Friday 1 August 2008

Defiant Desley digs down deep

From: savetheyachtclub@bigpond.com
Sent: Monday, 28 July 2008 3:14 PM
To: Member for Cairns, Desley Boyle
Subject: Invitation to PADYC Public Meeting

Desley,

I am sure you are aware by now of PADYC (People Against Demolishing the Yacht Club) which I have created to give a voice and direction to the myriad members of the community that are very disturbed by the impending demolition.

Desley, the people of Cairns want to be heard on this and accordingly we have called a public meeting for this Saturday, 2nd August at 2:00p.m. at the Yacht Club.

The agenda is as follows:

  • 2:00 Welcome and opening remarks by myself.

    2:05 Address by Dr Tim Bottoms, Historian, on the history of early Cairns and its association with the Yacht Club.

    2:15 Address by member of the new LNP Party about their position supporting the people of Cairns in their bid to save this historic building

    2:25 Address by yourself, if you are willing on the Government’s position on the issue.
    2:35 Brief comments and questions from the floor.
    3:00 Summation and close.

It is quite likely that the above schedule could be extended allowing more time to seat the group and move form speaker to speaker for example, but I would not think the meeting would go much past 3:30.

I can personally assure you that as Chairperson, this meeting, while emotional will not be allowed to become nasty. I know feelings are running very high on the matter, but I will do my best to see you get a fair hearing if you are able to attend.

Please advise me as soon as possible of your ability to attend. The LNP party has been asked to similarly provide a speaker, but we are not aware of who this will be yet.

Yours sincerely,

Wendy Richardson, Coordinator - PADYC
People Against Demolishing the Yacht Club
Ph 07 4034 2248
Mobile 0418 196 011
savetheyachtclub@bigpond.com
www.yachtclubcairns.com

  • From: Cairns Electorate Office
    Sent: Friday, 1 August 2008 3:38 PM
    To: savetheyachtclub@bigpond.com
    Subject: Invitation to PADYC Public Meeting

    Thank you for your email and phone message.

    I will not attend Saturday's meeting for two reasons - the first is that I am on holidays and the second Wendy is that I believe your motives are political.
    I will be happy to continue to meet with members of the community about the yacht club building or any other issues.

    Regards,
    Desley Boyle
    MP Member for Cairns
    Ph 4051-2868 Fax 4051-6760
Greetings Minister Boyle

As appears too often you seem to have again missed the point in refusing to attend this meeting. If YOU want to make this a political item, that is up to you.

For those who care about Cairns it is not political, other than it is a Queensland Government initiative to remove this piece of our heritage. You possibly are "shooting yourself in the foot" by your stance and not being there?

Those that are anxious to save this building come from all political persuasions, including ( but not limited to) Wendy Richardson from your opposition. How ever she is active as a private person, as you may be aware she is not a parliamentarian & is unlikely to be in the next 3 - 4 years. A long time in politics, you will agree.

I voted for Anna Bligh's Government last time, but the way you and the Labour government are ignoring the citizenry of Cairns is making me swing back to the new NLP, particularly now they have got their act together forming a single entity in opposition. Your attitude encourages such action.

I suggest you rethink your position, or are you so committed you do not wish to know what many/most people in Cairns want in this case??

PS This will be the first protest meeting I have ever felt strongly enough to attend. And I am 70+ !

Yours Sincerely,
Russell Ellis
Satellite Street, Clifton Beach
Queensland 4879

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a member of the ALP, I am disappointed with Desley's stance on this. Full credit to Wendy who understands this issue is more than just an emotional one.

Anonymous said...

My response to her excuse is : Holidays: -Well even more reason why you have the time to attend. The stall wearing whiskers in this case is the inability to face people who don't like what is happening to them.

Secondly, the famous put down, you, Wendy have a political motive, therefore I won't attend because your politics are not the same as mine.

Hence the Pyramids.

Anonymous said...

Recently, so called "Heritage Buffs" were encouraged by the State government to write up a wish list of Heritage sites, a proposal supported by Deseley Boyle who stated :-
"It would be a shame if we lost them(Heritage Sites) because no one thought to mention them." says ---Desley Boyle

This lady has no credibility whatsoever.

Ray Taylor

Anonymous said...

Desley’s response like the CPA and others is no surprise. They all conveniently neglect to mention or place any importance on a more regionally relevant piece of statutory law under the Qld Coastal Protection & Management Act, namely the 2003 Wet Tropical Coast Regional Coastal Management Plan which specifically designated the CYC as “an area of state significance (Cultural Heritage)”- a place (including the building) associated with the economic, World War 11 and post-contact settlement history of the region. This plan was implemented after extensive consultation involving a Regional Consultative Group, the community at large and various interest groups. As a coastal heritage resource its importance and value to the community and region was clearly articulated and identified, hence its given status in the plan.

Regional policy 2.6.1. states “Areas of state significance (cultural heritage) are to be identified as valuable features in planning schemes and measures developed to protect them from incompatible development.” Measures for protection included establishing a heritage register.

The Council, State Government and the CPA all failed in their statutory duty by law to reflect the intent and policies of the plan in their decision making but no one it seems is accountable and what the community values and desires is once again ignored. It’s the same old never-ending story. An absolute disgrace.