Logan and Albert Conservation Association
Where are our WILD KOALAS?
In order to draw greater public awareness to the plight of the wild koala a special day is being promoted amongst many wildlife rescue and care groups to celebrate Australia's national icon - the wild koala - one who lives in natural bushland areas, is able to move freely across his or her home range and if a young male move out to find a mate.
May 3 is international Wild Koala Day #WildKoalaDay
2017 is the second year only for this event with many wildlife rescue and care groups holding events and walks in bushland.
Wherever you are around the world you can participate in this event!
Koalas need much greater attention to have general public understand that koalas need trees to survive.
In addition to the specialized diet of gum leaves - with only a small number among the 700 species of eucalypt trees being eaten - the myth that they do not drink water is being challenged regularly as many photos are posted in online media showing koalas drinking from bottles, hoses, bowls, pools etc. It seems that the gum leaves may no longer provide enough moisture to allow digestion of the highly toxic gum leaves. Research has shown toxicity is increased by increased levels of carbon dioxide.
How can we better 'protect' koalas in SEQ?
Unless we take actions NOW the days of seeing koalas moving freely in the wild ie open bushland areas are numbered - and reducing daily where people and our human needs do not also consider other species in our "business as usual" daily lives.
That there is no koala chapter in the draft SEQ plan is incomprehensible and totally unacceptable Logan and Albert Conservation Association [LACA] members and Wildlife Logan members believe.
That public display depends on the Koala Inquiry and DEHP's Koala Unit is unacceptable. Regardless of any recommendations from these other bodies our iconic koala and its protection MUST be included in any planning / visionary planning for SEQ and other areas of Queensland where koalas are still surviving.
“A proposal to establish a single area for light industries may be favourably considered in the Maclean area ” (Beaudesert Shire Council Strategic Plan 1996)
Pre 1996 North Maclean was zoned rural residential – industrial use was not compatible in this area
1996 Beaudesert shire council changed the zoning of an area at North Maclean to industry on their strategic plan. There was never any community consultation about the suitability of industry in an existing rural residential area.
July 2005 SEQRP released identifying Mt Lindesay North Beaudesert Area (Mt Lindesay North Beaudesert Area) for further investigation
October 2005 Office of Urban Management OUM (State Government) Mt Lindesay North Beaudesert Investigation for South-East Queensland Regional Plan ( SEQRP Amendment 1). North Maclean Enterprise Precinct (industrial area) extended from the Mt Lindesay Highway to the Greenbank interstate railway line.
Jan-March 2006 A community group north Beaudesert Shire Action Group NBSAG surveyed almost 1000 people - 89% opposed industry at North Maclean.
North Maclean Enterprise Precinct was added to the South-East Queensland Regional Plan (Amendment 2006).
March 2007 Beaudesert Shire Council ordinary meeting moved –
“there is no need or justification for the North Maclean Enterprise Precinct …industrial land can be met in other developments across the shire”
May 2007 Beaudesert shire council requested the OUM remove the North Maclean industrial area –
“it is constrained by powerlines, flooding and environmental considerations, plus the need for buffering to nearby rural residential areas …North Maclean is not required…the area should be removed from the SEQRP”
Our petition SIGN IT HERE
TO: THE HONOURABLE GREG HUNT, MP, FEDERAL MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
PROTECT KOALAS AND QUOLLS
Ask Federal MP Greg Hunt to
SAY NO TO INDUSTRY AT NORTH MACLEAN
Dear Minister Hunt,
Please reject the development application for the proposed North Maclean Enterprise Precinct at North Maclean, South-East Queensland which involves clearing 289 acres of koala and quoll habitat.
Why is this important?
There are significant environmental and community concerns
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS Sign to support our petition here
Since 1996, the environmental concerns raised by the community at North Maclean and Munruben have never been addressed. There have been numerous sightings of vulnerable Koalas on and around the property. There have been numerous sightings of endangered Spotted-Tailed Quolls in adjacent properties - these quoll sightings have been the first in the Greater Brisbane Area since the 1930s . Quoll roadkill has been collected from the area confirming the presence of quolls in this area. The proposed site provides valuable habitat for koalas, quolls and other threatened species including the endangered grey headed flying fox, the Swift Parrot and the vunerable Glossy Black Cockatoo.
There have been no detailed impact assessments of industry on these vulnerable/threatened species. No frog or reptile studies have ever been carried out.
By signing the petition, you are asking Minister Greg Hunt to REJECT the North Maclean Enterprise (Industry) Precinct proposal. You will be giving our unique Koalas, Spotted-tailed Quolls and other Endangered/Vulnerable wildlife of North Maclean and Munruben a chance of survival. If this development application is approved at North Maclean, 117 hectares (approx. 289 acres) of koala food and shelter habitat will be totally cleared. The major threat to koalas is the loss of habitat. This vast proposed site is only 45% of what is eventually planned for the koala habitat of North Maclean. This current application is a dangerous precedent in the area that should not be approved.
