1,143 people signed Save Magnetic Island Camp petition

In just 10 days a total of 1143 supporters of the Magnetic Island Camp signed the petition to keep the Magnetic Island Active Recreation Centre open. Thank you every one for such a brilliant effort.

   692 - e-petition
   451 - paper petition
 1143 - Total
   109 - signatures on the paper petition were invalid

Total Valid Signatures 1034

The e-petition closed on 28 November and was tabled in parliament today Thursday 29 November 2012. It will be referred to the for Recreation, Steve Dickson MP this week. A response is due on the 7th January 2013, 20 days after the camp is closed with staff either retrenched or laid off.

The camp is traditionally closed for December and January but staff were always on site during this period.

The paper petition will be presented to the Member for Townsville, John Hathaway MP, to be tabled in parliament on our behalf.


We will have more news and information about further action over the next few days. Meanwhile go to;
“Opposition leader says Hathaway should resign over Rec Camp closure” Magnetic Times and click on
The Magnetic Times for the full story with comments, and check out the other stories while you are there.

Now we wait for a response.

On behalf of the kids, thank you

David Crusty Herron
Spokesman
Save Magnetic Island Camp Group
savemagneticislandcamp@gmail.com

“Opposition leader says Hathaway should resign over Rec Camp closure” Magnetic Times

Annastacia Palaszczuk the leader of the Queensland opposition, visited Magnetic Island on Friday 23 November, to discuss the closure and decommissioning of our recreation camp and disaster recovery facility.

Photo by James Sullivan used with permission

“Opposition leader says Hathaway should resign over Rec Camp closure” 

Extract; Magnetic Times article 25 Nov 12 George Hirst

Queensland’s Leader of the Opposition, Annastacia Palaszczuk, visited Magnetic Island on Friday and called on our local LNP Member, John Hathaway, to resign for not representing the Magnetic Island community’s calls to stop the government from closing the Magnetic Island Recreation Camp at Picnic Bay.
The visit by the Opposition Leader adds extra energy to the campaign to fight the camp’s closure and is likely to draw the Island issue into the broader state-wide, political arena.

Annastacia Palaszczuk told Magnetic Times of the wider interest the camps closure was having due to the impact it will have on school students from other parts of the state - particularly in Mount Isa.

Read the full story in the Magnetic Times

On November 26 John Hathaway MP wrote in response to the Magnetic Times article. Mr Hathaway put the governments' line. Read his response and those of others in the article comments. 

And feel free to state your views - for or against - join the discussion. 

The government is reading the Magnetic Times

Thank you Magnetic times for your unbiased reporting

Annastacia Palaszczuk leader of the opposition, visits Magnetic Island to help save our camp

Annastacia Palaszczuk the leader of the Queensland opposition, visited Magnetic Island today, Friday 23 November, to discuss the closure and decommissioning of our recreation camp and disaster recovery facility.

Read more in the Magnetic Times online

But first, if you haven't already you have until 12 Midnight tonight,
Wednesday 28th November to show your support

Sign the e-petition now.

 

Click here to find out more ways to help

Save the Magnetic Island Camp our Recreation Centre and Disaster Recovery Centre from Closure

Don't Decommission Magnetic Island Camp! Our only Disaster Relief & Recovery Centre

Decommissioning is not an option.  Decommissioning the Magnetic Island Active Recreation Centre and  only designated Disaster Relief & Recovery Centre with no alternate facility available is not an option for this year’s cyclone/wet season. The Centre cannot be decommissioned. The decision to decommission the centre was made without consideration of regulatory guidelines

 Premier Newman, Minister Dickson and Senior Bureaucrat Ashton got it wrong!

To ensure that the centre will continue to cater to the school visitor groups that traditionally makes up the major market segment and incoming revenue source and that the centre stays online as the island’s relief & recovery centre there are only two options. The first (1.) will not happen leaving the second (2.) as the only acceptable option
 
The camp either stays open under government control to operate as it has and the cancelled bookings to be restored OR

The Camp stays open under government management to operate as it has. The cancelled bookings are to be restored with the government continuing to manage the camp during a transitional operating period until  the private operator takes over after 1 July 2013 -

Premier Newman & Minister Dickson Decommission Magnetic Island's Only Disaster Relief & Recovery Centre

Premier Newman & Minister Dickson Decommission Magnetic Island's Only Disaster Relief & Recovery Centre

 

It has become painfully obvious that the Newman government is paying lip service only to having the Magnetic Island Recreation Centre continue in its current roles. That is firstly as an Active recreation Centre for kids & other groups, and secondly, the most important priority at this time, as Magnetic Island's only designated disaster relief & recovery Centre.

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There are no designated, public cyclone Shelters or places of refuge on the island.

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The decommissioning of the Magnetic Island centre effectively place the lives and wellbeing of Magnetic Island residents and visitors at risk in the event of a disaster such as cyclone or severe flooding.
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The Magnetic island facility is the only one that has the capacity to provide a temporary home for residents homeless as a result of a disaster. It sleeps 100 but has the capacity to sustain at least another 50. The kitchen can cater for 200 or more. There are 6 other Emergency facilities on Magnetic Island, these are evacuation centres only, but there is only one capable of sustaining families in the event of a disaster and the post period.

