The Queensland government's decision to sell a parcel of land in Goompi (Dunwich) on Minjerribah for tourism development has sparked strong opposition from Quandamooka Elders and community members, who say the move has been made without transparency or consent.
The land sale forms part of the Economic Transition Strategy's Gumpi Master Plan and was made public last week, triggering concern among locals about the ongoing loss of land following decades of mining and development.
Quandamooka man Dale Ruska said the announcement came as a shock to the community and raised serious unanswered questions about how the decision was made.
"This announcement comes as a great shock to local First Nations people," Mr Ruska said.
"At this stage, it is not clear how, why, or under what authority this decision was made."
Mr Ruska said the community was demanding full transparency from the Queensland government, including decision-making records, evidence of free, prior and informed consent, and environmental and cultural heritage assessments.
"First Nations land dispossession is a historical normality and now after fighting legally for more than 30 years and achieving native title recognition, the land we have been fighting to have returned is being sold by State Government for commercial freehold," he said.
The parcel of land is located adjacent to the recently constructed QUAMPI Centre in Goompi, an area that has long been a First Nations residential community.
Mr Ruska said the land had previously been subject to a special lease granted to a mining company and was now being sold as commercial freehold with conditions limiting its use to tourism-focused development.
He said the shift from mining to tourism had never received full consent from the Quandamooka people and was placing increasing pressure on local infrastructure and services.
"The residents are already consumed by overwhelming increasing numbers of tourists, whilst access to water taxi transport and other community facilities, including parking, are becoming almost impossible," he said.
The announcement comes soon after the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation AGM, where community members were told the Point Lookout Gorge Walk Yalingbila proposal, another Economic Transition Strategy project, would not proceed after five years of opposition.
Mr Ruska questioned whether recent actions by the state government, including the removal of flagpoles and flags from Goompi, were linked to efforts to make land more attractive to investors.
"Is this why the State was so committed to and acted with haste to have our flagpoles and flags removed from Goompi to ensure that any potential property investors were not deterred?" he said.
He added there were also concerns that expired special leases on the island were being renewed through further State-issued leases.
Mr Ruska called for an independent environmental, ecological and cultural heritage review to guide future planning and protect the island's integrity.
"North Stradbroke Island is a unique place that is in need of protection if its natural qualities are to be preserved," he said.
Community opposition has now escalated into planned on-Country action.
Quandamooka Elders, including Aunty Rene Clarey, Aunty Margie Kucirek, Uncle Ian Delaney, Aunty Jeannie Burns, Aunty Mary Burgess, Aunty Joyce Mitchell, Aunty Charmaine Abberdan, Uncle Steven Coghill, Uncle Dale Ruska and Uncle Darren Burns, have called on the wider community to stand against the land sale.
Mr Ruska's daughter, Pekeri Ruska, said the announcement had caused deep hurt across the community.
"Our land is not for sale," she said.
"All community who support our Quandamooka People are invited to attend this gathering to take action to stop our paradise being sold off for tourism," she said.
An urgent community-led gathering would take place at 1pm on Monday 22 December at 10 Ballow Road in Goompi, between the QUAMPI Centre and the Dunwich Hall.
