The bird and the businessman: A billionaire developer's plan to build on a protected wetland

Background Briefing · Dec 8, 2018 · 45m

It’s only 30 kilometres east of Brisbane but the economic gap between Cleveland and the Queensland capital is massive.

Now an influential developer wants to revitalise the coastal town by building a $1.4 billion precinct on the foreshore.

There’s just one problem: the region’s wetlands are protected under an international treaty known as the Ramsar convention.

So who prevails in a battle between birdlife and business? Steve Cannane investigates.