Take Action: Jack Barnes Mangrove Boardwalk Closure

Use the form below to send an email to the 2020 Cairns Regional Council election Candidates to let them know you’re concerned about the closure of the Jack Barnes Mangrove Boardwalk. The email below can be edited to suit your concerns or sent as is.

“Dear Candidates,

I’m writing to you as I’m concerned about Cairns Regional Council’s closure of the Jack Barnes Mangrove Boardwalk which happened earlier in 2019 and has since stood stagnant and unused for months on end. 

This Mangrove Boardwalk is an irreplaceable community asset that has provided a safe and accessible location for multiple generations to learn about our vital mangrove ecosystems. Without this boardwalk open there are no options for schools, universities, tourists or locals to visit the diverse mangroves of our city. 

You may not know, but the current Cairns Regional Councillors have voted to defer a decision on the future of the boardwalk to the incoming councillors after the March 28th election. This means you may soon be in a position to influence the outcome of this issue. 

The boardwalk will need to be repaired or replaced. We don’t know which at this stage. However, what we do know is that this boardwalk has taught hundreds, if not thousands, of students about our vital mangrove ecosystems over the decades. We also know that, on the doorstep of the Cairns Airport, this boardwalk has huge ecotourism potential that is yet to be explored at a time when the Cairns economy is looking for new experiences to broaden our tourism offerings. 

What we are asking of you is two-fold: 

1. Make a pledge of your support now, that if you are elected, to champion the reopening of the Jack Barnes Mangrove Boardwalk.
   If elected, the local volunteers will be in touch to arrange a meeting. Make the pledge now here: https://cafnec.org.au/2020/03/19/pledge/
   2. Talk about this issue in your campaign; mention it in the media, write social media posts, ask your fellow candidates what they think.

Thank you so much for your time and good luck on the campaign trail.”

Click on your Division below to send an email to your candidates. It will also send the email to the Mayoral Candidates.
Not sure what division you are? Click here and type in your address to find out. 

In case you missed it here’s the email we sent out with this action:

Update – Closure of Mangrove Boardwalk

Hello Supporters for Jack Barnes Mangrove Boardwalk!

I am sending this message to those who signed the petition for Jack Barnes Mangrove Boardwalk to be reopened. Thank you so much for your contribution joining over 500 other people who also took action!

In November last year, Bess Murphy (CAFNEC) and myself (Mikey, local naturalist) took the opportunity of giving a deputation at a Cairns Regional Council General Meeting. We presented to the councillors its educational and recreational values as well as the rich mangroves (+ saltmarsh) eco-system we can experience there along with lots of photos. To watch the presentation skip to 1hr16min in this video: https://bit.ly/2TZDYRq. Unfortunately, the mayor wasn’t there but the presentation was very well received and led to a follow-up meeting with the council staff in January. 

Now the Cairns Regional Council is assessing the possibility of keeping the Jack Barnes Boardwalk at the current location. Since this issue is complex and involves a big budget the decision has been deferred until the new mayor and councillors are elected at the end of March after our local elections. 

Now I am asking you a favour. We want to take this campaign to the next level. We need to ensure whoever gets elected on March 28th will already have an understanding of why it is so important to keep the Mangrove Boardwalk.

Please use this link to contact the candidates to make them aware of this issue and find out if they support the boardwalk to stay at the current location. We have written a template letter which you can edit if you like or send straight off using our form submission. 

Please take a moment to take this action. Thank you so much for your help and continued support!

Kind regards,

Mikey (Hidetoshi Kudo)
on behalf of the Save Jack Barnes Boardwalk Group

Ps. If you’re interested in joining our group and helping with the campaign please email community@nullcafnec.org.au

The Jack Barnes Boardwalk Campaign is an initiative of the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC). If you’d like to be kept in the loop on other environmental issues in our region head to www.cafnec.org.au to find out more. 

Authorised by Lucy Graham, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre
25-27 Greenslopes Street, Manunda, Qld 4870