Following numerous inquiries from tourism stakeholders and news outlets in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, a Jimna Fire Tower Action Group JFTAG deputation toured the adjacent Conondale National Park and Mary Valley regions on Thursday 7/12/06.Departing Jimna at 8am via Sunday Creek Road and arriving back at 6pm via Mt Buggery (yes Jimna is possibly the only place in Australia where you can literally go to buggery),the party enjoyed magnificent diverse scenery and views from the native hardwood and rain forests of the Jimna and Conondale Ranges to the beautiful salad bowl farmlands of the Mary Valley, highlighted by the serene charm of Kenilworth, Amamoor, Kandanga, and Imbil.

Apologies to those Jimna Fire Tower Supporters who do not receive this weeks update on time by Email. Due to an unprecedented occurrence of virus attacks, power failures, and on line technical faults with our Secretary’s computer at Jimna, J.F.T.A.G are experiencing difficulty in processing normal functions. Hopefully all will return to normal in the not so distant future with service work currently underway.

While J.F.T.A.G waits for some indication from the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) as to where and how the Jimna Fire Tower issue is being addressed by the Queensland Government, we continue to promote Public awareness and register Public support both locally and throughout South East Queensland.  J.F.T.A.G can only speculate that no news is good news, and that the Tower will be secure and safe over the Christmas Holidays, as promised by the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, the Hon. Tim. Mulherin M.P.

 

 

The recent publication titled Queensland’s Parks and Forests, which was produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, has linked the Conondale National Park and Jimna State Forest with the Fraser and Sunshine Coast tourism areas. When studying this extremely graphic and beautiful presentation, with its strong emphasis on the protection of our Cultural Heritage, the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) remains hopeful that the government departments involved will see fit to recognise the Heritage Listed Jimna Fire Tower as a worthy contributor to Queensland Cultural Heritage.

With this added confidence on board, a JFTAG deputation travelled to Caloundra on Tuesday 14/11/06, to attend a series of meetings aimed at testing support and discussing solutions for the campaign to redevelop the Jimna Fire Tower into a Tourist Destination. First stop was a reciprocal visit to the Caloundra Lighthouse, where a comprehensive Lighthouse redevelopment overview was presented, along with words of support from a Caloundra Shire Council representative. Member for Caloundra, Mark Mcardle MP., then hosted a meeting where the significance of the Jimna Fire Tower and its potential as a major Tourist Destination in South East Queensland was enthusiastically endorsed in principal. After promotional stops at several Tourist Information Centres, the JFTAG party headed home contented with a day well spent, and encouraged by the warm reception and interest encountered at Caloundra.

Endeavours to generate wider media coverage is steadily reaping rewards, with several outlets showing interest and visitor levels to Jimna on the rise. As we continue to wait patiently for news from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the proposed engineering review, JFTAG urges currently registered supporters to promote the campaign to save the Jimna Fire Tower at the workplace, office and among friends.

After laying rumours of suggested white ant infestation to rest in last weeks Jimna Fire Tower News Update the following important question needs to be addressed. Q - If people support the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG), to help save the tower, are they joining a protest group?. A - JFTAG is definitely not a protest group or anything like it. We simply are a publicly appointed committee with a clear objective - “to ensure that all possible alternatives to demolition of the Jimna Fire Tower are evaluated”. JFTAG is currently successfully establishing a group of professional advisors, who have generously volunteered to assist during future consultation with relevant government departments who are currently responsible for the tower and site. JFTAG is committed to dealing with both Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) in a controlled and professional manner, focussing on delivering a beneficial outcome for all. 

It is our understanding that the reason these government departments wanted to get rid of the Jimna Fire Tower was purely economic. Spending money on maintenance with nil return, understandably, does not fit within their operational charter, because the core business of both FPQ and QPWS does not include redeveloping defunct facilities into tourist attractions. Once these facts are understood the role of JFTAG, in trying to find a feasible alternative to demolition of this Heritage Listed Tourist Icon, becomes clearly defined. 

JFTAG, with strong public support, has an obligation to convince all levels of government and stakeholders that a redeveloped Jimna Fire Tower  has the potential to be of economic benefit to everybody. To date there have been dozens of good reasons to suggest that the previous statement is widely recognised, while in comparison, not one good reason to refute this ideology has been recorded. JFTAG reiterates its intention to move this matter forward with all stakeholders in a spirit of cooperation and rational dialogue.  Next JFTAG meeting will be held Friday November 10th, 10am, at “Jack’s Place”, Mary St., Kilcoy – all welcome. Dave Wright, Secretary.

 

 

 

 

Talks over recent weeks concerning the restoration of the Caloundra Lighthouse, and its future management as a tourist destination, has revealed striking similarities with the proposed redevelopment of the Jimna Fire Tower. Both structures were government owned; each facility became an unwanted maintenance liability as their original use was superseded by modern technology, resulting in both structures being condemned to the scrap heap. A combination of heritage and historical significance, public awareness, community support and eventual government assistance has been the ingredients of success for the dedicated Caloundra Lighthouse committee.

The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group, (JFTAG), were honoured by the attendance of Roger Todd and Vic Godley at our Friday meeting at Kilcoy (13/10/06 ), where many topics experienced by the lighthouse project were discussed. Roger, who is an architect, and Vic, who is a civil engineer, both displayed a sincere passion for Australian Heritage and History and have generously offered to share their extensive knowledge with JFTAG, a gesture for which we shall be eternally grateful. A varied range of issues confronting the future of the Jimna Fire Tower were tabled including structural assessment, architectural design, workplace health & safety, structural certification, financial feasibility, tenure control, infrastructure transfer, risk assessment, legal liability, as well as project management.

Before our guests proceeded to Jimna for an onsite inspection, JFTAG was delighted to acknowledge Roger and Vic’s agreement to act as advisors during forthcoming consultation with the Queensland Heritage Council regarding the proposed engineering review of the Jimna Fire Tower. Observations on site confirmed JFTAG’S long held belief that alternatives to demolition of this Heritage Listed Tourist Icon are well worth assessing, and judging by the exhilarating expressions of interest from our visitors, who were left in awe of the towers’ sheer magnificence, it is certain that the Jimna Fire Tower has inspired further professional support.

As the Jimna Fire Tower story reaches a wider audience through our recently established WEB SITE, it is extremely encouraging for the volunteer committee of the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) to now be receiving daily requests from supporters to be added to our email list, as well as some much welcome suggestions. JFTAG absolutely guarantees that email addresses are kept strictly private and are only used for the purpose of sending regular news updates concerning developments in our quest to put into place a feasible alternative to demolition of this popular tourist destination.