	Nelly Bay – Magnetic Island

Home Background Chronology Key Issues Engineering Report Legal Advice Magnetic Harbour 1998 Nelly Bay Proposal 1995 Magnetic Quay 1989 Magnetic Keys 1986 Win-Win Alternative EIA Process Public SEIS Responses State SEIS Response Federal SEIS Response Public FEIS Responses Nelly Bay Photographs Corporate Information State Great Barrier Reef Region Marine Park Great Barrier Reef Region Photo: Brahminy Kite © Ian Montgomery www.birdway.com.au	Win–Win Alternative In January 1997, Neville Bennett (a Magnetic Island businessman), circulated an alternative solution to the island's lack of a safe ferry landing and the mess in Nelly Bay. His proposal (see below) included upgrading the Picnic Bay jetty's ferry landing to make it safer, and partial restoration of Nelly Bay. Copies of the proposal with surveys attached were delivered by post to 600 households, and 121 responses were received. The poll showed that 68.6% of islanders supported the solution, and 17.8% thought it had some merit. A Development Solution for Nelly Bay The Social Impact Assessment conducted for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Nelly Bay Harbour proposal (October 1995) revealed that many Magnetic Island residents want a safe ferry landing, a harbour for small boats in rough weather, and the mess in Nelly Bay 'cleaned up'. The Environmental Impact Assessment process also revealed that the proposed canal estate development would not be economically viable. According to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the federal agency which grants permission for constructions in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park), a large part of the 1995 proposal's residential component, located in the Marine Park, did not conform to the objectives of the Marine Park zoning of General Use A. This resulted in the State Government deciding to co-develop the project, donating $6 million ostensibly for the public infrastructure, to make the project viable. A brief outline of the arguments for and against safe ferry landings at Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay follows, and concludes with a development proposal which quickly and cheaply 'cleans up' the mess in Nelly Bay, as well as satisfing the perceived need for a safe ferry landing and a safe harbour for small vessels requiring short-term shelter. Various recreational facilities (eg sailing clubs, Aboriginal cultural centre) could be constructed later, as funds become available, on the area already reclaimed along the Bright Point edge of Nelly Bay. Picnic Bay Safe Ferry Landing (jetty upgrade) Arguments for: • Shorter distance, Picnic Bay to town = lower ferry fares • Public infrastructure present = free parking for residents • More comfortable rough-weather trips for medical evacuees • No dredging or destruction of fringing reef necessary • Visually appealing entry point to Magnetic Island • P/Bay jetty upgrade is the less expensive option • Business confidence re-established in Picnic Bay Arguments against: • Cost of jetty upgrade Nelly Bay Harbour (canal estate/tourism proposal) Arguments for: • Central to the island population • Construction utilises an abandoned breakwall • Seen as a way of 'cleaning up' the mess in Nelly Bay • Funding could be provided by private enterprise Arguments against: Economic Costs • Cost of earthworks construction $12 to 15 million • Canal estate style residential development not viable • Proposal will require millions in government subsidies • Excessive on-going costs in maintenance and infrastructure • Cost of Local, State and Commonwealth legal appeals • Adverse economic effects on Picnic Bay businesses Social Costs • Higher infrastructure costs = higher rates • Longer ferry journey = higher ferry fares • Privately owned terminal = higher ferry fares • Longer, rougher trip for medical evacuations • Parking area privately owned = possibility of fees • Close proximity to Nelly Bay school = years of disruption • New businesses = effects on existing MI's businesses • Increased demands on schools, hospital, council services • Loss of public open space, beach, foreshore and marine park • Visually unappealing entry point to Magnetic Island Environmental Costs • Alienation of World Heritage Marine Parks for private gain • Excavation of 1/3 of the Nelly Bay reef flat • Reclamation of 1/3 of Nelly Bay beach and foreshore • Further destruction of fringing reef to finish access channel • Chronic degradation of nearby reefs from sediment, fertilisers, anti-fouling paints, oils, petrol and sewage • Loss of visual amenity • Removal of remaining Nelly Bay mangrove community • Possible increased turtle strikes during the nesting season Development Proposal for Nelly Bay • Construct a boat ramp and provide moorings for small vessels, to use during rough weather, between the two existing breakwalls. • Level and landscape top of outer breakwall to provide access for divers and snorkellers to the corals gardens located on the seaward side of the breakwall. • Remove fence which surrounds construction site, replace beach sand and give the open space between the beach and the road back to the public . • Open the ends and remove the top of the main breakwall to the mean low water mark, to restore visual amenity. • Upgrade the Picnic Bay jetty landing with a hydraulic facility. Outcome • The mess in Nelly Bay 'cleaned up' quickly and relatively inexpensively • A safe ferry landing provided in the most convenient location • A safe harbour and boat ramp located in Nelly Bay • A socially and economically viable development • Cost about $3 to 4 million, with no on-going costs to government This proposal represents a viable solution which would satisfy the needs of the Magnetic Island community. .................................................... Home \| Contact Us \| Resources \| Sitemap Nelly-Bay.com © 2006. All Rights Reserved – Win/Win Alternative

Win–Win Alternative

In January 1997, Neville Bennett (a Magnetic Island businessman), circulated an alternative solution to the island's lack of a safe ferry landing and the mess in Nelly Bay. His proposal (see below) included upgrading the Picnic Bay jetty's ferry landing to make it safer, and partial restoration of Nelly Bay.

