Hinchinbrook (Oyster Point) Campaign Archive
David Haigh, former lecturer in environmental law at James Cook University in Townsville and heavily involved in the campaign to stop the development near Hinchinbrook, donated these documents, interview transcripts, taped interviews, photographs, reports, correspondence, etc. In its early days it was called the 'Oyster Point Campaign' because the name 'Port Hinchinbrook' gave people the idea that there was already an established port there. The struggle over whether to develop the site of the development during the 1990s was a complex and drawn-out one. The complexity of the struggle lies not so much with Hinchinbrook's ecological value, which has been documented in a variety of scientific reports, but the process that allowed entrepreneur Keith Williams to proceed. Williams purchased the site with development approval from Tekin Australia Limited in 1993. In 1994 (in the absence of Queensland coastal legislation, with no Hinchinbrook Island National Park Management Plan or Hinchinbrook Channel Marine Park Management Plan, and with greater permitting laxity within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area), Keith Williams aimed to develop a resort, marina and boat ramp that had been approved by Cardwell Shire Council in 1995. According to the records no environmental impact assessment was conducted before approval was given.
Much of this collection of Hinchinbrook Island documentation is concerned with environmental groups and lobbyists wanting federal and state governments to be consistent with their own environmental regulations and guidelines, and to protect the Hinchinbrook Passage and Hinchinbrook Island as World Heritage areas. This event was well documented and debated in the local and national media. The proclamation of the area encompassed by Keith Williams' Oyster Point development under the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act (covering the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park), on 15 November 1995, meant that any further development required the federal environment minister's approval. Many of the documents, photographs, recorded interviews, etc. that make up this collection reflect the great deal of tensions between environmental groups and some scientists on the one hand, and those who supported the local council and developers in the belief that the resort development had economic and social benefits for the local community.
Archive Location: 420L-422M
Detailed Listing
Hinchinbrook Island Development Issues
HIC/Reports/1/ Cardon & Davies, Port Hinchinbrook Resort at Cardwell: Compilation of Information Requested by the Office of the Co-ordinator-General of Queensland, March 1994
HIC/Reports/2/ WBM Oceanics Australia, Port Hinchinbrook-Cardwell Harbour Entrance and Coastal Environment, October 1993
HIC/Reports/3/ Winders, Barlow & Morrison Pty Ltd., Resort Village Cardwell: Coastal Engineering Investigation, September 1988
HIC/Reports/4/ Tekin Australia Ltd., Dredge Spoil Disposal Study - Hinchinbrook Harbour Resort, February 1989
HIC/Reports/5/ James Pierson, Native Title at Hinchinbrook, December 1994
HIC/Reports/6/ Peter Valentine, Hinchinbrook Area, World Heritage Values, August 1994
HIC/Reports/7/ Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, Hinchinbrook Island National Park: Draft Management Plans, 1993 and 1994
HIC/Reports/8/ Sinclair Knight Merz, Port Hinchinbrook - Environmental Risk Assessment with reference to activities requiring Ministerial Consent, April 1996
HIC/Reports/9/ Parliamentary Research Service, Port Hinchinbrook - To be or not to be?. Current Issues Brief no. 30, 1994
HIC/Reports/10/ Anne Reynolds, The Sustainable Use of the Hinchinbrook Area, May 1994
HIC/Reports/11/ Submissions to Senate Environment Recreation, Communications and the Arts References Committee, Hinchinbrook Channel Inquiry, vol. 1, Submissions 1-79, May 1998
HIC/Reports/12/ Michele Bird, Cultural Heritage Assessment of the Proposed Port Hinchinbrook Resort Development Site, Oyster Point, North Queensland, March 1994
HIC/Reports/13/ Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, Environmental Review Report: Proposed Marina and Resort: 'Port Hinchinbrook', Oyster Point, Cardwell, North Queensland, May 1994
HIC/Reports/14/ Draft Terms of Reference for Environmental Impact Assessment Studies Proposed Port Hinchinbrook Development Oyster Point, Cardwell, North Queensland, February 1995
HIC/Reports/15/ NECS, "Port Hinchinbrook": Assessment of Potential Environmental Impacts on World Heritage Property, July 1995
HIC/Reports/16/ DEH, Proposed Port Hinchinbrook Development Oyster Point Cardwell: Review of Public Submissions, June 1994
HIC/Reports/17/ Cardwell Properties Pty. Ltd., "Port Hinchinbrook" Oyster Point-Cardwell: Project Description, December 1993
HIC/Reports/18/ David Haigh, Discussion Paper: Re: Hinchinbrook-Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, December 1994
