Logan and Albert Conservation Association
Queensland's environment organisations have compiled and released an election scorecard for the four main parties contesting the Queensland State Election.
Whilst the Labor party is assessed as having better policies than the LNP on the protection of the environment, both major parties disappoint on two key matters concerning the State's sustainable future. The Green Party came out on top whilst Bob Katter's Australian Party scored better on mining but failed on most other counts.
Both major parties at this election are failing to meet their obligations on the regulation of mining and coal seam gas. The fate of Queensland hinges on this key issue. How do you run a resource economy without threatening agriculture, groundwater, local communities and essential environments such as the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area?
As a response to a GETUP petition, Anna Bligh today has just responded to 3876 emails from Queensland GetUp members, sent yesterday, with a new policy to protect the Bimblebox nature refuge and others like it from mining. In her letter to GetUp members, she wrote: "I can now confirm that Labor's policy would have the effect of ruling out mining in areas like the Bimblebox nature refuge."
What are your values for a sustainable future for Queensland? Make your vote count on election day. Having a say through the democratic election process is an essential part of being a responsible citizen.
NO VIABLE CORRIDOR FOR THE PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR ROAD
The following is part of LACA's submission to DTMR to object to both the decision to construct a six lane freight motorway impacting on significant wtland areas and also the method of "consultation" used to validate their decision.
LACA does not believe there is a viable corridor for the Park Ridge Connector Road because there are existing communities and environmental assets in the area proposed for the corridor. LACA has stated this position clearly since the beginning of the CSRG process and has continued to communicate this position at all times.
LACA is extremely concerned that the significant environmental issues are being ignored by Main Roads, despite LACA's ongoing communication of our environmental concerns since the beginning of the Community Stakeholder Reference Group or CSRG process. LACA has been particularly concerned that the biodiversity hotspot of Jerry's Downfall Reserve-Flesser Reserve continues to be targeted for an infrastructure corridor, when it is such a significant biodiversity area and bioregional corridor. LACA has also continued to voice its concern for the northern bioregional corridor of Karawatha – Greenbank-Flinders Peak ,Berrinba Wetlands and Scrubby Creek.
LACA believes that this consultation process has been deficient and members of the CSRG have communicated their concerns that they felt like they were being lead by Main Roads throughout the CSRG process. LACA is also very unhappy at the short consultation time frame given to the general community to peruse the EAIR document - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND INVESTIGATION REPORT - and supporting evidence. LACA has continued to request an extension of time to this consultation from the beginning of the public display period
NO PRC PEACEFUL PROTEST
outside the Logan entertainment Centre 170 Wembley Rd
9.00 am to 10.30 am Monday 16 January.
The purpose of the meeting /protest is to
- protest to the lack of democratic process in the consultation process used to date by Main Roads
- highlight the values at risk for the community and the environment
The No Park Ridge Connector Group believes there is no viable corridor.
This matter is the modern day version of the Daisy Hill Koala Tollway dispute that overturned the Wayne Goss labour Government in the 1990s.
This Gateway-Motorway extension is proposed to be a heavy freight route 100 metres wide and 8 km long at 110 km per hour from Logan Motorway at Browns Plains to Granger Rd at Munruben (first proposed section), but then will eventaully be extended south to Chambers Flat, over the Logan River, south to Stockleigh and Jimboomba.
This proposed 6 lane route with the 10 lane upgrade of the Mt LIndesay Highway and a possible future road widening of Chambers Flat Rd to 4 lanes will mean 20 north to south lanes and 3 motorway, highways and major arterial routes running north to south in a 6 km wide ban from Browns Plains to the Logan River.
We have a police permit for this. If you want to participate, read the instructions at http://www.noprc.org/
This is possibly the most contentious issue in Logan this year. Follow what's happening at http://www.noprc.org/ and also at NO PRC Facebook page
Flinders Karawatha Corridor - vision and planning for future
The Flinders Karawatha Corridor (the corridor) is recognised for its significant conservation, recreation, cultural heritage and social values. It is identified as a 'Landscape corridor' in the section Desired Regional Outcome 3.2 of the South East Queensland Regional Plan (SEQRP 2009-2031). A 'Landscape corridor' is defined under the Desired Regional Outcome 3.2 of the SEQRP as:
• Lineal areas with current or potential high confluence of landscape values and ecosystem services that have the capacity to improve connectivity between core landscape areas, people, places, infrastructure and ecosystems.
The corridor extends 60km from Karawatha Forest in Brisbane's outer suburbs to south of Ipswich at Flinders Peak and on to the Wyaralong Dam near Boonah.
