DESPAIRING Mission Beach conservationists are calling for a ban on clearing any rainforest in their town in a last-ditch effort to stop new subdivisions on densely forested land.
Southern developers want to turn 24ha of rainforest above the Tully-Mission Beach Rd, near Mission Circle at Wongaling Beach, into 40 residential lots in the latest application to outrage long-time residents.
Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) vice-president Liz Gallie said the Daintree buy-back scheme had saved rainforest north of Cairns, but there was nothing in place at Mission Beach.
"We live in one of only three areas in the Far North recognised in the FNQ 2020 plan, and again in the 2025 draft plan, as being of priority biodiversity," she said.
"But they still offer no protection for most of the remaining rainforest in urban areas.
"We desperately need something, whether it's a similar buy-back of private land by the Government or covenants over areas classified as essential cassowary habitat by the Environmental Protection Authority."
The latest subdivision proposal is for an area identified as needing a cassowary habitat corridor.
The proposal includes limiting clearing on each lot to 1000sqm and imposing environmental covenants on about 80 per cent of the land.
Ms Gallie said the forest bordered World Heritage land and was a crucial link with lowland rainforest for the endangered cassowaries.
"We know it is home to at least three cassowaries that are already up against it," she said.
"Loss of habitat is the number one threat for them."
The development application has been referred to the Federal Government's Department of the Environment.
Public comments can be made until Friday.
Cassowary Coast Mayor Bill Shannon said he did not have a problem with the State Government imposing a buy-back scheme at Mission Beach.
"We certainly don't want to lose any more rainforest (but) at the moment, people do have existing rights over their land," he said.
