Groups oppose cable car in rainforest
CAIRNS — The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) and People Against Kuranda Sky-Rail (PAKS) on November 5 announced a campaign against a proposed cable-car development through listed World Heritage area and a national park.
According to the Sky-Rail company, "The entire cableway concept is based upon minimum-impact design and construction" and consists of 36 towers, two stations at each end, plus two stations in the forest. One of these will be a "rainforest interpretive centre", while the other houses a restaurant and possible caretaker's accommodation.
The Kuranda area is currently served by regular trains (the scenic route is an attraction) and coaches. Kuranda has regular markets and an award-winning Aboriginal theatre, and is known as "a village in the rainforest". Amongst other concerns, PAKS fear the increased tourism the cable-car proposes will destroy the qualities Kuranda is popular for.
Sky-Rail proposes to use a helicopter to drop pre-assembled 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ of towers into the forest, to eliminate the need for access roads.
PAKS do not believe this major engineering construction is "minimum impact". The amount of land clearing and damage to be caused to the unique, beautiful and supposedly protected rainforest is unacceptable.
The Goss government has already given initial approval to the concept, and is currently considering signing a development agreement. The environmental groups say this decision was based on insufficient documentation from Sky-Rail.
Sean Purcell, coordinator for CAFNEC, states, "North Queensland is littered with ruined landscapes, the legacy of half-baked development proposals".
PAKS and CAFNEC are calling for an independent technical assessment of proposed construction techniques; a comprehensive environmental impact assessment; a comprehensive social and economic impact assessment on Kuranda.
For further information, contact CAFNEC on (070) 321 746 or write to PO Box 323, North Cairns Qld 4870. PAKS asks for letters to be written to state ministers David Hamill and Molly Robson, and the federal minister, Ros Kelly.