Copies of the proposal with surveys attached were delivered by post to 600 households, and 121 responses were received. The poll showed that 68.6% of islanders supported the solution, and 17.8% thought it had some merit.

A Development Solution for Nelly Bay

The Social Impact Assessment conducted for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Nelly Bay Harbour proposal (October 1995) revealed that many Magnetic Island residents want a safe ferry landing, a harbour for small boats in rough weather, and the mess in Nelly Bay 'cleaned up'.

The Environmental Impact Assessment process also revealed that the proposed canal estate development would not be economically viable. According to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the federal agency which grants permission for constructions in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park), a large part of the 1995 proposal's residential component, located in the Marine Park, did not conform to the objectives of the Marine Park zoning of General Use A. This resulted in the State Government deciding to co-develop the project, donating $6 million ostensibly for the public infrastructure, to make the project viable.

A brief outline of the arguments for and against safe ferry landings at Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay follows, and concludes with a development proposal which quickly and cheaply 'cleans up' the mess in Nelly Bay, as well as satisfing the perceived need for a safe ferry landing and a safe harbour for small vessels requiring short-term shelter. Various recreational facilities (eg sailing clubs, Aboriginal cultural centre) could be constructed later, as funds become available, on the area already reclaimed along the Bright Point edge of Nelly Bay.

Picnic Bay Safe Ferry Landing (jetty upgrade)

Arguments for:
• Shorter distance, Picnic Bay to town = lower ferry fares
• Public infrastructure present = free parking for residents
• More comfortable rough-weather trips for medical evacuees
• No dredging or destruction of fringing reef necessary
• Visually appealing entry point to Magnetic Island
• P/Bay jetty upgrade is the less expensive option
• Business confidence re-established in Picnic Bay

Arguments against:
• Cost of jetty upgrade

Nelly Bay Harbour (canal estate/tourism proposal)

Arguments for:

• Central to the island population
• Construction utilises an abandoned breakwall
• Seen as a way of 'cleaning up' the mess in Nelly Bay
• Funding could be provided by private enterprise

Arguments against:

Economic Costs
• Cost of earthworks construction $12 to 15 million
• Canal estate style residential development not viable
• Proposal will require millions in government subsidies
• Excessive on-going costs in maintenance and infrastructure
• Cost of Local, State and Commonwealth legal appeals
• Adverse economic effects on Picnic Bay businesses

Social Costs
• Higher infrastructure costs = higher rates
• Longer ferry journey = higher ferry fares
• Privately owned terminal = higher ferry fares
• Longer, rougher trip for medical evacuations
• Parking area privately owned = possibility of fees
• Close proximity to Nelly Bay school = years of disruption
• New businesses = effects on existing MI's businesses
• Increased demands on schools, hospital, council services
• Loss of public open space, beach, foreshore and marine park
• Visually unappealing entry point to Magnetic Island

Environmental Costs
• Alienation of World Heritage Marine Parks for private gain
• Excavation of 1/3 of the Nelly Bay reef flat
• Reclamation of 1/3 of Nelly Bay beach and foreshore
• Further destruction of fringing reef to finish access channel
• Chronic degradation of nearby reefs from sediment, fertilisers, anti-fouling paints, oils, petrol and sewage
• Loss of visual amenity
• Removal of remaining Nelly Bay mangrove community
• Possible increased turtle strikes during the nesting season

Development Proposal for Nelly Bay

• Construct a boat ramp and provide moorings for small vessels, to use during rough weather, between the two existing breakwalls.
• Level and landscape top of outer breakwall to provide access for divers and snorkellers to the corals gardens located on the seaward side of the breakwall.
• Remove fence which surrounds construction site, replace beach sand and give the open space between the beach and the road back to the public .
• Open the ends and remove the top of the main breakwall to the mean low water mark, to restore visual amenity.
• Upgrade the Picnic Bay jetty landing with a hydraulic facility.

Outcome

• The mess in Nelly Bay 'cleaned up' quickly and relatively inexpensively
• A safe ferry landing provided in the most convenient location
• A safe harbour and boat ramp located in Nelly Bay
• A socially and economically viable development
• Cost about $3 to 4 million, with no on-going costs to government

This proposal represents a viable solution which would satisfy the needs of the Magnetic Island community.