Logan and Albert Conservation Association
If you are interested to follow discussions and decisions made by council concerning Environment and Sustainability issues, one way is to read the minutes of meetings. Council in May agreed to participate in EPAs Koala Habitat Mapping program and also a Queensland University research project called Conserving species in Human Modified Landscapes. The document for the committee meeting Tuesday 27 May 2008 is available on Logan's website.
The minutes of the previous meeting, available here contains discussion about State of Environment Queensland 2007.
The release of the report was widely reported in the media with the key issue of our ecological footprint being 7.19 global hectares which is three and a half times the world average. Whilst it states that this is 2% less than the Australian average, it must be recognised that this is very much a consumption based measure and the Australian average reflects more on the higher consumption rates of major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
Other key issues of relevance include:-
• Queensland's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 4.9% from 1999 to 2004 despite the reduction in tree clearing which contributed a fall of 26.2% for that sector of the emissions.
• Air quality remains good with few exceedences of the Air National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) and where they occurred in SEQ it was the result of essential burning programs and bushfires.
• Atmospheric concentrations of Ozone depleting substances continue to fall.
• The States wetlands continue to be lost at the rate of 7,000 hectares per year.
• Salinity is expected to affect 3.1 Million hectares by 2050.
• The Brisbane and Logan estuaries are reported for poor water quality.
• Point source discharges of nitrogen and phosphorus have reduced slightly but no data is available on diffuse discharges.
Meeting dates are available online here.
The following was obtained from a recent CSIRO newsletter Science by Email 27 June 2008 available free by subscription. See current issue here.
Seeing our native fauna lying injured - or dead - on the side of our roads is an all too common sight. It is an unfortunate reminder that the wilderness surrounding our cities is often little more than islands of habitat, making it risky for animals to move about.
In the past, a solution has been to erect a series of nets spanning the width of the highways - a lofty pedestrian crossing for possums. While there is some evidence that animals will use these walkways, only recently has this been studied in detail.
Ecologist Rodney van der Ree, from the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, has completed the first study investigating the behaviour of animals in a habitat prior to a bridge being constructed. "We've been able to measure the extent of the problem before the bridge went up," Rodney says.
Using radio tagging, a range of marsupials - including several types of possum - were tracked for six months near the Hume Highway in Victoria. Their movements across the highway were recorded.
The tiny squirrel glider was the only animal studied capable of gliding between trees. It was found that it only crossed the road where large trees were grown on the highway's median strip. Other animals, such as brushtail possums, simply did not cross at all.
Reduced movement in a habitat can destroy entire populations of native species. Without the ability to relocate, groups of fauna are threatened by diseases that can spread rapidly. For threatened species, such as the sugar glider, this could make a significant impact on their numbers.
While the study is not yet complete, early results indicate that many animals are making use of the rope bridges. For example, some ringtail possums have been recorded crossing the walkways up to fifty times over six months. Others, such as brushtail possums and sugar gliders, have been seen making partial crossings. A number of other animals such as magpies, spiders and geckos have also been spotted on the bridges.
This information will be used to make decisions concerning where future bridges will be built. As more roads are built and more native bushland is affected, knowing how this will impact on our wildlife is becoming increasingly important.
Why did the possum cross the highway?
Because it can do so safely - at least that is what an Australian study into the impact of wildlife rope bridges shows.
He says early results show the animals have acclimatised to the bridge.
Since June last year they have recorded more than 50 crossings of ringtail possums and almost as many partial crossings, seven partial crossings of brushtail possums and four partial crossings by squirrel gliders.
"These early findings are impressive as they show that native animals have acclimatised to the 70 metre rope bridge and are using it to cross the highway to find food, shelter and mates," says van der Ree.
He says the squirrel glider results are particularly positive as they are faced with the threat of extinction in Victoria and New South Wales.
The team will continue to monitor movements for another few years to determine whether population sizes on either side of the highway change and what motivates the animals to use the bridge.
He says climate change will also increase the importance of similar structures as animals will need to move from lowlands to highlands as the temperature increases.
"Ultimately the measure of success is whether the population size on each side of the road increases," he says.
"This is not just about crossing the road, this is about reducing the risk of extinctions."
See some photos and read more here.
The South Australian Supreme Court has ruled that predicted sea level rises are a valid reason to reject beachfront housing developments, in a portent of how climate change could transform town planning along the nation's coastlines. This was reported in The Australian recently. The rejection of a subdivision on Yorke Peninsula, west of Adelaide, is likely to be repeated across the country as councils progressively write climate change provisions into their planning regulations. The South Australian Supreme Court cited local sea level rises of 30cm over the next 50 years in ruling yesterday against Northcape Properties' plans for 80 holiday homes at Marion Bay, 150km west of Adelaide. The changes - which the court ruled was expected, not merely a probability - would encroach on the proposal's "erosion buffer and coastal reserve".
