Original story here

Bill has every right to promote the idea, but there was no need for his ill conceived and inflammatory comments about other local communities.

As president of the Burnett Heads Progress and Sports Association, I take issue with his comment that "no-one's heard of Burnett Heads" and "everyone wants to live in Bargara".

The Burnett Heads community is vibrant yet close knit with a bright future, one that I am proud to call home and want to live in.

With our lovely coastline, beautiful Oaks Beach, stunning South Head parkland, local boat ramps and harbour, access to Mon Repos, picturesque Turtle Trail and more, no wonder Burnett Heads is attracting young families, retirees and everyone in between.

With the development of new industry at our port, I expect job opportunities will lead to more young families choosing Burnett Heads in the future.

Barrubra Shores and other attractive residential developments are on the way which will support our community's population growth.

These developments have been planned properly, unlike the unfortunately haphazard way Bargara was done over the years.

With the launch of Lady Musgrave and fishing charter tours, our tourism industry is also taking off.

I thought due to his role on the Gladstone Port Corporation board, that Bill would be well aware of all that.

I certainly didn't think he would recklessly insult the community that his board relies on having the goodwill of.

As an ex-Sydneysider I may not have heard of Burnett Heads before moving here, but I had never heard of Bargara either.

Both Bargara and Burnett Heads are wonderful communities, whether people have heard of them or not.

Neither deserves to be insulted by a developer to promote his commercial interests.           

CHRIS McLOUGHLIN

president

Burnett Heads Progress and Sports Association