Logan and Albert Conservation Association

Myrtle rust -  gum trees and koalas

Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) is leading the response to myrtle rust by working with industry to restrict trade of infected plants; track distribution and range of host species; and provide advice on minimising its impact. DERM is working with BQ to prevent the disease's avoidable spread. Myrtle rust was first found in Queensland in December 2010. Since then, it has been found in four national parks—Kondalilla in the Sunshine Coast hinterland and Nicoll Scrub, Springbrook and Lamington in the Gold Coast hinterland.

While there is no known threat to people, individuals can help reduce the spread. Since this highly infectious fungal disease affects the main food source for koalas, it would be naive to minimise the impacts this plant disease may have on the long term survival of the koala. Another threat to contend with.

The Myrtaceae family includes many Australian native species, such as lilly pillies, water-gums, paperbarks, turpentines and eucalypts. When severely infected, young plants and new growth may become stunted and, possibly, die. Read more at DERM website.

ARE THEY ENDANGERED?

Every day newspapers and websites report information about the increasing threats to the long term survival of our iconic koala. Community and some political concern has persuaded federal government to have an inquiry to determine the status - level of legislated federal protection that is needed to avoid extinction of Australia's much loved koala.

Federal Minister for Environment MP Tony Burke has the responsibility to make that determination. This will not happen until

Who is wearing blinkers?

Whichever South East Queensland council are you live in there are plans for urban, industry, mining and infrastructure expansion - all meaning loss of bushland vegetated areas. The koala has a very specialised diet - eating only from a range of 17 eucalyptus species. We see huge old gums cut down for a road. Old growth trees and forests are critical not only for koalas but many other species using that habitat. Humans are able to build roads within a short few months or years. We cannot grow forests even in 30 years.

How much does it cost to build a forest? Millions of dollars! This economic cost needs to be added to the cost of the road. Why do we bother with our efforts to replace lost habitat? Do we do it for the animals? In reality governments do it to appease the general community. Perhaps there is a growing realization, that humans also need the forests?

Worldwide there is acceptance  that nature has a value - but when those who want to destroy the natural environment are asked to pay compensation then they cry foul!

ELANORA residents' anger over a proposed 15m microwave tower belonging to water retailer Allconnex was provoked further yesterday when tree-loppers cut down two mature trees and only spared a third giant gum after they began filming and journalists arrived on the scene    http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/06/04/320871_gold-coast-news.html 

How much is a koala worth? How many exist in their natural bushland areas?

Can you imagine a world without koalas?

Where would Australia be without them and the $2.5 billion a year in tourism they help bring in?

This is the value given by CEO Deborah Tabart of Australian Koala Foundation in a recent article about the unique mapping tool available on the AKF website. Although it's free to access, the information cost $8 million and thousands of volunteer hours to develop. Everyone in the world can now look at over 2000 koala habitat sites where 100,000 trees have been individually measured. Landowners can mark their own koala sightings and developers can see where koalas live. Check out the mapping tool here.

Not all landowners are happy to share their land with koalas - developing for housing or industry.In 1923 it was thought that, from an original population of over 10 million, there were as few as 45,000 koalas left in Australia. Now with 80 per cent of koala habitat  cleared for buildings, roads, hard infrastrucure  and resource exploration that number is far lower. For a koala, 'no tree' means 'no me'. Read the article here.

Unfortunately the property industry feels no obligation to help protect this unique Australian marsupial - claiming that houses would cost more - obviously passing on all costs to the consumer. Their concerns are reported in this Financial Times article.

The current Senate Inquiry into the status, health and sustainability of Australia's koala population with an interim report tabled 13 May 2011, advising that the committee now intends to table its final report on Wednesday, 24 August 2011.

The submissions received can be read here.

The conservation movement - and LACA Logan and Albert Conservation Association especially - believe the long term survival ie  health and sustainability of the koala in Queensland will only be achieved with its being listed as endangered under Australia's EPBC Act.

If you share our concerns, consider writing to your representative as well as Minister Tony Burke who is tasked with the responsibility of making a ruling on the future status of the koala. Current management plans and policies do not protect the koala's habitat and food source. Science is still learning about the ecology and behaviours of the koala but I think there is little doubt that if we clear trees for housing then the koala's survival is limited.