The Australian understands the decision is the first of its kind across the nation, with no other court so pointedly referring to climate change and its effects. The story Coastal plan 'not on the sea level' reports.
In Victoria, GIPPSLAND council is facing a multimillion-dollar class action for damage already done to coastal property values as it weighs banning development in areas vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change. Read the story Coastal shire may face class action.
Permanent Water Conservation Measures have been released for consultation. Closing date for feedback was 17 July 2008.
The proposed permanent water conservation measures and Target 230 are designed to embed the efficient use of water into the everyday lives of SEQ residents out of drought. They will ensure we can enjoy our enviable lifestyle and amenities, but in a water efficient manner. Read the document Permanent Water Conservation Measures here (34p) and the consultation paper here.(14p).
Specifically permanent water conservation measures propose that:
Feedback is being sought from community members and an online survey is provided - with 12 questions for comment.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts has formulated a proposal under Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to amend the List of Specimens taken to be Suitable for Live Import . A draft assessment report has been prepared by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) against the terms of reference approved by the Minister. The draft report assesses the suitability of import of the Savannah Cat into Australia. Comments were invited on the draft report for 20 business days, closed on 17 July 2008.
Savannah cats, which can weigh more than 13kg, are described in the report as ''the result of selective breeding to establish desirable features (eg: large ears or wild-looking colouration and patterns) or temperament suitable for demand of the companion cat market''.
Mr Garrett said the report suggested the potential breeding in of wildcat genes to the existing feral cat population could lead to even more killing of Australian native animals. Savannah cats are a cross between a serval, which is an African wildcat, and a domestic cat and they can grow much larger than normal domestic cats. This report notes that there is potential for these cats to adapt to the Australian environment. Estimates suggest there could already be up to 12 million feral cats across Australia and they are already one of the single biggest killers of Australian native animals. The report also suggests that the potential breeding-in of wildcat genes to existing feral cat populations could see them develop even better hunting skills.
The minister said he would not hesitate to use his powers to prohibit the importation of the cats ''if it is necessary to protect the environment''.
Mr Garrett has allowed 20 working days for comment on the draft report.
WPSQ has made a submission to the federal government commenting the proposal to amend the List of Specimens Taken to be Suitable for Live Import (Live Import List) urging a ban on the import of savannah cats. WPSQ is urging a blanket change to the legislation that defines all 5th generation hybrids as domestic.
Visit the web page Savannah cats: the case against importation to read more about this issue.
RSPCA Australia has commented that allowing Savannah cats, which are currently classed as domesticated after five generations of breeding from their wild ancestors, into Australia would be a huge mistake.
Australian veterinarians have also commented strongly against the importation of more wild-domestic pet hybrids like the savannah cats currently in quarantine.
The report Draft environmental assessment of the suitability of the import of the Savannah Cat (Domestic Cat x Serval hybrid specimens) into Australia 19 June 2008 is available online here.
Comments received and any relevant additional information provided will be considered by DEWHA in finalising the assessment report.
Submissions should be in writing and sent to
Director
Exotic Species Regulation Section
Wildlife Branch
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
or to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Australian wildlife is already endangered by many threats - habitat clearing, climate change, introduced feral animals.
Senator Christine Milne from the Green presented a petition to the federal government 26 June 2008. This is available in Hansard. This petition can be accessed here. This was begun by an online herpetology discussion group.
The University of Sydney's professor of ecology, Chris Dickman, is warning these hybrid cats would be uncontrollable in Australia. "It hasn't come in through the usual quarantine processes or risk assessments that would otherwise need to be done." Forty of the nation's leading feral animal researchers are calling for urgent changes to prevent hybrid supercats from being imported into Australia.
The Australian environment is suffering from the humble domestic cat gone feral. Imagine the carnage from a bigger stronger feral cat bred from an already wild animal.
For more coverage on this topic see news from Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre's CEO Tony Peacock at this site and petitions both for and against importation.
Information on the damage feral cats are currently doing is provided at this cat facts page.
Help stop the importation of hybrid cats such as "Savannah cats"! Please participate by signing the petition and let the Honorable Peter Garret, Minister for Environment, Heritage and The Arts and the Senate know that these hybrid killing machines don't belong here or comment on the draft report by 17 July 2008.
An African Serval is the most efficient wild cat hunter in Africa. Australia's quarantine regulations make it legal for a cat that is only five generations away from a purebred serval to come into the country. In a 2007 paper in Science, Carlos Driscoll of Oxford University showed that domestication of the cat probably began 12,000 years ago and was completed 8,000 years ago. New designer breeds of cat didn't exist 25 years ago.