COMMUNITY CONCERNS Sign to support our petition here
COMMUNITY CONCERNS - tick your concerns on the attached Word document and return to address provided.
Email or letterbox or post.
NORTH-MACLEAN_COMMUNITY-SURVEY-March2015.doc25/03/2015, 10:59
The following list is included BUT PLEASE ADD ANY OTHERS THAT CONCERNS YOU
NORTH MACLEAN ENTERPRISE PRECINCT
COMMUNITY MEETING
Wednesday 25 March 7-9.30pm
Park Ridge Baptist Main Hall
3922 Mt Lindesay Highway
located on the eastern service lane of the Mt Lindesay Highway between Talinga Drive and Hillcrest Rd
DO YOU WANT AN ENTERPRISE PRECINCT?
WERE YOU EVEN ASKED? Given an opportunity to have a say?
Contact LACA president: Anne Page ph 3297 0624
IT IS NOT MY VISION - IS IT YOUR VISION?
WHAT IS OUR VISION for NORTH MACLEAN?
COME ALONG AND DISCUSS YOUR CONCERNS.
Do your concerns relate to wildlife that could lose ALL their habit at 4499-4651 Mount Lindesay Highway?
Do your concerns relate to the public consultation process? This was in 2011 Greater Flagstone UDA Development Scheme Greater Flagstone UDA Development Scheme now EDQ Economic Development Queensland?
Did you know this was an opportunity to comment about NORTH MACLEAN ENTERPRISE PRECINCT?
Do your concerns relate to how well the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) will protect the vulnerable koala, endangered quoll, endangered grey-headed flying fox?
Do your concerns relate to loss of amenity for people living on adjacent rural residential propertires? No buffers!!
Do your concerns relate to increased traffic, impact on local roads, and lack of alternative modes of travel from the car?
Do your concerns relate to water quality of Logan River?
Do your concerns relate to safe fauna infrastructure?
There are many reasons to be concerned about the proposed NORTH MACLEAN ENTERPRISE PRECINCT
Did you see the public notice in Jimboomba Times in time to comment by 9 March 2015?
WERE YOU ABLE TO ACCESS THE DOCUMENTATION? Where? How? It is no longer on website for Reel Planning.
Have you contacted a local councillor, State member, your federal representative? How have they responded?
Endangered species future in doubt at North Maclean?
Have YOU been consulted? Comments close 9 March 2015
Koalas, spotted tailed quolls, grey headed flying foxes, glossy black cockatoos, wallum froglet are known to be using / living in the extant habitat within the former dairy farm having road frontage along Mt Lindesay and Crowson Lane.
Wetland and waterways occur on the property as does the federally endangered ecological community known as Swamp Tea-tree forest with signature Melaleuca Irbyana species. Regional ecosystem descriptions 12.3.11 of concern and 12.9-10.12 endangered are present. Glossy black cockatoos or Glossies in QLD eat the seeds of only two allocasuarina trees:Allocasuarina littoralis andA. torulosa. Having a very restricted diet the Glossy Black Cockatoo is susceptible to habitat loss through land clearing,logging, agriculture and urban development. A. littoralis is present and clearing is proposed – without mitigation.
LOGAN conservationists are calling for state election candidates to back greater protections for koala habitat in the region. Logan and Albert Conservation Association (LACA) spokesman Barry Fitzpatrick said koalas were seriously threatened by recent changes to vegetation management laws in Queensland."LACA is very concerned that the Newman government's rollback of vegetation management laws has seriously set back any effort to protect the koala," he said."
LACA seeks candidates' commitments to restoring vegetation management laws, at least to their former level, if koalas are to have any long term chance of survival in the Logan and Scenic Rim regions." Mr Fitzpatrick said he did not believe the offset provisions in the new laws would benefit koalas.
"LACA views the offsets as a facade policy designed to create the appearance of something being done," he said."
Rather than provide secure habitat for koalas it facilitates the rapid removal of essential habitat, with the vague promise of planting some trees elsewhere."
LACA environment issues for 2015 State Election candidates
Do YOU share our concerns for a healthy environment? What actions are you propared to carry out to help achieve a better environmental outcome than "business as usual" ? Do Queenslanders and you want to be in the "coal business"? or are other mattters of greater significance?
The Logan and Albert Conservation Association (LACA) has campaigned for better environmental policies and outcomes in the Logan and Scenic Rim areas for more than a quarter of a century.
LACA is putting forward the following key environmental issues for consideration by all local candidates in the forthcoming State election:
1 LACA calls upon all candidates to commit to genuine measures to protect the Great Barrier Reef as a priority.
2 LACA asks all candidates to commit to abandoning the privatisation of essential public assets such as electricity and water supply and support the uptake of renewable energy including home solar and battery storage.
3 LACA requests all candidates to commit to abandoning the use of offsetting as an ‘environmental’ outcome of development. [LACA views offsets as a façade policy designed to create the appearance of something being done for Koalas. Rather than provide secure habitat for Koalas it facilitates the rapid removal of essential habitat throughout this region, with the vague promise of planting some trees elsewhere.]
