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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

National rainforest conservation

During 1986, Queensland was in conflict with the Commonwealth government over the management of the rainforests of Far North Queensland. In January, Cabinet recommended a letter be sent to Prime Minister Hawke to express the Queensland Government’s vehement dissatisfactionwith a report tabled by the Working Group on Rainforest Conservation (Dec. 47958).

The letter signed by Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, expressly refuted (under the Constitution) the Commonwealth Government’s right to intervene in matters of land management within a state. The Premier strongly opposed further nomination of any areas for World Heritage status, and to any review of the rainforest timber industry.
In its recommendation, Cabinet noted that ‘the viewpoints of State Government and extreme Conservation Movement representatives were diametrically opposed on very many issues’. It identified the report’s proposal of increased Commonwealth involvement and oversight in state rainforest conservation as indicative of ‘the ambitions of sectors

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Redevelopment of Edward Street and Turbot Street (world’s tallest building)

The tender for the redevelopment of Queensland Railway land and the Capital Hotel site was put out in October 1985 and closed on 16 December 1985. In April 1986, Cabinet looked at the tender proposals for the first time (Dec. 48546).

Of the seven proposals submitted at the preliminary stage, Seymour Developments’ proposal appeared to give the best return for government. The assessment of the Mainsel Investments Pty Ltd proposal for an 83 story tower ‘creates a landmark building which exceeds any building in the Southern Hemisphere’.

However, the Queensland Rail assessment went on to say the proposal was ‘grossly oversized to meet future predicted demand’ and didn’t comply with the Town Plan. Because of the wide variation in the proposals, Cabinet decided to seek additional information from four tenders. The Co-ordinator-General presented a detailed report

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Sanctuary Cove

Cabinet heard several submissions regarding the Sanctuary Cove Resort during 1986 (see for example, Dec. 49574). At a meeting in Mackay on 13th October, the Premier raised that the development ‘could be placed into liquidation without assistance’ (Dec. 49973).

By December the project was at a ‘crisis point’ and the Premier argued for a government loan of $5 million to pay
Discovery Bay Developments Pty Ltd. The Government had already provided $5 million along with Westpac $7 million, AIDC $15.5 million and Beneficial Finance $20 million (Dec. 49973).

Cabinet was told that Beneficial Finance Corporation subsequently had decided not to advance the additional $5 million outlined in an October submission and would not proceed with the syndicated loan facility. Westpac was therefore attempting to arrange the syndication itself but had been unsuccessful. Thirty banks had been approached – but not one had come on board and

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Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Kangaroo Point

Boosterism was a prime motivation of the National Party government during the 1980s. In submissions brought to Cabinet in October (Dec. 49802) by the Premier, many of the proposals currently being considered were summarised.

While that submission was withdrawn, it further highlights how development was valued above everything else with environmental, community and amenity concerns often seemingly a secondary consideration.

On 29 September 1986, Lands, Forestry, Mapping and Surveying minister Bill Glasson sought Cabinet to approve the Fricker Carrington Group as preferred developer, to be given a year to determine suitability of the site around Kangaroo Point. The site consisted of 6.273 hectares and the Premier had announced in earlier reports that the land package was worth ‘at least $10 million’ (The Courier Mail, 23 April 1986). By far the most generous bidder, Fricker Carrington’s offer at $8.5 million along with the promise

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