Shock News as Taylor Point is Privately Bought
October 2024
In October 2024, Taylor Point was sold by Rob Prettejohn to the Macernis Group, marking a significant turning point in the long-running campaign by CAFNEC, Traditional Owners, and the Northern Beaches community to protect the site. Since the sale, Taylor Point is no longer accessible to the public.
CAFNEC has long advocated for the land to be held in public ownership and managed by Djabugay and Yirrganydji Traditional Owners, in recognition of its environmental, cultural and community significance. While the Macernis Group has indicated a commitment to conservation, we have reached out to better understand their plans and to encourage future opportunities for Traditional Owners and community members to be involved in the site’s ongoing protection.
About Taylor Point
Taylor Point is situated on the headland between Kewarra Bach and Trinity Beach. This large block of land remains undeveloped, and is a natural place that many in the community appreciate.
The previous owner had put the land up for sale, and after many years of fighting to protect this green space, the State Government had the opportunity to buy it and ensure it remained a green space for future generations to come.
Former Member for Barron River, Craig Crawford, had demonstrated what is possible when he worked with the QLD Government to buy back Earl Hill and now the same needs to happen for Taylor Point.
With Taylor Point in community hands we could continue to visit Taylor Point for recreation, for family fishing trips and picnics, which bring many health, environmental and social benefits.
History
CAFNEC has worked with the Cairns community over the decades to ensure that Taylor Point is protected from inappropriate development.
The most recent work was 2012, you can read more in our Ecotone.
Taylor Point, at the northern end of Trinity Beach, is a stunning coastal headland of tropical vegetation, rocky foreshores and beaches, enjoyed by many local families and visitors. For Yirrganydji Traditional Owners, Bama kulbul-barra (saltwater Aboriginal people), it is part of our home, and connected to our customary knowledges, practices, lores and identities.
Community Action to Protect Taylor Point
In 2022, 2,360 Queenslanders signed a petition calling for the Queensland Government to purchase Taylor Point and return it to public hands under the management of Djabugay and Yirrganydji Traditional Owners.
This petition reflects the strong and enduring support within the Cairns Northern Beaches and wider Queensland community for the protection of Taylor Point’s environmental and cultural values.