Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House to the Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area (PDA) which was declared in 2013.

Walker Group’s PDA proposal to build 3,600 apartments on dredge spoil in Ramsar wetlands next to the Toondah Harbour ferry terminal has been withdrawn following massive community opposition, and the Federal Environment Minister’s announcement on 9 April 2024 that she proposed to refuse the application because of unacceptable impacts on Ramsar wetlands, migratory shorebirds and migratory species.

Given that development in Ramsar wetlands is now effectively ruled out, there are limited prospects for development in the Toondah Harbour PDA apart from upgrading the ferry terminal and associated car parking. There is no longer any need for Toondah Harbor to be designated a priority development area.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to:

1. Recommend that the Minister for State Development and Infrastructure use powers under section 42 of the Economic Development Act 2012 to revoke the Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area (PDA);

2. Recommend that the Minister for Transport investigate options for upgrading the Toondah Harbour ferry terminal in conjunction with existing plans to upgrade facilities at Dunwich;

3. Recommend that the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef ask the Queensland Heritage Council to consider listing G.J. Walter Park (next to Toondah Harbor) in the Queensland Heritage Register; and

4. Amend the Economic Development Act 2012 to ensure that Ramsar wetlands and other protected places are not included in priority development areas.