Keeping your cat inside or in a cattery - see more here and here - will keep your pet safe and also protect our wildlife.
Matthew Killoran and Brenton Waters co-authored an aticle in the Jimboomba Times Wednesday 18June 2008 page 3. Local residents are most perturbed to read that Phil Pidgeon is supporting the inclusion of this Enterprise Precinct after they 'won over' the former local government body - Beaudesert Shire Council - with the assistance of the local councillor for that area Division 4 - Cr Hajnal Ban.
The text of the article reads
COUNCILLORS Hajnal Ban and Phil Pidgeon are headed for a clash over the North Maclean Enterprise Precinct as council (Logan City)works on its submission for the South East Queensland Regional Plan review. Industrial development plans for North Maclean drew widespread outrage when they were included in the State Government's initial South East Queensland Regional Plan.
At the time, the issue split the then Beaudesert Shire Council with Cr Ban arguing passionately against the proposal, despite several of her colleagues at first disapproving of her stance. Cr Ban, who sided with residents upset by the proposal. was e\ventually successful in winning oyer her colleagues who voted in favour of informing the State Government's now defunct Office of Urban Management (OCM) that the precinct was not needed.
The issue is set to reignite however after the enterprise precinct was included in the regional plan rev'iew, currently under way. Cr Ban said the "contentious" proposal should be removed permanently from the plan. "It's been a bone of contention for a number of years:' she said.
"Beaudesert Shire Council had a submission that the precinct be removed from the next review of the plan. ''I'm hopeful Logan City Council will adopt the position as well and support the removal of this precinct." However, Cr Ban may struggle to gain the support of all of her fellow colleagues with at least one speaking out against her position.
Cr Pidgeon has backed the precinct plans which he said could spark investment in North Maclean. "I think there has been significant ad hoc development in that area and my position is that it is a great idea to consolidate that," he said.
"It makes a lot of common sense to consolidate it and allow a bit more development on both sides of the highway to happen. I can't understand Cr Ban's position. Where would she suggest industry be located if not beside the highway? Does she want to put it in residential areas?"
Cr Pidgeon said the issue was yet to come to full council but when it did he expected a "very informed" debate to take place. Council is developing a submission on the South East Queensland Regional Plan as part of the State Government's review, but details will be kept confidential.
This statement of confidentiality does not foster confidence in openness and transparency in government. The stated intention of the SEQ Regional Plan is to contain urban sprawl. "Very informed" debate can only take place when data has been collected, read and digested by those debating the issues. This was one of the residents' initial concerns - availability of sufficienct ground truthed data.
A copy of the former council's media release is available here and says in part
"It is Council's opinion that the North Maclean Investigation Area is not required for enterprise purposes for the foreseeable future." By removing the enterprise precinct designation, the land would revert to regional landscape and rural production. "We now know that there will be a good balance between jobs and the population growth in our new cities and are able to clarify our long-term intent for the development of this land at North Maclean," Cr Cockburn said.
He said the State Government had originally designated North Maclean as an investigation area for a possible enterprise precinct in its South East Queensland Regional Plan.
Cr Hajnal Ban said she was happy with the outcome, given the environmental constraints of the land and residents' feelings on the issue. "I am pleased that the outcome has finally been determined. It gives the local community certainty about the future of North Maclean. I would also like to acknowledge the hard
work and effort put in by the community who actively participated throughout this process and fought against the enterprise precinct."
The local community must be given the opportunity to be involved if Logan City Council want to overturn the community wishes which were supported by their previous local government.
A report from the Australian Senate inquiry into housing affordability was released 16 June 2008. The report, public hearings and transcripts, terms of reference and membership can all be viewed or downloaded from this Senate webpage. Read the whole report here.
NAIDOC celebrates the survival of Indigenous culture and the Indigenous contribution to modern Australia. All Australians are encouraged to participate in NAIDOC Week activities. NAIDOC Week celebrations for 2008 will be held from 6 to 13 July and in 2009 will be held from 5 to 12 July.
The NAIDOC website is an excellent place to start
The State Government push to open up more Greenfield developments has given the green light for an aggressive push by developers to urbanize vast tracks of land.
In Redlands, Woodlands Drive is one of the most picturesque areas, protected from urban development by the Redlands Local Planning Scheme, but it hasn't stopped the State Government nominating it as a potential site for urbanization. The consequence is that developers have lodged a development application for commercial and residential development over this beautiful area.
The petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House issues relating to the proposed fast-tracking of Greenfield housing developments on the Sunshine Coast. [Though this petition relates to Sunshine Coast all Queensland residents are eligible to vote. Perhaps other petitions can be requested to cover other areas where land will be fast tracked for release?] Closing date was 24 August 2008.