3 LITTLE Birds Espresso and Creative Hub have hosted a weeklong art exhibition, previewing artwork donated to raise funds for the Save Our Foreshore (SOF) fight against the Airlie Beach high-rise.
3 Little Birds Espresso and Creative Hub is a locally owned and operated Espresso Bar and Office Hub, in Airlie Beach, situated directly across from the proposed Airlie Beach high-rise, at the Port of Airlie.
A number of local artists donated artwork for the exhibition, including Richard Timperley, who created an historic painting of Boathaven Bay in the 1900s.
Other generous artists include Carol Bell, Jennifer Beaumont, Bonney Bombach, Adriaan Vanderlugt, Denise Vanderlugt, Carla Whelan and Butterfly Effect Nursery.
Save Our Foreshore president Suzette Pelt said 100 per cent of all funds raised went to the fighting fund.
SOF is halfway to its goal of $150,000.
Mrs Pelt said the idea of the auction came from a loyal supporter of SOF.
“We were going to do an art exhibition anyway and we thought the modern way to do it was using QR codes and we would just run it online,” Mrs Pelt said.
“Then one of our supporters suggested we have a real life art exhibition, with cheese and wine, as well as an online exhibition.”
The date of the fundraising auction is yet to be confirmed but Mrs Pelt said it would likely be towards the end of March, 2023.
The proximity of 3 Little Birds Espresso to local backpacking businesses and accommodations, puts them in a prime position to communicate with tourists and locals.
Mrs Pelt said that the tourists in Airlie Beach have something to say on the matter.
“They [staff at 3 Little Birds Espresso] are talking to our tourists every day, all day, and they’ve got something to say,” Mrs Pelt said.
“Airlie Beach has an image and a brand and that is this low-rise, relaxed atmosphere.
“You can go to the Sunny Coast, you can go to the Gold Coast, and you can go to Cairns for your high-rise, but Noosa, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach are all known for their low-rise, smaller scale, relaxed development.”
The impending court date with Whitsunday Regional Council is expected in April, if it does go ahead.
“We haven’t got a date yet because there’s a couple of steps to go, but if it’s going to happen, it will happen in April,” Mrs Pelt said.
“We have an expert town planner, an expert economist, and the Port of Airlie have their own [expert witnesses] and the council have got a tourism guy to do a tourism study.
“They are in conference with each other now, they speak to each other and show their side of the argument and then the Judge will have a look at that and assess whether it’s even worthwhile proceeding.” Further information on the fundraising auction can be found in the coming weeks at Save Our Foreshore Inc on Facebook and in the Whitsunday News newspaper.
