Logan and Albert Conservation Association

Second PUBLIC MEETING   @

LOGAN RESERVE SCHOOL School Rd

PUBLIC PROTEST MEETING - NO PRC

TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2011      

7pm

Logan Reserve School in new assembly hall

Contact Karen 3802 2353, Rod 0408 740 144 or Anne 3297 0624 for more details and contributions to meeting.

Come along to add further support to opposing the proposed road. Our united and voiced opposition will stop this project and send government back to the drawing board.

SIGN PETITION TO LOGAN CITY COUNCIL

COLLECT SAMPLE LETTERS TO STATE MINISTERS FOR ROADS AND ENVIRONMENT.

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TEAM TO STOP THIS PROPOSED TOLLWAY

ADD YOUR SKILLS TO THE CAMPAIGN

Thank you to all the folk who came along and contributed to the process.

We need to show - bu our actions - that process of consultation is flawed.

I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues

- The Lorax, Dr Seuss

Have you ever looked at trees and thought they just stand there and do nothing? It may seem that way, but in fact they are very busy doing a mixture of jobs that are really important.

What they are doing can be described as ecosystem services. Animal houses, air, rain and shade makers (If trees didn't breathe, neither could we. The health of our air, soil and water all relies on trees to keep it clean.) and even dead trees play an important role. Fallen trees provide shelter and food for many animals. See  

http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=3459 to read more

Record your formal objection to the Park Ridge Connector Road. The Connector Road Investigations that are currently being undertaken by Logan City Council and the Department of Main Road, are to determine if there is "a viable corridor". Many concerned citizens and local community do not believe there is a viable route because this road corridor is being proposed through existing residential and rural-residential communities and biodiverse environments that cannot be replaced.

The property with signs shown above at 292 Browns Plains Road ( 92 hectares) has great historical significance to family friends and the wider community. This property has been in family ownership since 1939 and every effort to conserve the environment has been made on this property. The family does not want to sell or develop this property wanting to preserve this for conservation purposes.

The 92 hectares [200 acres] represents an area that contains valuable remnant vegetation and biodversity that has not been surveyed since 1992 by the West Logan Environment Group. Because of its proximity to Karawatha it is logical to assume that this site will have high biodiversity values as well. The intact size of this property represents such valuable ecosystem service assets that they cannot be replaced or offset. Karawatha Forest has at least 27 frog species -  some likely to be on this bushland property as well as koalas, snakes, grey headed flying fox, owl species, gliders and other wildlife whose home range includes this area.

The property is critical in protecting the water quality of Scrubby Creek, and has critical connectivity to Berrinba Wetlands area. LACA Logan and Albert Conservation Association supports protecting with adequate buffering and connectivity of all waterways and wetlands. We do not support the degrading of waterways and water quality. Water quality is a critical issue for all rivers creeks and wetland areas in Logan - as recognized by council and community committment at the July Waterways Summit and LACAs campaign to Rebuild the Rivers.

All development and infrastructure to support an increasing population with its growing perceived need for more goods and commodities ie freight has a cost. This cost is not only the dollars needed to build these structures but also a cost to community wellbeing. We NEED CLEAN AIR CLEAN WATER and FOOD in that order so remain alive. We DO NOT NEED roads for freight.

PUBLIC MEETING @ PARK RIDGE  PUBLIC MEETING @ PARK RIDGE PUBLIC MEETING @ PARK RIDGE

TUESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2011

7pm

Park Ridge (Baptist) Church Main Hall

3922 Mt Lindesay Highway Park Ridge 4125

(Take the exit off highway at Park Ridge and follow the eastern service lane for the Mt Lindesay Highway – brick building with car park area provided)

NO LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY IS VIABLE

We want koalas not new tollways. We want quolls not more multi-lane roads. Bushland habitat is home to many native wildlife and wetland areas like Jerry's Downfall which is part of Chambers Creek Catchment Area provide critical filtering system for the rivers and creeks of Logan.

Bushlands wetlands and river systems all contribute to those essentials to maintain human life - clean air, clean water and food. Sustainable development, meaning  ecologically sustainable, requires that our human settlement - and moving around - does not destroy the natural envionment to introduce more built structures.

