Saving hill from development

MILLIONS of dollars have been found to buy a key headland at Trinity Beach to save it from a housing project.

The State Government and the owner, Consolidated Properties, will not disclose the price, citing commercial-in-confidence reasons.

Environment Minister Steven Miles says an agreement has been reached for the 52ha site, costings and property valuations have been done and money set aside.

“If re-elected we will immediately complete the transactions required to purchase the land and save this local beauty spot from future development,” Mr Miles says.

It’s clear the community wants the property saved.

It is popular for walks and runs, has great views and some conservation and indigenous values.

Consolidated Properties had plans for a 26-lot subdivision on the Trinity Beach landmark, including 11 houses in the middle of the hill, with seven built over walking tracks and six along the rock cliff face overlooking the ocean. Roads to service the properties also would have been built.

The property will probably be handed to the Cairns Regional Council to look after.

It will need some upgrades as well as the track is not in a good state.

The council also is in the middle of building the new Yellow Arrow track at Edge Hill and improving the Red Arrow.

Let’s hope at some stage there are improvements earmarked for the section of the Green Arrow from the new carpark at the end of Bel Air Drive along the degraded bitumen road and rough track to the plateau.

This leads to the true start of the Green Arrow which links the Blue and Red Arrow tracks. Nick Dalton Deputy editor