Former President of the Magnetic Island branch of the Australian Labor Party and veteran conservationist Charlie McColl broke ranks with his party's leadership today over the government's handling of Juniper's Radical Bay development.

In an exclusive column for Magnetic Times titled Radical Bay: Junked on the highway to hell (read here) Charlie McColl describes the government's handling as "secretive and covert" and "could provide a breathtaking land grab for Junipers".

Charlie McColl told Magnetic Times, "I think Radical Bay is a grass roots issue in the community. The community has attempted to engage all politicians at all levels to ensure the communities' aspirations regarding Radical Bay were respected and acted upon. I believe the Island community has been respectful of the Government and the tourism industry and has exercised restraint and common sense in all dealings over the last 2 or 3 years.

"My concern now is that the respect and restraint has been taken for granted by the Beattie government and the community - not just active conservationists - but the entire community has been done a disservice by the Government's lack of engagement and underhanded and secretive practices conducted against the spirit of all previous consultations in this major development," said Mr McColl.

Magnetic Times has sought a response from Stephen Robertson, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines over the allegations made in Charlie McColl's column but acknowledges that this has been at short notice. We will however report the Minister's response once available.