Logan and Albert Conservation Association

EDO [Environmental Defenders Office] Queensland releases a monthly bulletin in conjunction with EDO North Queensland to keep members and the public in touch with the latest developments in environmental and planning law and to inform the community of our activities. To subscribe to our Bulletin free of charge, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The October bulletin has been emailed to subscribers. Previous and informative environmental news policy and legislation is available from the website here.

October Bulletin includes update about Paradise Dam case, False Cape, recent EDO law reform submissions on climate change, FNQ2025, "clean coal" ...and opportunities to comment. Further information is available here.

The full Living Planet Report 2008 goes into detail about the many ways humans are depleting our natural capital. The Living Planet Report, which is published every two years, is produced with the Zoological Society of London and the Global Footprint Network  and I encourage readers to download and examine the full document. More information and report download link are available here.

But the good news is that we have the means to reverse the ecological devastation. The report outlines how we can put ourselves on a more sustainable path via global strategies.

For example, with carbon emissions from fossil fuel use noted as the greatest component of humanity's footprint, the report outlines how energy efficiency and clean energy generation can help deliver a more sustainable future. The global carbon footprint has grown more than 10-fold since 1961.

"We humans have been very good at creating problems - but we can be equally good at solving them. A sustainable world is not an unachievable goal. As the world looks to restore its economies we must build in long-term environmental as well as economic sustainability and social sustainability."

Sustainablity must be measured as ecological sustainability - not purely economic. Each one of us has a part to play in the future of our planet - our home that we share with millions of other species.

Residents living in western areas of Logan were invited to attend community forums held in Greenbank, Jimboomba and Logan Village. Council invited us to share your thoughts about life in our local area and how it could be improved or enhanced. The forum outcomes will inform service providers and Council of the projects the community considers most important.The outcomes will be collated and published on councils' website.

The big question is will they actually hear what we say and try to process further actions to meet our needs? Last forum was held at Greenbank Rural Fire Brigade, Ison Road  Wednesday 12 November, 2008.

We also said that we valued our rural lifestyle and quality of life granted by benefits of both bush beauty and ecosystem services.

The current Queensland government lead by Premier Bligh is proposing a vision for Queensland in 2020 called Towards Q2.  Do you share the same vision? What is important to you and your community? This link takes you to the website for Tomorrow's Queensland where you can read what Queenslanders have said already at the several community forums held around the state. Three more forums are planned - last one in SEQ is 3 November at Yeronga in Brisbane. Go online for details to register. Last forum is 5 November - so use the date to be guided for closing date for ideas to have your say. 

Fill in the online form which guides you to comment on the the 2 targets nominated by the Bligh government team for each area of economy, environment, education, health and communities. OR you can mail directly to the Premier at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Where do toxic industries fit in this vision? Not mentioned. Where does farming and food security fit in? Not mentioned. What does 50% more mean for nature conservation and public recreation? Is that measurable?  Your input can help to address your concerns. Lets find out if the government hears what we say!

The comments from the Logan forum are available here. All feedback is here.

 The SouthEast Queensland Regional Plan Review - 12 months earlier than originally planned is expected beginning December 2008. This will involve more "community consultation" opportunities. Please try to find time to participate in sharing ideas and growing our children's future on our single planet.

Scenic Rim Regional Council media release of 24 October, 2008 states: COUNCIL WORKING WITH STATE GOVERNMENT ON BROMELTON VISION. The previous day's copy of the Courier Mail presented a differing view stating that the Government is considering a tract of land within the new Bromelton State Development Area, south of Beaudesert, to house what it terms "special industry". The full article is online here.

SRRC media release reads as follows:

Scenic Rim Regional Council will continue its work with the State Government to develop Bromelton State Development Area (SDA) as an environmentally sensitive inland port and industrial hub for South East Queensland.
The Bromelton SD Area was officially gazetted by the State Government in August. Since then, the State Development Area Unit has participated in Council's structure planning process for the area. The Structure Plan, scheduled to be available for public comment in early 2009, will inform the State's Development Scheme for Bromelton SDA.
The Mayor, Cr John Brent, said while the State Government was currently assessing Bromelton's suitability for high impact industry, he was confident the study would show these uses were inappropriate for the area.

Channel 9s Extra program Wednesday 22 October had a segment promoting this weekend's koala sightings PHONE IN for Redlands and inviting all other SEQ areas to report sightings this weekend as well. If you see a koala - dead or alive - phone in to report  where you have seen it. The information that local residents have provides vital information about koala movements.  Thanks to the people manning the phone and all koala carers for taking this action.