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Recreation Minister Steve Dickson’s callous statement in the Townsville Bulletin Monday 12 November has made the government's position quite clear. He "could not guarantee the facility would be in a usable condition during a cyclone" And that designation of disaster recovery centres was the responsibility of the Townsville City Council.

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Minister, the 'designation of disaster recovery centres' may be the responsibility of the Townsville City Council but, Mr Dickson, how can the Council 'designate' a facility when the only suitable property on the island  is being closed and decommissioned?

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The state government has no right to place the well being of Magnetic Islands Residents and visitors at risk. Cyclone season is upon us, We may or may not have a devastating cyclone or flood situation but it is the government’s duty of care to ensure that this facility remains  on standby. Not to decommission it. If the worst happens we will hold the state government responsible.

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Send a message to the people who closed  and decommissioned our Relief & Recovery Centre at 

The Magnetic Island Active Recreation Centre, Our camp!
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Click on the names to send your email to...
 

Campbell Newman, Premier, Steven Dickson Recreation Minister, 

Rob Ashton Senior Bureaucrat Department of Communities.

and last, and least 

John Hathaway MP member for ??? representing ???

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And sign the petition before 28 November 2012

 Sign Here

Save Our Magnetic Island Camp

Protestors hit out at Newman’s decision to close Magnetic Island camp

 Protestors hit out at Newman’s decision to close island camp

from The North West Star
By Kim Waters
Nov. 19, 2012, midnight

PROTESTORS gathered at an emotional rally yesterday to save the Magnetic Island Active Recreation Centre from state government closure.

Save our Magnetic Island Camp campaign organiser and protestor Jody McLaughlin said she would fight until the end to keep the camp open.

"December 20 is the closing date," she said.

"If nothing happens by then drastic measures might have to be taken.

"I can't say much but if people go over there and chain themselves to fences, we won't be stopping them from doing that if that's what they want.

Read more here in the North West Star

Many of the school groups will cancel, postpone, reschedule or relocate their annual camp visits incurring additional costs for hard pressed families and disruption to school programs.

 Protestors gathered outside the camp yesterday in a unified fight against state government's closure of the Magnetic Island Active Recreation Centre

Sign the e-petition now. 

Save the Magnetic Island Camp our Recreation Centre and Disaster Recovery Centre from Closure

Locals pitch protest to save rec centre - Townsville Bulletin - Save magnetic Island Camp

Locals pitch protest to save rec centre
Townsville Bulletin - Save magnetic Island Camp

 EMMA CHANNON  |  November 19th, 2012

"ABOUT 60 Magnetic Island residents rallied at the Active Recreation Centre in a move of "people power" yesterday, to try to keep the centre's doors open.

Led by local identity David "Crusty" Herron, the group gathered to try to send a message to the State Government, summed up on the placards that were waved about: "Save our camp".

Former state member for Townsville Mike Reynolds, who helped save the centre in 2008 when then-premier Anna Bligh threatened its closure, said "people power" would save it again.

 "The camp has a dual role," Mr Herron said  "The first is for our kids, but the second, with the onset of the wet season, is an essential emergency facility."

Read the whole story in the Townsville Bulletin

Read more about the Newman Government's closure of Magnetic Island's
Only Disaster Relief & Recovery Centre in the

Save Our Magnetic Island Camp Blog

Islanders protest over Recreation Camp closure - in the Magnetic Times

November 18th 2012

"About 80 Magnetic Islanders and friends gathered at the front of Magnetic Island Recreation Camp at Picnic Bay today to show their support in keeping the camp open."

Read the whole story in the  Magnetic Times 

Story and photo: Melanie Coutts


Read more about the Newman Government's closure of Magnetic Island's
Only Disaster Relief & Recovery Centre in the

Save Our Magnetic Island Camp Blog

and farcebook-team blog

Sign the e-petition now. Save the Magnetic Island Camp our Recreation Centre and Disaster Recovery Centre from Closure

Save the Magnetic Island Camp our Active Recreation and disaster Recovery Centre from closure.

Click Here

Only Queensland residents may sign

You may sign only once

Do not sign both the e-petition & a hard-copy petition

Now that you have signed the petition email this post to a friend

Mount Isa Council joins fight to save the Magnetic Island Camp

Mount Isa Council joins fight to save camp spot
By By Kim Waters
Nov. 15, 2012, midnight

MOUNT Isa's leaders will fight a state government decision to close the Magnetic Island Active Recreation Centre, saying the camp closure was detrimental for kids in the North West.

At yesterday's Mount Isa City Council meeting mayor Tony McGrady carried a motion for council to support the Spinifex Parents and Citizens Association in their push for a reversal of the state government decision.

Cr McGrady said council would also write to other schools in the region, requesting their support.

He said the Magnetic Island camp was often the first chance for Mount Isa kids to experience the surf and sand.

"Education is about reading, writing and arithmetic, but it's also about personal development," Cr McGrady said...

Read more...