Four local government areas fall within the corridor: Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich City Councils, and Scenic Rim Regional Council.
CLICK ON MAP TO GO TO DERM website look at or download maps
Have your say
Comments and ideas from landowners and the wider community are critical to the success of the Flinders Karawatha Corridor Project. You can send your feedback to:
The Community NRM Officer
SEQ Catchments
PO Box 13204
George St QLD 4003
Or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Submissions and feedback close on Friday 16 December 2011 at 5:00 pm.
Within the northern Logan section we are concerned that we encourage government to include low lying bioregional areas to provide connectivity for wildlife to move east-west, not just north-south in higher altitude areas.
http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/land/planning/pdf/fkc-admin-plan_ap21302.pdf provides black and white not to scale map
http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/land/planning/pdf/fkc-conserv-rec-areas.pdf updated 2013
What is the Park Ridge Connector (PRC) and why the discord?
In summary, the PRC Motorway is a Queensland State government initiative, supported by the Logan City Council (LCC) to build a 6 lane (100 metre wide) extension to the Logan Motorway south from Wembley Road (Berrinba) to Granger Road (Park Ridge south) with future extensions planned to the area north of Camp Cable Road, Jimboomba. The primary function of this motorway is for long distance freight from the Logan Motorway through to Bromelton.
The community of concerned citizens have set up a website - including a forum if you want to discuss your concerns and issues. Go to http://www.noprc.org/ , download the flyers to share with your friends who are not online especially this one which provides a summary of issues and contact details
Join the FACEBOOK page http://www.facebook.com/NoPRCGroup
Logan and Albert Conservation Association Anne Page, 07 3297 0624 (AH), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Brisbane Region Environment Council Ted Fensom, 07 3801 2097, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This whole process is irresponsible planning - as has been shown to be the case with ENERGEX and their proposal to duplicate power lines and build towers on flood prone land. An independant report commissioned by the Minister for Energy has not supported the current ENERGEX proposal. We await the ministers decision on this project
A TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS "investigation / consultation" that fails to look at the use of public transport and cycleways for daily mobility - not just recreational riding is deficient to say the least.
There is growing awareness globally - very slowly at local levels - of the value of intact functioning healthy ecosystems - biodiversity infrastructure is a term LACA has coined. Globally nations are recognising the natural capital of the planet and universities such as Yale are delivering programs to students and others, making full content available online. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) presents the foundations of valuation of ecosystem services, dynamic interactions of people and ecosystems and their impacts on local communities, sub-national and national policy and international agreements.
The potential and almost certain loss of several local native species should the PRC project proceed has an unimaginable cost - financial and otherwise s we humans do not yet fully understand the interconnected nature of all living species. Life as we know it depends upon all the invisible micro organisms are part of life's cycle.
CONSULTATION EXTENDED for PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR to 31 December 2011
An email to one of members of NO PRC group
From: PRC Project Team [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
Sent: Wednesday, 7 December 2011 9:54 AM
Subject: Park Ridge Connector - Extension to Consultation Period
The Minister for Main Roads confirmed today that the submission period for the Park Ridge Connector Corridor has been extended until December 31 2011. Thanks for your interest in this project and the submissions received to date. Please note that all current submissions have been logged. Please address your correspondence to the Park Ridge Connector project email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone number 1800 799 824.
This change to allow for wider community consultation has only come about because of PEOPLE POWER. Well done to all those people who have taken action to tell our politicians that this consultation process to date has been deficient in the eyes of the community.
SANTA'S COMING TO BROWNS PLAINS SOON
R.O.T.A. has asked Santa to reshedule his visit to
Sunday 18th December at 10:00am.
He will be giving out gifts to children and his elves and other helpers will be talking with parents about the proposed PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR PRC Motorway.
He is not happy that '292', one of his many community destinations is possibly going to be lost forever and he'll not be able to visit the many children who come here each year to see him.
Address: 292 Browns Plains Road, Browns Plains
Time: Saturday December 10 2011 @ 10:00am postponed
Sunday 18 December - delayed by rain - sorry to disappoint - but mark your calendars to visit Santa
Sunday 18 December from 10 to 12
We also expect to a visit from a large KOALA!
The habitat at 292 Browns Plains Road, Browns Plains is loved by the resident koalas who usually sleep during the day but we expect that one will be keeping company with Santa to talk to all the children. Come along and see why the humans koalas and other wildlife are worried. Santa has bags of gifts for all well behaved children.
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, with support of the Logan City Council, wants 16 lanes of north-south traffic in a 6 km wide area.
Is this really necessary? Check out this flyer.