HIC/Reports/19/ Brief on the Proposed Oyster Point Development, 1994
HIC/Reports/20/ Colin Trinder and Stephen Sparkes, Port Hinchinbrook and Beyond: Background to the Controversy and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Role in Protection of World Heritage [undated]
HIC/Reports/21/ Draft Cardwell Shire Planning Scheme [undated]
HIC/Reports/22/ Oyster Point - Background [undated]
HIC/Reports/23/ Report on a site inspection of the mangroves and foreshore at the Port Hinchinbrook development, Cardwell, 1995
HIC/Reports/24/ Cardwell Properties Pty. Ltd., "Port Hinchinbrook": Extension of Formal Consent Application to Federal Department of Environment, April 1996
HIC/Reports/25/ Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, Distribution of Seagrasses at Oyster Point, Cardwell - a reconnaisance survey, September 1994
HIC/Reports/26/ Minter Ellison Morris Fletcher, The State of Queensland: Cardwell Properties Pty. Ltd.. Council of the Shire of Cardwell, 1994
HIC/Reports/27/ The Wilderness Society, Joint Advice: Proposed Port Hinchinbrook Development at Oyster Point, Queensland, 1996 [2 reports]
HIC/Reports/28/ Ben Boer and R.J. Fowler, The Management of World Heritage Properties in Australia: Report to the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, Part II [undated]
HIC/Reports/29/ Preliminary Permit Assessment Record, Port Hinchinbrook Preliminary Marine Park permit assessment, July 1994
HIC/Reports/30/ The Wilderness Preservation Society of Queensland, A Submission on the Environmental Review Report, Developer's Report, and Supporting Documents, Relating to the Proposed "Port Hinchinbrook" Resort Development at Oyster Point, Cardwell, North Queensland, May 1994
HIC/Reports/31/ Norman C. Duke, A Supplementary Report to the World Heritage & Biodiversity Branch, Department of Environment, Sport & Territories, The Impact of Clearing Mangroves on the World Heritage Area (WHA) at Oyster Point, December 1994
HIC/Reports/32/ H. Marsh et al., The Status of the Dugong in the Southern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park [brief version], October 1995
Friends of Hinchinbrook
HIC/Friends of Hinchinbrook Society, Inc. /1/ Correspondence, media releases, emails, faxes, etc., 1990s
HIC/Friends of Hinchinbrook Society, Inc. /2/ Correspondence, media releases, emails, faxes, etc., 1990s
North Queensland Conservation Council Inc.
HIC/North Queensland Conservation Council, Inc. /1/ Correspondence, media releases, emails, faxes, etc., 1990s
HIC/North Queensland Conservation Council, Inc. /2/ Correspondence, media releases, emails, faxes, etc., 1990s
World Heritage Aspects
HIC/World Heritage /1/ World Heritage Executive Summary [undated]
HIC/World Heritage /2/ World Heritage advice document in 3 parts [undated]
HIC/World Heritage /3/ The World Heritage Convention and its Operational Guidelines, March 2002
HIC/World Heritage /4/ Art. 11: World Heritage List and In Danger List to be monitored by World Heritage Committee
HIC/World Heritage /5/ 2nd Draft Anotated Revisions: Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO, Annex IV; and Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Commission, UNESCO, March 1999
HIC/World Heritage /6/ UNESCO, Establishment of the World Heritage List [undated]
HIC/World Heritage /7/ UNESCO, Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage: Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, 1995
HIC/World Heritage /8/ Folder headed 'World Heritage', with notes, letters, papers on World Heritage matters
Documents on Legal Aspects of Hinchinbrook Island Campaign
HIC/Legal /1/ Folder headed 'Legal'
HIC/Legal /2/ Folder with material on Hinchinbrook Case: James Johnson and Counsel
HIC/Legal /3/ Friends of Hinchinbrook Society vs. Minister of Environment, Cardwell Properties Pty Ltd. and the State of Queensland
HIC/Legal /4/ Federal Court of Australia, no. 164 of 1997, Friends of Hinchinbrook Society vs. Minister of Environment, Cardwell Properties Pty Ltd. and the State of Queensland
HIC/Legal /5/ Trespass, Cardwell Properties, 1995
HIC/Legal /6/ Townsville Community Legal Service Inc.
HIC/Legal /7/ Queensland Police/1/ - Hinchinbrook incident
HIC/Legal /8/ Queensland Police/2/ - Hinchinbrook incident
HIC/Legal /9/ Folder headed 'Appeal'
HIC/Legal /10/ Folder headed 'Defamation'
HIC/Legal /11/ Stephen Keim, Higgins Chambers regarding Wilderness Society, 1994
HIC/Legal /12/ Form 2 - Environmental Lawyer / Environmental Defender's Office
HIC/Legal /13/ Minter Ellison, Deed of Variation: The State of Queensland and Cardwell Properties Pty. Ltd. and the Council of the Shire of Cardwell and the Commonwealth of Australia, 1996
HIC/Legal /14/ Attorney-General's Department, Documents relating to Item 1 of Notice to Produce dated 8/1/92, Part 2
HIC/Legal /15/ no. 164 of 1997, Friends of Hinchinbrook Society vs. Minister of Environment and others
Media/Newspaper reports
HIC/Media/1/ Newspaper articles, etc.
