Community
29 January, 2021
Fast action needed on Taylor's Point
CALLS for the State Government to buy one of Queensland’s last undeveloped headlands are growing stronger but time is running out with the sale of Taylor Point expected to come to a head within 60 days.
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) launched a campaign this month encouraging the community to sign their Save Taylor Point Forever petition which calls on the Queensland Government to buy back the land.
CAFNEC Director Lucy Graham said the organisation put an expression of interest in to purchase the property late last year in the hopes of working with the State Government to secure a buyback.
“CAFNEC put an expression of interest in not because we have any ability to purchase the property but because we had a lot of community members approaching us about what was possible if the land is for sale and the potential to work with the State to have a buyback happen,” Ms Graham said.
The organisation said they hoped the Government would buy the land as part of their Protected Areas Strategy which commits to grow the number of protected natural areas in Queensland.
Ms Graham said CAFNEC had favourable conversations with Member for Barron River Craig Crawford and hoped he would raise the matter at Parliament Sitting Week next month.
“We’ve had some positive conversations with the local member Craig Crawford and I think he will be talking to the government about what’s possible,” Ms Graham said.
However, selling agent Jay Beattie of Colliers International said the commercial nature of the sale meant CAFNEC and the State Government needed to act fast.
“My feeling is that unless there was a quick reaction by that party and their funders the chances are their timing processes are going to be not aligned with the commerciality of sale of this property,” Mr Beattie said.
Mr Beattie said the sale had attracted interest from a number of strong contenders who aligned with the current owner’s desire to preserve the natural integrity of the headland meaning a sale was likely within months, not years.
“The reality is there are some strong contenders that have stood up and it’s likely based on my experience that within the next 60 days we’ll bring this to a head by where we’re in a very different position than what we were in at the end of November.”
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford’s office confirmed by email that he does intend to raise the purchase of Taylor Point with his Ministerial colleagues however at the time of publication no response had been received on the exact timeframe this would occur in.
Community members wanting to show their support for the government buyback can head to CAFNEC’s website to sign their petition.