Legislation that has planning power, plus tax or financial incentives to encourage and support private landholders to protect biodiversity are part of the necessary foundation stones, if Australia is going to save the koala on private land. NO TREE NO ME - sums up what we need to do.

Logan City Council media release highlights some key areas of concern where there are differences - such as the planning process, provision of parks, employment land, environmental features, local trunk roads and public transport, the infrastructure plan and the implementation strategy.

Both draft schemes still require detailed infrastructure analysis and implementation actions and Council welcomes the opportunity to help inform the drafting of these according to planning chairperson Cr Daley. Infrastructure, including main roads, public transport, schools, community facilities, emergency services and hospitals are much-needed in both of these areas and are integral for these model cities to progress.

Council will continue to support the work being undertaken by the ULDA on the proviso of the adequate and timely provision of infrastructure such as roads and schools.

Coal Seam Gas industry development petition closes Friday 20 May - please sign E-Petition

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=1592&lIndex=-1

requesting government to

Immediately implement an independent statutory body to oversee development of strict land and water legislation, based on science, with the objective of ensuring CSG does not adversely affect the environment or other existing water or property rights;
Ban all hydraulic fracturing and other means of stimulating gas flow until a proper risk analysis of the relevant coal formation and underground aquifers has been undertaken and appropriate supervision and conditioning implemented;
Employ additional regional compliance staff to audit all CSG activities as per the existing legislation;
Immediately commence maintenance of existing and new infrastructure, affected by the expansion of the CSG industries;
Call for the revocation of the Commonwealth Government LNG export licence approvals and

 Immediately enact a moratorium on all future CSG activities until an independent peer-reviewed investigation into the long-term environmental, social and infrastructure consequences of the CSG industry in Queensland is undertaken

  Urban Land Development Authority Act 2007 - removes all rights of citizens

E petitions are one way to let government know how you feel about an issue. Link at end of article.

This legislation creates a new Authority, the Urban Land Development Authority to plan, carry out and promote development in declared areas. The purpose of that Act focuses on housing creation. 

When an area is declared an urban land development area by regulation, the declaration must make an interim land use plan for the area. The Authority must make a new development scheme for the area which is like a planning scheme. There is mandatory public notification of  the new planning scheme and public submissions must be taken into account. The development schemes must be published on the ULDA website. The development scheme sets out if any individual development applications must be publicly notified. The development scheme prevails over plans, policies and codes made under SPA or another Act.

 Effectively,  the Urban Land Development Authority becomes the decision maker in lieu of council. Only the Authority may go to the Planning and Environment Court to seek enforcement orders or declarations-  whereas under SPA any person has that entitlement.

This is from emailed correspondence received from feedback at the Greenbank information / consultation day.

Following the end of the public notification period on 20 May 2011, the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) will consider all submissions received and, if appropriate, it may amend the Proposed Development Scheme.

The submitted Development Scheme will be accompanied by a report summarising the submissions received and describing to what extent the proposed Development Scheme was amended in response to submissions. This report will also be made available on the ULDA website www.ulda.qld.gov.au.

The ULDA expects the submitted Development Scheme and submission report to be forwarded to the Minister by the end of June 2011 and as a submitter you will be advised when this happens.

If you are an 'affected owner' you will then have 20 business days after receiving this advice to ask the Minister to amend the Scheme to protect your interests. An 'affected owner', for an Urban Development Area, means a person who owns land in, or that adjoins, the area (as defined by the Urban Land Development Authority Act 2007).

If you require any further information please contact us via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1300 130 215.

ASK FOR the immediate removal of the proposed industry and business area proposed for the North Maclean identified growth area.

WHY?

Community in the surrounding rural residential areas has continued to oppose the proposed industrial and business land use concept for this site since 2005 and has made submissions at all local government ( Beaudesert Shire Council , Logan City Council)  and state government ( OUM, DIP) planning processes since 2005.      

North Maclean was an identified growth area in the SEQRP 2009 - 2031 . North Maclean has not been adequately assessed for its biodiversity and natural resource values which are environmental assets of South-east Queensland and Logan City Council. The proposed site for industry and business at North Maclean is a biodiversity hotspot. Any activity which occurs within that area should be considered for its natural capital - not just land within a geographical area with no other land use values.