HIC/Media/2/ Newspaper articles, etc.
HIC/Media/3/ Press cuttings and releases
HIC/Media/4/ Newspaper cuttings, interview transcriptions, etc.
Plans/Images
HIC/Plans and Images/1/ Various Hinchinbrook Island-related plans, maps, schedules for proposed development and likely impacts
Correspondence
HIC/Correspondence/1/ Senator John Faulkner
HIC/Correspondence/2/ Senator Robert Hill
HIC/Correspondence/3/ David Haigh
Miscellaneous Hinchinbrook Island Campaign files
HIC/Miscellaneous/1/ Folder headed '(H) Inquiry'
HIC/Miscellaneous/2/ Oyster Point, Hinchinbrook
HIC/Miscellaneous/3/ Environmental Organisations - procedures, constitutions, etc.
HIC/Miscellaneous/4/ Cairns Community Legal Centre, Inc.
HIC/Miscellaneous/5/ Election '95
HIC/Miscellaneous/6/ Folder with working papers regarding Port Hinchinbrook and related environmental issues
HIC/Miscellaneous/7/ Marine Pollution Inquiry
HIC/Miscellaneous/8/ Folder with notes, documents regarding dredging works
HIC/Miscellaneous/9/ Cardwell Properties
HIC/Miscellaneous/10/ Goss Government Submission
HIC/Miscellaneous/11/ Folder headed Specific'; inside cover is notation 'What must be done BEFORE...any further development be done at Oyster Point'
HIC/Miscellaneous/12/ Folder containing package of material marked 'David Haigh, Faculty of Law'
HIC/Miscellaneous/13/ Boat Harbour feasiblity study: Summary and Recommendations
HIC/Miscellaneous/14/ CAFNEC
HIC/Miscellaneous/15/ Folder headed 'Discovery'
HIC/Miscellaneous/16/ Office of the Co-ordinator General, Queensland, Annual Report 1992-93
HIC/Miscellaneous/17/ Office of the Co-ordinator General
HIC/Miscellaneous/18/ GBRMPA consultancy decisions
HIC/Miscellaneous/19/ Public hearings
HIC/Miscellaneous/20/ Acid Sulphate Soil Conditions reports
HIC/Miscellaneous/21/ Beach management strategy papers, notes, correspondence, etc.
HIC/Miscellaneous/22/ Folder headed '6/1994 Record N.T. - Hinchinbrook'
HIC/Miscellaneous/23/ Correspondence regarding Keith Williams, principal executive of Cardwell Properties Pty. Ltd.
HIC/Miscellaneous/24/ Material on Hinchinbrook turbidity control plans, Oyster Point
HIC/Miscellaneous/25/ Newspaper cuttings, faxes, notes, newsletters for 1993
HIC/Miscellaneous/26/ Balaklava Island
HIC/Miscellaneous/27/ Helicopter
HIC/Miscellaneous/28/ Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
HIC/Miscellaneous/29/ COAG policies and their implementation - Finch Hatton Creek Dam, 1998
HIC/Miscellaneous/30/ Proposal for Commercial Pearl Farm and Pearl Shell Nursery, Hinchinbrook Channel, Cardwell, North Queensland
HIC/Miscellaneous/31/ Folder containing Australian Heritage Commission and GBRMPA material
HIC/Miscellaneous/32/ North Queensland Conservation Council material: media releases, media updates, correspondence
HIC/Miscellaneous/33/ Canals Regulation 1992
HIC/Miscellaneous/34/ Masterplan Port Hinchinbrook and related documents, notes, correspondence
HIC/Miscellaneous/35/ Oyster Point materials: correspondence, notes, newsletters, etc.
