GREEN groups are concerned that Department of Environment staff investigating allegations of soil run-off at False Cape could be influenced by workers showing them around the controversial development.

Investigators sent by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett spent yesterday inspecting the site to determine the extent of the current sediment run-off problems.

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They are expected to return this morning.

But The Save False Cape Group’s Steven Nowakowski said the team of three had been shown around the site by workers from construction company CEC Group.

CEC was contracted by Reef Cove Resorts until a stop-work was called by Reef Cove last month pending clarification of financial arrangements with the troubled MFS.

Mr Nowakowski said "it’s only natural for them to be shown around by someone familiar with the site" but he feared the investigators could be compromised by having CEC staff present.

It is unknown if the team will do further investigations without CEC staff on-site.

Cairns City Council is assisting the federal investigators and staff from the Department of Environment during the investigation.

But mayoral candidate Val Schier said the council had failed to act before it was too late.

"With the departure of all workers and machinery, no one is monitoring the sediment traps," she said.

"From day one this project has been of grave concern to anyone who cares about the environment or … anyone who wonders at the sense of building on geologically unstable hill slopes."

A spokesman for the CEC Group did not return The Cairns Post’s calls yesterday.

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