sunirmalya symons

FW: latest from GRC on flat rock for Fix Flat Rock community

1 message

Elizabeth Landman 

26 October 2026 at 14:19

To: "sunirmalya@gmail.com"

Dear Mr Symons

Thank you for taking my call today.

As discussed, please find my email and contact detail if you want to follow-up on progress.

What I heard in our conversation is that you would like Council to;

1. 

As a first priority take lead and fund all approvals required to get a section of beach replenished with sand.

2. 

Second priority would be the 7m x 2m rock groyne designed, approved and build by Council, so that it
slowdowns the tidal movements and future sand replenishment would not be required or at least
minimised.

3. 

Consider upgrade of the area including the playground and shading for locals to enjoy this area and attract
more tourist to this area as it was back in its high day when the boat club was active and it becomes a real
meeting place for community again.

As none of this is funded, I will be working with my colleagues to see how we would progress this request and be
in contact as discussed.

Kind regards

Elize

Elizabeth Landman

Manager Environment and Conservation

Assets and Environment

PO Box 29 Gladstone Qld 4680

P

(07) 4970 0700  |  

M

  0472 524 269

W

www.gladstone.qld.gov.au

10/27/26, 6:58 PM

Gmail - FW: latest from GRC on flat rock for Fix Flat Rock community

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#all/CllgCHrjmdHLklngplmXBxdWlzvJjcSVCcFLNlRCgDKcqHNccHhkpjTTPkdQWHrqkGXhDntMZVB

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Gladstone Regional Council would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Bailai, the Gurang, the Gooreng Gooreng
and the Taribelang Bunda people. We pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. Gladstone Regional Council is committed to
cultivating a culture of inclusion and connectedness, acknowledging that our communities are richer when diversity is embraced.

From:

 sunirmalya symons <

sunirmalya@gmail.com

>

Sent:

 Wednesday, 16 September 2026 2:09 PM

To:

 Stephen Bennett <

Burnett@parliament.qld.gov.au

>; Natalia Muszkat <

Natalia.Muszkat@gladstone.

qld.gov.au

>

Subject:

 Re: latest from GRC on flat rock for Fix Flat Rock community

CAUTION:

 This email originated from outside of Council. Do not click links or open attachments unless you

recognise the sender and know the content is safe.

FYI please can keep in the loop by checking 

https://fixflatrock.dreamhosters.com/correspondence.php

So i wrote to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor with this  

Hi Matt and Natalia,

I hope you’re both doing well.

I’m reaching out regarding the ongoing coastal erosion at the Flat Rock Picnic Area in Baffle Creek. We recently
received the official pre-lodgement advice from the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) regarding our
proposed beach replenishment and 7m x 2m rock groyne, and I wanted to bring you into the loop on where things
stand.

SARA’s response gives us a clear regulatory roadmap, but it also highlights a critical structural point: because the site
sits below the Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) within the declared Baffle Creek Fish Habitat Area (FHA Management
B), State agencies rarely grant approvals for permanent works or tenure to private individuals or community groups.
SARA explicitly noted that Gladstone Regional Council (GRC) would naturally be the appropriate lead applicant and
managing entity for works protecting this road reserve and public infrastructure.

To ensure this project succeeds without getting bogged down in state bureaucracy, we’d like to work directly with
Council to streamline the path forward. Specifically:

1. 

Council Proponent/Sponsorship:

 Exploring whether GRC can step in as the primary applicant or co-

proponent for the development application and landowner’s consent process through DNRMMRRD
(Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development ).

2. 

Refining Application Scope 

There was some confusion about the scope of the proposal to focus strictly on

the essential erosion control (the rock groyne and soft replenishment).

3. 

Inter-Agency Alignment:

 Arranging the recommended pre-lodgement meeting with DNRMMRRD

(

LASST3@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au

) and securing the Resource Allocation Authority (RAA) under the 

Fisheries Act

.

10/27/26, 6:58 PM

Gmail - FW: latest from GRC on flat rock for Fix Flat Rock community

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#all/CllgCHrjmdHLklngplmXBxdWlzvJjcSVCcFLNlRCgDKcqHNccHhkpjTTPkdQWHrqkGXhDntMZVB

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Flat Rock remains a vital asset for our local community and visitors alike, and we want to ensure we protect the area
properly. With respect, Baffle Creek does seem to miss out repeatedly. Given that Tony Kleins master plan of 2015
was the last visionary statement for the area and none of it was implemented we are keen for something to be done.

Could we catch up briefly or set aside 15 minutes soon to discuss how Council and our committee can best align on
this?

Warm regards,

Sunirmalya Symons

Fix Flat Rock Steering Committee

Disclaimer:

 This email and any attachments may contain confidential or privileged information. You must not use or disclose this information,

other than for the purposes for which it was supplied. The privilege or confidentiality attached to this email and attachments is not waived by
reason of mistaken delivery to you. If for whatever reason this email is received by someone other than the intended recipient, you are
requested to notify the sender promptly by telephone, email or facsimile and destroy and delete all copies of the original message. Personal
information will only be disclosed to a third party with your written authorisation or as required by law – Refer to Council’s website for more
information relating to 

Privacy 

or 

Right to Information.

