Archive for September, 2007

LOCAL COUNCIL AMALGAMATION IMPELS JIMNA FIRE TOWER

Monday, September 24th, 2007
The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) has requested current owners, Forestry Plantations Queensland, to enter into a moratorium with respect to seeking other parties to take ownership of the Jimna Fire Tower until after the next Local Council elections in March 2008. JFTAG has made this request on the following grounds:
 
A….The recent, and past failed attempts to have the Kilcoy Shire Council take responsibility for ownership of the Jimna Fire Tower.
 
B….The implementation of the State Government Local Council Amalgamation Legislation, which will create a larger and stronger “Somerset Regional Council”, with the amalgamation of Kilcoy and Esk Shire Councils.
 
C…. The intention of the State Government’s initiative to form bigger and stronger councils was largely to give local councils the confidence and resources to address the big issues confronting a rapidly developing South East Queensland.
 
D … JFTAG believes that the extent of support for the preservation of the Jimna Fire Tower, from the Tourism and Business sector, Government agencies, and the general public, justifies that the tower be afforded this new “window of opportunity” that has been opened by the Queensland Government’s council amalgamation initiative. 
 
As previous correspondence, and reasons already documented will attest, JFTAG has always believed that Local Council is the most appropriate body to take ownership of this Heritage Listed Tourist Icon, and if not, to at least take on the role of being the dominant driving force behind finding a solution. We trust that Forestry Plantations Queensland, via the minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries the Honourable Tim Mulherin MP, will demonstrate the same past compassion and spirit of co-operation regarding this matter by granting the above request.
 
THE BIG CAMP OUT AT PEACH TREES CAMPING AREA this weekend 28th 29th and 30th September 07, will give campers and visitors an opportunity to pay homage to the Jimna Fire Tower. Camp site bookings can be made via www.epa.qld.gov.au and if you miss out on a site at this popular camping reserve why not consider a day trip on Sunday 30th. JFTAG is having a fund raising SAUSAGE SIZZLE and there will be BILLY TEA and DAMPER, as well as WINE TASTING courtesy of WINYA WINES, Sandy Creek, Kilcoy. BUSKERS are welcome and there will be plenty of country music at the Jimna Visitor Information Centre from 10am.

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SERIOUS QUESTIONS FOR JIMNA FIRE TOWER REQUIRE SERIOUS ANSWERS

Monday, September 10th, 2007

The following serious questions have been submitted to the Premiers Department of Queensland, the Minister for Local Government and Planning the Honourable Andrew Fraser MP, the State member for Nanango, Dorothy Pratt MP, the Minister for the department of Primary Industries, the Honourable Tim Mulherin MP, the Minister for the Environment, the Honourable Lindy Nelson/Carr MP, the Minister for Tourism the Honourable Margaret Keech MP, the Queensland Heritage Council and the National Trust of Queensland, in reply to correspondence received. We can only wait and hope for serious answers!

Question No1… If the Jimna State Forest features as a tourist attraction in Tourism Queensland’s South East Queensland Country Guide, and Destination Management Plan for the Brisbane Region, then why has our State Government’s policies regarding the “future recreational use of State Forests and National Parks” seen the closure of several access roads and the restriction of public use of this area?               

Question No 2… If “Nature Based” tourism is a key component of tourism in South East Queensland as suggested, then why has the Queensland Government either closed down or obliterated eleven (11) former beauty spots in the Jimna area over the past 6 or 7 years as well as standing by and allowing the recent attempt to demolish the “Jimna Fire Tower” to  proceed without meaningful consultation with tourism stakeholders, and the people of Queensland?

Question No 3…If viewing platforms and towers are potentially valuable tourist infrastructure, as suggested, then why has the Queensland Government failed to maintain the “Jimna Fire Tower”, especially given the fact that this popular tourist icon attracted, prior to closure, 30,000 visitors per year (without wide spread tourism promotion), which represented a significant potential tourism money earner at the time, and still does?       

Question No4… If a Government department is bestowed with the responsibility of ownership of a Heritage Listed place, such as the “Jimna Fire Tower”, then why is it that this department is” NOT REQUIRED” to undertake proper and adequate maintenance under the provisions of the current Queensland Heritage Act?

Question No5…What is preventing the Government from transferring the ownership of the “Jimna Fire Tower” from the current owner, “Forestry Plantations Queensland”, who’s core business does not have either the funding nor the charter to develop tourism projects or to preserve our Heritage, to a department which does? 

The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) eagerly looks forward to the opportunity to work with the relevant Government departments and Tourism stakeholders for the purpose of evaluating all possible options for the redevelopment of the Heritage Listed “Jimna Fire Tower” into a self funded tourist destination, BEFORE consideration is given to the destruction of our country’s Heritage and History.

 BIG CAMP OUT AT PEACH TREES CAMPING AREA weekend 28th 29th and 30th Sept. 07 camping permits online via www.epa.qld.gov.au , day visit activities at the Jimna Visitor Information Centre,

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