 COME TO THE PUBLIC MEETING TUESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2011 @ PARK RIDGE @ 7pm - SAME VENUE PRC  INFO SESSIONS

Contact Karen 3802 2353 , Rod 0408 740 144 or Anne 3297 0624 for more details and contributions to meeting.

See STANDING AGAINST HIGHWAY

PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR ROAD

– Dividing Communities and Environments

Residents from Browns Plains to Chambers Flat who have concerns or want to know more information about the proposed Park Ridge Connector Road / Corridor are encouraged to attend a residents meeting -

WHEN – Tuesday 8 November from 7 pm

WHERE – Park Ridge Baptist Church Main Hall

3922 Mt Lindesay Highway Park Ridge 4125 (Take the exit off highway at Park Ridge and follow the eastern service lane for the Mt Lindesay Highway – brick building with car park area )

For more information contact  Anne ( ph 3297 0624 ).

The final route is yet undecided and whatever is decided will shape the future of the local area we all live in with impacts on residents' lives and homes, businesses, local communities and the environmental assets that we all value.

Comments to Main Roads close 18 November.

Main Roads is proposing an 8 km corridor to be approximately 100 metres wide and it is proposed to initially be a heavy freight route that may extend from the Logan Motorway to Granger Rd at present. The current options out for consultation include future provisions to extend to Chambers Flat and further south.

BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM

 – support your neighbours, communities and the environment we value by attending this meeting.

Together we can have a BIGGER voice.

Quarry Action Group - Cryna quarry expansion

Friday 4 November is the last day to object to the expansion of the Cryna quarry. Linked letter may help you with the formalities of lodging your objection. List the reasons that concern you in your objection.

If you live south of Beaudesert and travel on the Mt Lindesay Highway you will share the road with all of the quarry traffic. If your children or grandchildren go to St Mary's they will be affected by the increased traffic. Much of the extra heavy vehicle traffic generated will disperse northbound so Beaudesert and other little towns in the area will all have an increase in traffic. The many objections to the Mega Quarry proposed in Kerry Valley are also applicable.

Download a letter template you can adapt to express your concerns here.

 Cryna_Quarry_Objection_sample.doc 62.50 Kb 30/10/2011, 16:59

Please also visit group website here where you can read aome amazing breaking news which we believe should establish a president for quarry traffic on roads.  http://www.quarryactiongroup.org.au/files/CourtDecision.pdf  and  http://www.quarryactiongroup.org.au/files/SRRCLetter.pdf

A  Quarry Action Group traffic study was very scathing of the developers assessment as the developer's report used old traffic data and gave little attention to improving the road to makeit safe for this level of traffic. A full copy of the traffic study can be found by clicking this link.   http://www.quarryactiongroup.org.au/files/TrafficStudy.pdf

The Queensland Government's Connecting SEQ 2031 transport plan unveils a sustainable transport vision for the next 20 years - according to Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk and Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace.

This draft document which informed the PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR CORRIDOR Community Stakeholders Reference Group discussions was annouced as policy just before 'whole' community consulation began on the PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR CORRIDOR.

Clearly this proposed new motorway extending south the Gateway Motorway and join the Logan Motorway - both toll roads - the proposed motorway will be a tollroad.

To download a copy of Connecting SEQ 2031, visit the project website at www.connectingseq.qld.gov.au

Connecting SEQ 2031 has established targets for Logan City Council local government area that aim to:

• increase the public transport share of trips from 5.5% in 2006 to 10% in 2031

• increase the share of walking trips from 8.1% in 2006 to 10% in 2031

• increase the share of cycling trips from 0.6% in 2006 to 7% to 2031

• decrease the share of trips by private vehicles from 85.8% to 73%.

The DA reference number is MCUI/1/2011 - an extension for submissions until the Close of Business COB 02/11/2011.

Under the previous Beaudesert Town Plan many igloos appeared almost overnight and caused a great deal of angst in the community. Council deemed it to be an as of right use for owners of rural residential properties to carry out operational works to level land and cover their acreages with plastic constructions for their protected horticulture practices. A community taskforce was established and LACA Logan and Albert Conservation Association was a member of that taskforce.