4 LACA seeks commitments from all candidates to a return to the former declarable donation level of $1000 which provided greater transparency around Government decisions which affect the environment.
LACA wishes to place on record its anger that the democratic process in Queensland has been treated with such disdain - the 25 day campaign during holiday season giving insufficient time to debate issues.
Expanding on each issue
The Great Barrier Reef: Many people in the Logan and Scenic Rim communities regard the Great Barrier Reef as Queensland’s greatest natural treasure. LACA is particularly concerned that the Premier’s early election call may be a signal that actions such as dredging and shipping on the Reef are about to increase in intensity, and this may lead to UNESCO declaring the Great Barrier Reef a ‘World Heritage Area in danger’ under the Premier’s watch. LACA does not support the Government’s Long term Sustainability Plan for the Reef because it proposes weak remedial measures and fails to include any action to halt greenhouse gas emissions, which are one of the most serious threats to the reef. Given the boom and bust nature of mining, people are quite aware that many more sustainable jobs are created by tourism around a healthy reef than by coal mining.LACA calls upon all candidates to commit to genuine measures to protect the Great Barrier Reef as a priority.
Electricity/solar: People in Logan and the Scenic Rim love their roof-top solar and many are keenly awaiting the opportunity to invest in the emerging battery storage technologies. However, they have expressed concern to LACA that while over-investment by the Government’s own power companies has already increased usage charges to consumers by more than 50%, they believe that, following the election, mandatory fixed charges for electricity supply will be raised to dissuade people from investing further in solar, thereby ensuring an attractive, ongoing market for prospective foreign investors when the Government privatises its energy assets. LACA asks all candidates to commit to abandoning the privatisation of essential public assets such as electricity and water supply and support the uptake of renewable energy including home solar and battery storage.
Koala and offsets: LACA is very concerned that the Newman Government’s rollback of vegetation management laws has seriously set back any effort to protect the Koala in this region. LACA seeks candidates’ commitments to restoring vegetation management laws, at least to their former level, if Koalas are to have any long term chance of survival in the Logan and Scenic Rim regions. Also, the current Government’s offset policy does not stand up to any logical analysis. LACA views offsets as a façade policy designed to create the appearance of something being done for Koalas. Rather than provide secure habitat for Koalas it facilitates the rapid removal of essential habitat throughout this region, with the vague promise of planting some trees elsewhere. LACA requests all candidates to commit to abandoning the use of offsetting as an ‘environmental’ outcome of development.
Donations transparency: People we have talked to in the Logan and Scenic Rim communities have expressed concern about the Government’s secrecy around donations after the Newman Government increased the declarable donation amount from $1000 to $12,800. LACA believes large political donations can have a huge influence on how the environment is treated. The environment movement in Logan and the Scenic Rim would like to see Campbell Newman reverse the LNP policy to match the Labor and Greens donation declaration policy which is set at $1000. This way the public will be able to see exactly how much corporations are funding the LNP and whether this influences the Government’s decision-making. LACA seeks commitments from all candidates to a return to the former declarable donation level of $1000 which provided greater transparency around Government decisions which affect the environment.
Democracy:In the History of this State no Queensland premier has ever called a snap election to be held before the end of January. LACA members are angered by the prospect of a short, 25 day campaign, called during the holiday season, which they see as clearly designed to provide little opportunity for voters to get their questions answered. It appears to LACA members, and we believe, members of the community generally, that democracy has been treated by the Premier as a nuisance which is to be brushed out of the way quickly, while everyone is preoccupied with holidays, kids and back to school. LACA wishes to place on record its anger that the democratic process in Queensland has been treated with such disdain.
Print off a copy of these issues from this document 
LACA-environment-issues-2015StateElection_candidates-questions.pdf
Please consider sharing this information with others in your street, networks, neighbours, family to make them more aware of the critical issues facing our environment. Make your vote count at Jan 31 Queensland State elections.
It is unfortunate that government fails to see opportunities in renewables rather than coal. This article sums up some of issues concerning coal's impact on reef
LACA calls for strong climate action from State Government - to end ‘Alice in Blunderland’
We are celebrating our 25 years of advocacy and activism by calling a public meeting to urge the Newman Government to reverse its ‘Alice in Blunderland’ approach to climate change action and Reef protection.
LACA climate spokesperson Barry Fitzpatrick said LACA could not support the Government’s recently released draft Long Term Sustainability Plan to save the Great Barrier Reef, describing it as ‘completely useless’ because it lacks any commitment to take strong action to reduce the State’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Read Logan and Albert Conservation LACA submission here.LongTermSustainableReefPlan_LACA_submission_bf.pdf
‘It is really disappointing that, after a quarter of a century of campaigning , LACA still finds itself battling the same old political games around critically important environment issues like this.’
Members of the public are specially invited and welcome to attend our meeting which will be held at Kimberley College, Carbrook on Saturday 15 November, starting at 2.00 pm. Contact : Barry Fitzpatrick 0427002640