins on 58 Hectares
Now one of eight prestige properties designated as rent free accomodation for ARCS by the Qld Government
BACK ROOM DEALS WITH THE AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST CONSERVATION SOCIETY
One of the prime movers involved in the Springbrook buy-back debarcle has been ARCS (President Aila Keto).
ARCS have been handed management and/or leases to tens of millions of dollars of State Government acquisitions without public or community consultation and due tender process
...a move that reeks of back-room deals and pork barrel politics
Read the documents and dealings to decide for yourself if this is a matter for the Crime & Misconduct Commission
MULTI MILLION DOLLAR businesses leased to ARCS for ONE DOLLAR
NB The terms of these 10 and 12 year leases are such that ARCS can close the local businesses down forever at a moments notice with absolutely no penalty...
Read Section 6.2
Camp Koonjewarre
Leased by the Qld Govt to ARCS for $1
Download the 12 year one dollar lease
\ Qld-Govt-Lease-of-Koonjewarre-to-ARCS.pdf
Lyrebird Ridge Retreat
Leased by the Qld Govt to ARCS for $1
http://www.lyrebirdspringbrook.com/
Download the 10 year one dollar lease
Qld-Govt-Lease-of-Lyrebird-Ridge-Retreat-to-ARCS.pdf
download
the lease
Government Buy-back Assets not leased to ARCS
Springbrook Mountain Manor *
http://www.springbrookmountainmanor.com.au/
*Government owned property - tourism business privately leased at market value
Why did Premier Anna Bligh's Government provide ONE DOLLAR long term leases to ARCS while charging full commercial market rates to outsiders?
Here's a list of many of the properties the Queensland State Government have handed over to ARCS
...along with
$40,000.00 of even more of your tax payer funds
Direct control of millions of dollars worth of local tourism businesses!
An annual estimated $100,000.00 + of free rental accomodation for the use of ARCS members
download the entire 50 page back-room deal between the Qld Government and ARCS
Australian-Rainforest-Society-Restoration-Agreement.pdf
...not a single word in this "restoration agreement" mentions the right to demolish tax payer's property!
WHY DID THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAND OVER MANAGEMENT TO ARCS ?
AN ORGANISATION WHOSE CORE COMPETENCIES DO NOT INCLUDE THE MANAGEMENT OF TOURISM BASED BUSINESSES.
?
Springbrook Visitor Management Plan Context Analysis Report 19th January 2009
...commisioned by the Gold Coast City Council
Stakeholder Reference Group comments from the Context Analysis Report
conducted on 19th January 2009 by GCCC as part of the broader ongoing Springbrook Tourism project
" (ARCS) ...management capability and rationale for management role is unclear"
"...loss of jobs and no apparent open tendering system for the ongoing lease and management of (ARCS) businesses"
"...currently the green movement is too powerful in decision making"
"...decisions are unfairly biased towards no development at all"
"...the State Government through the Rainforest Conservation Society have bought most of the accomodation / dining businesses on Springbrook"
ARCS & State Government actions actively "keep people from overnight visitation"
SEE SECTION 2.3 AND SECTION 1.6 (below)
Click here to download the entire SVMPCAR report
Here's where some of your tax payer money has been splurged...
( two additional properties near Apple Tree Park to be added )
THA Thanks to our local MP Ros Bates for working diligently to get the bottom of this mess...
For the second time this week I rise in this place to seek answers for concerned residents of the Springbrook Plateau over Labor’s plans for this small hinterland community.
On the 27th of June 2008, some two years after the buy-up of land in Springbrook commenced, a Restoration Agreement was signed between the State of Queensland and The Australian Rainforest Conversation Society Inc (ARCS).
I refer the Minister to point 12.4: Regular Reporting on Page 17 of the Agreement and I quote:
Within 14 days after:
a) The end of each calendar year during the Term of this agreement; and on
b) Termination of this Agreement”
“The licensee must provide to the licensor a progress report which details the status and progress of the activities to be undertaken in accordance with the Property management Plans and the Approved Works carried out by the Licensee during the year”
I note that in response to a Question on Notice regarding these Progress Reports that the Minister expects the report “soon”.
Under the Terms of the Agreement, the Minister should have received the 2008-2009 Report at the end of the calendar year on the 31 December 2009 with the 2009-2010 due 31 December 2010.
Given that ARCS have been entrusted with $40 million dollars of tax-payers monies will the Minister now demand that the overdue report be tabled in Parliament immediately and launch an investigation as to why ARCS has been non-compliant under the terms of the Agreement and what penalties apply.
A further breach of the Agreement pertains to Section 7 of the Agreement which clearly enunciates the establishment of a “Springbrook Rescue Steering Committee” before the commencement date of the agreement and that this Committee be maintained.
The committee was to be made up of five people, which included two from the licensee (ARCS) and three from the licensor (the Government). The committee was to meet at least twice in a calendar year.
My questions to the Minister on this section of the Agreement are:
a) Who are the members of this Steering Committee?
b) What dates in the period 2008-2010 have this Committee met?
c) Where are the Minutes of these meetings?
The community of Springbrook have a right to know what if any progress has been made in the area and how $40 million dollars of tax-payer funded monies has no accountability or transparency to the public.
The silent majority on the mountain will no longer be silenced by the vocal minority.
“Wanted” posters are springing up all around the mountain by the Save Springbrook group and will continue until the thick veil of secrecy which shrouds the mountain like thick clouds is finally lifted and in the bright light of day, all questions are answered.
Contact the local member Ros Bates for an update on the web of contractual intrigue unraveling thanks to her Parliamentary question time investigations...
Listen to our local radio station for www.SaveSpringbrook.com 24 hour interviews and updates on 87.6FM
When in Springbrook, you can obtain free copies of the Govt buy-back maps from the Springbrook General Store & Cafe
If you wish to provide information, relevant documents or corrections - please email the site administrator gregkernaghan@SaveSpringbrook.com or mail to Save Springbrook PO Box 965 NERANG QLD 4211
NB Although all care has been taken to present factual information, no responsibility for innacuracy or ommissions real or implied is accepted and independent verification of all data and statements is therefore advised.