HIC/Miscellaneous/36/ Folder headed 'David's stuff': faxes, letters, notes, all regarding Port Hinchinbrook development, 1990s
HIC/Miscellaneous/37/ Cardwell Shire Council
HIC/Miscellaneous/38/ Brief to Counsel: Hinchinbrook World Heritage Area
HIC/Miscellaneous/39/ Len Martin file
HIC/Miscellaneous/40/ The Co-ordinator General, Queensland
HIC/Miscellaneous/41/ Papers on heritage matters authored or co-authored by David Haigh
HIC/Miscellaneous/42/ Indigenous cultural matters regarding Hinchinbrook Island and proposed development of resort
HIC/Miscellaneous/43/ North Queensland Conservation Council Inc. – additions
HIC/Miscellaneous/44/ Friends of Hinchinbrook Society Inc. – additions
HIC/Miscellaneous/45/ Petition – Oyster Point
HIC/Miscellaneous/46/ Handwritten notes, ideas, etc. on various Hinchinbrook development issues; various authors not identified
HIC/Miscellaneous/47/ Discussion Paper: Hinchinbrook – Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, 1994
HIC/Miscellaneous/48/ Folder headed ‘Imogen’ [rest is indecipherable]; first document within folder is addressed to Imogen [Zethoven?]
HIC/Miscellaneous/49/ Correspondence/Senator John Faulkner – additions; and other correspondence
David Haigh’s Notebooks
HIC/Notebooks/David Haigh/1/ Nos. [1?], 2, 4-23, 25, 27, 33-36, 39-40, 42-48, 50, 52, 54
HIC/Notebooks/David Haigh/2/ Oyster Point Expenditure Record Nov. 3-94
Videos (VHS Tapes) and Audio-cassettes
HIC/Video/1/ NQCC Oyster Point: PAL dub converted to NTSC 14/10/96
HIC/Video/2/ Oyster Point. Erosion January 1995
HIC/Video/3/ 4 Corners Oyster Point NTSC Dub for Canada
HIC/Video/4/ Oyster Point: mangrove clearing
HIC/Video/5/ Oyster Point
HIC/Video/6/ Oyster Point - 5/11/94
HIC/Video/7/ Oyster Point [7/1/94?]
HIC/Video/8/ Oyster Point 2.
HIC/Video/9/ Oyster Point 3. 31/10-26/11 [1994?]
HIC/Video/10/ Oyster Point. Tape of protected mangrove removal - 20/10/94
HIC/Video/11/ Hinchinbrook - 7/11/94
HIC/Video/12/ Stephen Austin Researcher/Journalist 7.30 Report: Keith Williams Speaking at B.O.M.A.
HIC/Video/13/ Dugongs
HIC/Video/14/ B. Katter
HIC/Video/15/ Stateline for David Haigh
HIC/Video/16/ Assault Tape, Monday 13/11/94
HIC/Video/17/ November 18 (?)
HIC/Video/18/ Friday 21/10 [indecipherable] T.V. clip - no on-site
HIC/Video/19/ (Bronsen) Dirtwater Dynasty
HIC/Video/20/ 16/11/94 [rest of heading on cover and tape indecipherable]
HIC/Video/21/ I Spy II .2.
HIC/Video/22/ No title or description
HIC/Video/23/ No title or description
HIC/Video/24/ No title or description
HIC/Video/25/ Keith Williams Interview
HIC/Cassette/1/ K. Williams 13/2/96
HIC/Cassette/2/ David Haigh, Northern Extra 24/4/96
HIC/Cassette/3/ Keith Williams 31/1/96
HIC/Cassette/4/ ABC Wayne Sherman, David Haigh, Helene March
HIC/Cassette/5/ David and Williams [24/10/94?]
HIC/Cassette/6/ Note attached: 'Dear David, Here's the tape-Margaret'
HIC/Cassette/7/ Various people's initials and dates, from 3 March 1995 to 12 April 1996
Photographs
HIC/Photographs/1/ Colour shots of protestors at mangrove site, Oyster Point, 14-16 November 1994: all photos annotated on reverse side
HIC/Photographs/2/ Colour shots of bulldozers and development activities at Oyster Point, November 1994 and November 1996; with descriptive list
HIC/Photographs/3/ Colour shots of protest meeting and speakers; shots of the local environment - no annotation or description
HIC/Photographs/4/ Colour shot of anti-development march
HIC/Photographs/5/ Port Hinchinbrook Heritage promotional postcards
HIC/Photographs/6/ Colour shots including panorama views with explanations/descriptions of environmental damage
HIC/Photographs/7/ Colour laminated photographs of Hinchinbrook Island
HIC/Photographs/8/ NQCC Hinchinbrook Campaign cards with Hinchinbrook Island on them, addressed to: Paul Erlich; Tony Clunies-Ross; Alistair Robertson; David Attenborough; Charles Birch
HIC/Photographs/9/ B/w photograph of anti-development protestors at mangrove site
HIC/Photographs/10/ Oyster Point protest, 1/9/96, laminated; photographs by Rob Parsons
Additions
HIC/Additions/1/ Illustrations, cards; 2 floppy discs (Hinchinbrook docs, JCU)
HIC/Additions/2/ Scenic Transparency (overhead)
