Tamborine Mountain is a truly unique environment. A semi-rural hinterland village, it boasts numerous natural attractions and is home to a growing population of 8000 people. However, it is currently at risk from greedy developers, who, if successful in their current attempts to commercialise the mountain, will pose a genuine threat to the lifestyles of every resident on it.

In August 2022, Council endorsed its approval of the Onsens day spa, beauty, and massage rooms. Council says it is “Nature-Based Tourism” and is not Commercial. With five cabins, car parks for twenty-two cars illuminated at night, and operating hours for warmer months from 9 am to 8 pm, it is likely to generate one hundred and fifty car movements per day.

The Onsens is one of four other Commercial Developments applied for in the last 18 months, all of which are residential areas.

Our very own Scenic Rim planners continue to interpret the planning scheme in a way that suits them, favouring big business profit before residential amenity, thus destroying the certainty that when buying or building a house in a rural residential zone, a commercial building could not be approved next door to you.

The Tamborine Mountain Progress Association, established in 1915 and comprising of a small group of volunteers, is battling on behalf of all residents to stop the Onsens. If they fail, this case will open the floodgates and allow for an increase in commercial developments occurring in residential zones all over our mountain.

Their case is strong, but they can’t do this without your help. The Progress Association needs an estimated $100,000 to oppose the Council and Developer.

They have, in the past, succeeded in battling to protect residents from opportunistic development applications. In 2011, with overwhelming support from locals, they successfully prevented the Hyacinth development on Long Road.

Your donations here will go toward the legal fees required to fight the Onsens case, which, if successful, will benefit the future of every resident on the mountain. But by supporting The Progress Association, you also are helping to:

• Halt the destruction of our beautiful rainforest habitat.

• Save the lives of thousands of birds and animals, frequently killed on our busy substandard roads.

• Fund the legal costs required to help them continue representing residents in numerous battles against inappropriate commercial development.

• Lend weight to their campaign to stop the type of commercial profiteering, which resulted in many homes being without water during a recent dry and dangerous bush fire season.

Thank you for caring. Your donations will help save this wonderful mountain and assist those members of the community who continue to safeguard it.