Thread by @ActivismHub

Welcome to the #EnvironmentalCampaign archive. This story is about the long running Hinchinbrook campaign to stop a marina/hotel development at Oyster Point near the #GreatBarrierReef.

It began with Keith William’s proposal to create a 250 berth marina, 1,500 dwelling canal estate and a resort with ‘million’ dollar ocean views, requiring the removal of mangroves and dredging for a marina and canal.

Friends of Hinchinbrook (FoH) formed to 1993 to stop the development. The mangrove trees were protected by small groups of activists on 24 hour rosters.Despite being designed as unsuitable for a boat habour in 1977, in 1994 the project was approved.

On the 16th November 1994 Environment Minister Senator John Faulkner issued a proclamation banning certain activities of the Port Hinchinbrook development that would damage World Heritage values such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Hinchinbrook Channel and Hinchinbrook Island.

Due to the proclamation, the activists came down from the trees. However, that night the developer defied the Proclamation and cleared the forests with swamp dozers under powerful lights.

Margaret Thorsborne, FoH spokesperson, confronted the dozers as they uprooted mangroves.

On December 14, Stage 1 of Port Hinchinbrook resort was opened by the Premier and developer. Around 300 people protested at the opening, overseen by police and private guards.

The developer called the opposers ‘fanatics’. The Premier vowed to give the developer support.

Activists came from all over Australia to join the Hinchinbrook Campaign. Volunteers organised marches, submissions, media outreach and letters.

Regional environmental groups as well as Queensland Conservation Council and The Wilderness Society also gave support.

The Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook privately hold photos, videos and 70 statements about violence and assaults during a rally. Others recount death threats, assaults and intimidation against campaigners.

The 1998 Hinchinbrook Senate did not, however, document these.

Over time only parts of the development were built. The foreshore eroded as the site merged back to wetlands. In 2011 Ben Williams took over after his father’s death, but did not progress the plans.

After #CycloneYasi in 2011 taxpayers paid almost $1m for emergency dredging.

Another development company took over "Hinchinbrook Harbour" but the site was plagued by environmental and financial problems.

After his death Williams (the Seaworld & Hamilton Island developer) was blamed for spilling pollutants from the proposed resort into the #GBR

By 2019 the resort remained unfinished. Even so, the Liberal National Party promised to spend $1.5 million to complete the dredging if re-elected.

Protests continued as the Federal Government invited more developers to build ‘eco-developments’ in Hinchinbrook Island NP.

In October 2019 53 people marked 25 years since the Proclamation. They shared stories & celebrated volunteers work on the campaign, including Margaret Thorsborne, AO. Margaret (1927–2018) was one of Qld’s most respected & beloved environmentalists, a champion for Hinchinbrook.

While the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, it persisted over decades and used multiple tactics from direct action to lobbying.

Only due to countless volunteers' efforts is the resort now gradually returning to nature. vimeo.com/322782725

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