A reliance on toxic chemicals to manage weeds and pests is one of the biggest concerns that LACA shares with the Safe Living Action Group an alliance of like minded people who care about this issue and are prepared to try and do something about it. The product ROUNDUP is very widely and commonly used - with the unwary accepting that it is safe. It may be safer than some but it is not without its negative impacts. This is just one article about safety issues.

During testing for water safety no chemicals registered for use on crops being grown in igloos were found in water tanks on properties adjacent to those igloos. The only chemical found was related to use in another industry.  Recently in the Greenbank area many bird deaths have occurred. Both Biosecurity and DERM were called in and a deregistered chemical - known to kill birds has been identified as FENTHION included in this report from NTN and WWF on page 8.

The use - legal or indiscriminate of such toxic chemicals - harmful to both human and native species in not acceptable in any area of Logan - or any residential living area globally. All industries wanting to rely on dangerous chemicals should not be allowed near human settlement or environmentally sensitive areas of our city. Logan 2026 City Directions aspires to be a clean green city known for its stewardship of the natural environment and reduced pollution.

Can we be excused for believing that if we or our farmers can freely buy products to use to clean our houses, grow our food, manage pests and weeds they are safe to use? There are many products previously registered for use and sale that have been withdrawn because community action has led to reviews. Globally there are now many watchdog groups which monitor toxicity levels and impact on humans.

It is unfortunate that the process of removing toxic chemicals and processes is long and tedious. In Australia we have the The National Toxics Network (NTN). Read about it here.

NTN support communities involved in hazardous waste management, pesticides and environmental health issues. Committee members are involved in a range of national advisory bodies including the Hazardous Waste Reference Group, the Stockholm Stakeholders Reference Group, the National Industrial Chemicals Notification Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) Community Engagement Forum and Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority APVMA committees.

There is currently a petition to Hon. Julia Gillard MP, The Prime Minister of Australia and Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and an open letter to support the Australian Government's intention to introduce reforms to better protect human health and the environment and strongly urge governmeny to deliver a strengthened regulatory framework that truly results in improved protection for all Australians and our environment.

Read letter here.

CLICK ON IMAGE ABOVE TO SIGN THE PETITION. WHY SHOULD YOU?

•  More than 80 of the pesticides registered in Australia are no longer authorised in Europe

•  At least 17 pesticides registered for use in Australian agriculture are known, likely or probable carcinogens, and 48 are potential hormone disruptors

•  8 chemicals with known safety risks have been under review by our regulator for more than 13 years, some for more than 15 years

•  Over 40 chemicals have been nominated for review because of concerns about their safety.

LOCALLY

- LETS AVOID TOXIC CHEMICALS

- LOOK FOR CLEANER SOLUTIONS

- BUY LOCALLY PRODUCED PESTICIDE FREE FOOD FROM LOCAL MARKETS

- ENCOURAGE FOOD PRODUCERS TO GROW ORGANICALLY and SUSTAINABLY

- COMMUNICATE OUR VISION TO THOSE MAKING DECISIONS FOR OUR FUTURE

- HAVE A SAY IN ALL FORUMS

Residents are asked to participate in the Logan City Council's phone-in and web-based community koala survey on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October 2011

Report Your Wildlife Sightings here

Council would appreciate any sightings (or evidence) of threatened or locally significant wildlife you may have encountered in Logan, by submitting the following sighting details. You may also provide records of any deceased animals, such as roadkill animals, as this information is also important.

For the phone-in survey, please call 07 3820 1103 between 8am and 5pm to record your sightings from the weekend.

Information that we will be collecting on the day includes sex, health, location, behaviour and the trees species in which it is located. This information will help us obtain local data about koala distribution and inform planning and management. Of course if you do not know all of this, LOCATION is most important - other details help paint a better picture.

Thanks for helping with wildlife sightings - at all times.

The koala in the image above Babe was rescued from dogs in the Jimboomba area 2009. Legislation requires the koala to be released in the  same general area after recovery. Read some of Babe's story here.