Phone 3820 1103 Koala Hotline

THE REDLAND KOALA ACTION GROUP, WITH THE SUPPORT OF REDLAND CITY COUNCIL AND THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY, IS RUNNING THE ANNUAL PHONE-IN KOALA SURVEY ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY OCTOBER 25TH AND 26TH.  IF YOU SEE A KOALA ANYWHERE IN THE REDLANDS [ and other areas of SEQ] ON THESE DAYS, PHONE 3820 1103 BETWEEN 8.00AM AND 5.00PM ON EITHER DAY.

250 tube stock of native understorey plants were planted at Kingston College Thursday 16 October 2008.  Some Brisbane office staff  from Pricewaterhouse Coopers spent the day at Kingston College getting down and dirty with the students. This is part of their partnership with the school and also their usual one work day per year given to a volunteer community group.

The importance of this activity was highlighted to students when both local and state government sitting members Cr Graham Able and MP Desley Scott each took time out of their schedule to help plant some trees.

The selection of well mulched and waterwise grasses and flowering shrubs will help both to restore the understorey for a range of native animal species and reduce erosion on the hillside. A gallery of pictures will be posted here soon with futher information. 

 The plant above, melastoma affine, is just one of the species planted. The students and volunteers did a fantastic job - and also had fun. Thanks to all concerned for supporting this LACA initiated  and federally funded Community Water Grant project.

 Recently Logan and Albert Conservation co-hosted a series of wildlife workshops with Wildlife Tourism Australia. A two day wildlife expo attracted people from Redcliffe to Redlands and northern New South Wales.  The former Beaudesert Shire Council supported these acticities with a Community Environmental Assistance Grant.

The many people who attended and / or presented at the workshops and expo all share a concern that the welfare of our native fauna is not given adequate protection by current local, state or federal legislation. Current road design does not make provision for safe fauna crossings. Although  some small moves towards increasing fauna protection has occurred, really nothing is happening fast enough.

Look at this youtube video, produced by registered wildlife carer Trixie. Everyday she is called to rescue birds, her paricular passion, from senseless acts of cruelty - unintended though they be. Most of us do not see the consequences of our actions and continue to do what others do because that what humans do.

Go to this link to view an environmental crisis. Wildlife carers receive almost no financial support to help care for injured fauna and locally in both Logan City and Scenic Rim Region we have as yet no planning in place for longterm care of those creaures unable to be released to natural bushland areas. We also have no wildlife hospital as exists in Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas. CAN YOU HELP US IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR OUR LOCAL WILDLIFE?

Contact us if you'd like to help. Please go to contact page and register your interest. You can also contact Trixie at crowsinoz[at]yahoo.com.au.

Queensland Transport has engaged Maunsell Australia to undertake preliminary planning and impact assessment for the Southern Freight Rail Corridor study (previously known as the Southern Infrastructure Corridor).

The study's aim is to identify a potential route for a freight rail corridor connecting the western railway near Rosewood to the interstate railway north of Beaudesert (see map below). The Southern Freight Rail Corridor will serve as a major freight link connecting a future Melbourne to Brisbane inland railway with the existing south east Queensland rail freight network. Further information is available at this page.

Draft Assessment report has been released and you are encouraged to have your say by 31 October 2008.

Species
This recovery plan is a multi-species plan for wallum-dependent frog species of coastal south-east Queensland and eastern New South Wales. The species covered by this plan are the wallum sedgefrog Litoria olongburensis, Cooloola sedgefrog L. cooloolensis, wallum rocketfrog L. freycineti and wallum froglet Crinia tinnula.
Current species status
The species in this plan are listed as ‘Rare' or ‘Vulnerable' under state legislation, the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. However, only the wallum sedgefrog is listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). All species in this plan are listed as ‘Vulnerable' or ‘Endangered' by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Habitat and distribution
The species in this plan are wholly or largely restricted to lowland sand plains, dunes and sand islands of coastal south-east Queensland and New South Wales (including coastal ‘wallum'). All breed in oligotrophic (nutrient poor) acidic (pH < 6.0) coastal swamps and/or lakes.

Threats
The species in this plan have suffered significant habitat loss due to urban and resort development, the establishment of pine plantations and sand mining. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to urban development remains one of the main threats to wallum frog species, particularly in coastal south-east Queensland and northeast New South Wales. Other known and potential threats include habitat degradation, predation of eggs and larvae by introduced fish (in particular the mosquito fish Gambusia holbrooki), inappropriate fire regimes, use of biocides in weed and mosquito control, habitat disturbance and predation by pigs, chytrid fungus infection, a possible rise in sea levels as a consequence of global warming, competition with ecologically-similar species, exotic disease and vehicular traffic.