10/27/26, 6:58 PM

Gmail - FW: latest from GRC on flat rock for Fix Flat Rock community

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#all/CllgCHrjmdHLklngplmXBxdWlzvJjcSVCcFLNlRCgDKcqHNccHhkpjTTPkdQWHrqkGXhDntMZVB

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Our ref: CTS 12259/26

Mr Sunirmalya Symons sunirmalya@bafflecreekboatclub.org.au

Department of

Primary Industries

Dear Mr Symons

Thank you for your email of 25 June 2026 regarding a fee waiver request for a resource allocation authority application for works at the Flat Rock Picnic Area, Baffle Creek. I have approved the waiver of the prescribed application fees for the application.

Decision – Application for fee waiver under the Fisheries Act 1994 and the Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 for a Resource Allocation Authority to interfere with a declared Fish Habitat Area (FHA).

^Proposal: Construction of a 7m x 2m rock groyne with associated beach replenishment

Location: Baffle Creek declared Fish Habitat Areas, management B area

Property Description: Flat Rock Picnic Area, Baffle Creek

I have considered your request under section 143 of the Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 and the relevant matters outlined in the DPI Fee Guideline. In making my decision, I have given regard to the extent to which the activity being authorised is associated with government policies and initiatives. Specifically, I note that:

• the Baffle Creek Boat Club is a not-for-profit community organisation

• the Queensland Government has previously provided funds to the club for active girls to participate in sport and recreation activities

• the works are to protect and enhance public infrastructure

• the works will facilitate public access to the declared FHA

Having regard to these factors, I am satisfied that the application delivers broader public and sector-wide benefits and helps maintain access and use of the declared FHA. This supports the approval of the fee waiver under my delegated authority from the Chief Executive.

Level 12, 275 George Street

Brisbane QLD 4000 GPO Box 46 Brisbane Queensland 4001 Australia

Business Centre 13 25 23 Website www.dpi.qld.gov.au ABN 66 934 348 189

Re: RAA and SARA Fee 1 message

Burnett Electorate Office 4 June 2026 at 08:35 To: sunirmalya symons

Hi Suni,

Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett, has advocated on the Club’s behalf with the relevant Ministers and Departments to reduce approval c osts for the sand replenishment project.

Stephen understands that even with these reductions, the remaining costs are still significant for the Club, however, they are a substantial r eduction from the original figures and were achieved following considerable engagement with the relevant agencies.

Reduction of the Resource Allocation Authority (RAA) fee

A resource allocation authority is required for this sand replenishment project under the Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 (the Regulation) as the proposed works will be within the Baffle Creek declared Fish Habitat Area. A resource allocation authority is a requirement for any development work to be carried out with a declared Fish HabitatArea and there is no scope to remove this requirement for this project.

The fees associated with making a resource allocation authority application are outlined in Schedule 5 of the Regulation. Under Section 143 o f the Regulation, the Chief Executive or delegate may waive or refund a fee stated in Schedule 5.

The Baffle Creek Boat Club can make a request to the Deputy Director-General, Fisheries and Forestry to have the fees waived when s ubmitting the application for a resource allocation authority. The Club will be advised of the outcome of any request for a feewaiver prior to t he assessment of the application for a resource allocation authority.

Reduction of the State Assessment and Referral Agency fee

Under Schedule 10 of the Planning Regulation 2017 (the Planning Regulation), SARA’s full prescribed fee for assessing an application for w ork in a declared fish habitat area and tidal works is $9,397.

The Planning Regulation allows for a 50 per cent reduction of the prescribed SARA fee at the time of lodgement for applicants who are r egistered not-for-profit organisations. The Baffle Creek Boat Club qualifies for this fee reduction. This will reduce theSARA application fee, to b e paid at lodgement, to $4,698.50.

SARA can also consider requests for full or partial refunds of application fees after the application has been lodged or referred and the p rescribed fees have been paid. As the project involves sand nourishment of a beach for public safety purposes, SARA wouldlikely support a r equest for a 50 per cent refund of the prescribed fee ($4,698.50), further reducing the fee for the assessment of the application by SARA to $ 2,349.25.

Please see the below table summarising the potential reduction in costs Stephen has secured for the Baffle Creek Boat Club: Full Fee Reduction/ outcome

Resource Allocation Authority ( RAA)

State Assessment and Referral A gency (SARA)

$3,985.71 (30-year approval) The Baffle Creek Boat Club can request for the Resource A

llocation Fee to be waived.

$9,397 The Planning Regulation allows for a 50 per cent reduction of the p rescribed SARA fee at the time of lodgement for applicants who a re registered not-for-profit organisation, reducing the Club’s SARA a pplication fee, to be paid at lodgement, to $4,698.50. Inaddition, S ARA would likely support a request for a 50 per cent refund of the f ee, further reducing the SARA fees to $2,349.25.

Kind Regards,