Koalas and other wildlife live across the landscape where this extensive road network is being planned. Do you believe our SPP State Planning Policy protects our koalas? It is insufficient. Do we have to provide safe passage for koalas to access their habitat when transected by roads?
We should but we don't. Why not? According to staff of TMR they can not afford to do this. Evidence LACA's efforts on Mt Lindesay Highway to improve safety for wildlife. Were we successful? Not really but there were some concessions and changes made - very grudgingly. Look at Mt Lindesay Highway now as Crowson Lane overpass is being constructed! Look at what is happening beside Wemberley Rd! How much more do we need?
This is not good enough. There are ways to improve permeability of roads with design. Read this informative study which discussed the Compton Road overpass for wildlife
The only real way to improve conditions for koalas is for them to be listed by Federal Government as endangered.
Do you want to help? Contact Minister for Environment Tony Burke and request he declare koalas in SEQ South East Queensland as endangered.
Logan Mayor supports longer extension for consultation
Logan Mayor Pam Parker has sent a letter to support our request for a longer extension for consultation for PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR CORRIDOR until end December.
Will this request be met by Minister Craig Wallace?
Community dissatisfaction with the process has lead to the formation of the NO PRC group with a website here with opportunity for discussion on the forum and also a FACEBOOK page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/No-PRC-Park-Ridge-Connector-Motorway/200209970053673
Logan residents are not happy to see a rushed consultation process for a major freight motorway / tollway which would - if ever built as being proposed by a very flexible "corridor of interest" dissect an undervalued landscape into a jigsaw of land patches criss-crossed by roads.
THIS IS NOT LACA'S VISION FOR A STATE REGIONAL BIODIVERSITY CORRIDOR.
THIS STATE REGIONAL BIODIVERSITY CORRIDOR IS WHAT REQUIRES PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION - NOT A ROAD CORRIDOR
ADJACENT TO JERRY'S DOWNFALL AND FLESSER RD RESERVE ARE LARGE PARCELS OF RURAL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WHERE WILDLIFE ROAM FREELY - where local residents drive carefully to respect the resident wildfife.
To contemplate a section of a major motorway and network of roads connecting to it without knowing - or telling us - where the freight road will start does not demonstrate good planning. There is another community to the north in Drewvale who are oblivious to this consultation process - or have not yet been consulted by the TMR team.
It is important that as many people as possible provide feedback.
Submissions can be sent via email to the project team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Make sure you include your name and address and a digital signature would doublely ensure it is valid.
This TMR page has all details. You can also fill in an online survey.
Please be aware that the feedback form and survey [same questions as form] does NOT have to be completed except for YOUR COMMENTS.
IF YOU ARE WANTING TO SEE BETTER CONSULTATION AND BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES JOIN US VIA WWW.NOPRC.ORG or FACEBOOK page above.
LACA BELIEVES THAT INSUFFICIENCT BACKGROUND STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE TO VALIDATE ANY CORRIDOR AND ALSO THAT COMMUNITY HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED WITH SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. To suggest the validity of a corridor just because it has no direct impact on your particular property is environmentally unethical.
The environmental groups which met in addition to Community Reference Stakeholder Group to input into this process do not believe there is a viable corridor. Marking a line on a map now to build a road when funds are available just before a state election and local council elections is not indicative of good governance. This community of affected and concerned citizens expects better governance and a demonstration of openness, integrity and transparency.
3rd public protest meeting No PRC (Park Ridge Connector) Motorway
Next meeting: Information Session.
Tuesday, 22 Nov at 7pm,
Logan Reserve State School, Corner of Logan Reserve Rd and School Rd.
Did you miss one of our first two public meetings? Do you want to know more?
Come along to our Information Session. We will be revisiting the information presented at our first two public meetings (over 230 local residents at each meeting).
Visit group website at http://www.noprc.org/
Read what has been said in forums here http://www.noprc.org/apps/forums/show/6377177-general-discussion If you'd like to add your comments or reply to what is already posted you will have to register. Follow local community comments also on FACEBOOK.
THIS IS YOUR HOME YOUR COMMUNITY WHERE YOU LIVE IN HARMONY WITH LOCAL FREE ROAMING WILDLIFE - kangaroos koalas frogs redbacked fairy wrens and even the elusive cryptic carnivorous quoll has been seen by some lucky residents, reptiles gliders and powerful owls to name some of our wildlife species.
Unfortunately the planners and consultants do not share our vision and our values. If decisions are left to them our descendants will only see wildlife in zoos.
Elsewhere on our single planet we are talking about sustainable development where the ecosystem services provided by the natural environment are valued and preservation of those services is prized.