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$11M for Stradbroke ecotourism transition

The Queensland government has flagged $11 million in the upcoming state budget to help the Stradbroke Island community transition away from sandmining.

Enterprise Sand Mine on North Stradbroke Island,
Stradbroke Island's community will be given $11m to help transition from sandmining to ecotourism. (AAP)

The Stradbroke Island community will be allocated an extra $11 million in the upcoming Queensland budget to help in the transition from sandmining to ecotourism.

Acting Queensland Premier Jackie Trad said the money was in addition to the $20 million already allocated for the transition, with sandmining to halt on the island in 2019.

Ms Trad said they understood the transition would be difficult for many of the mining workers.

"We've put money on the table not only for the economic transition but the employee assistance programs as well," she told reporters on the island on Tuesday.

"We are very serious about supporting workers, supporting the local community, and also accelerating the transition for Stradbroke Island to one that is a long-term sustainable vision for the island."

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Ms Trad said even without the government stepping in to end sand mining on the island the industry had a finite lifespan and ecotourism was the way forward for the local community, including the Quandamooka people.

But Liberal National Party Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington accused the government of trying to fix a problem of its own making.

"I feel for the people who have been left because (the government) has decided to withdraw from sandmining without consulting the community," Ms Frecklington told reporters.

"(They) ripped the guts out of Straddie."

The extra funds will be rolled out over the next three years, and will be put towards measures including a $1.55 million whale interpretive facility at Point Lookout, $4.35 million for national park management, and $1 million for urgent infrastructure works at One Mile.

$1.7 million will be used to expand the capacity of the island's existing 14-bed aged care facility, while $900,000 will be used to update bushfire management plans.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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