Who gives a fig about nature?

Plenty of people around here still care, judging by the reaction to the latest announcement that the big fig at Rex Smeal has been facing the chop.

Of course, the eternal dilemma in FNQ is often the one of development versus nature - and we even have our very own Big Yellow Taxi frequenting the Port Douglas streets thanks to one enterprising local fisherman.

But, as the famous Joni Mitchell/Counting Crows song of the same name goes - should we pave paradise to put up a parking lot?

Should we continue to tame our beautiful wilderness to help encourage more tourists to the region? And is this course of action just shooting ourselves in the foot?

There’s plenty of gorgeous little waterholes in FNQ that could probably benefit from the installation of new paved carparks, but that is probably a long way down the Douglas Shire and State Government priority list. And we certainly don’t want to draw more attention to our favourite little secret spots by doing that.

The Mayor makes no secret of her desire to retain farmland south of the Daintree River, rather than returning it to tropical rainforest, in the hope that a viable crop will eventually be found.

But the cassowaries are endangered and the tourists love nothing more than to see a big blue Dr Seuss bird with a couple of young-un in tow while driving around the area in their hired SUV.

Another tourist drowned at Millaa Millaa Falls this month - safety is often one compelling justification for paving paradise.