Small things done now will be disproportionately important in decades to come.

NEXT MEETING   Annual General Meeting - 7pm Thursday 20th December at Sunnybank Hills library     
Level 2 Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown
Cnr. Calam Rd. and  Compton Rd.  Sunnybank Hills

Please note there is no meeting in January. The first meeting in 2008 will be Thursday 21st February.       

WALLUM FROGLET (crinia tinnula) – as found in Karawatha Forest.
Conservation status: Vulnerable in NSW and Queensland.
Wallum froglets are small frogs, usually no more than 15mm long. They are extremely variable in colour and pattern, from light grey or brown to dark grey above and cream to dark grey below. A distinctive feature of the species is a fine white line on the underside from the tip of the snout to the base of the abdomen. The call is a short high-pitched ringing ‘Tching. Tching’ heard throughout the year, particularly following rain.
Distribution: Wallum Froglets are found only in acid paperbark swamps and sedge swamps of the coastal ‘wallum’ country of northern New South Wales and South East Queensland.  The species is a late winter breeder. Males call in choruses from sedge tussocks or at the water edge. The exact low PH of the water in breeding ponds is critical to the survival of this species. Disturbance or pollution of any kind could have a devastating effect on populations of these little frogs. Destruction and degradation of coastal wetlands as a result of developments, roadworks and sand mining have taken their toll pushing the species towards an endangered listing. The wetlands of the Gold Coast hinterland as well as those of the Sunshine Coast have all but disappeared leaving few habitat options left. Wallum Frogles have been located in Scrubby Creek and in Carbrook Wetlands of Logan as well as in Karawatha Forest. Outside these areas they are restricted to Bribie, Moreton and Stradbroke islands, a few small pockets on the adjacent mainland and northern New South Wales.

Priority actions to help recover the Wallum Froglet include:

• Protection of swamps from fire during burning off activities.
• Retention of wetland protection buffers in new coastal developments
• Fencing off swamps to prevent stock from grazing in these areas
• Protection of coastal wetland areas

With the current spate of good rain it is hoped that our Karawatha population of wallum froglets will be able to boost their numbers with a successful breeding season. It is essential that our sub coastal heath area and associated creek lines remain undisturbed, fire free and pollution free in order to give the dependent frog species the best chance at survival. Life is hard enough for these tiny amphibians without the added worries of urbanization and human intrusion. When you examine the small distribution area of these frogs in comparison to the size of Australia and the size of the rest of the world, it is only then that you realize how rare and precious they are and how lucky we are to have them in Karawatha.

KARAWATHA LAKE UPDATE
New information has come to light regarding the lake drainage issue and there will be further discussion about this at the December meeting. Your input is most welcome.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT
This year the Society has been able to maintain its core direction by keeping its sights focused on issues close to home. It has been felt that we should generally stick to concerns which have direct application to the Forest. Much of the environmental debate recently has been about climate change and the water crisis. At the Council level we have been asked to take sides in this debate. Our position has been that unless Council shows that they are capable of delivering on their promises to preserve and expand their own backyard in terms of habitat protection, policing, rehabilitation and planning, any positive steps on this matter are just window dressing and political posturing. We believe that no amount of planting in backyards will make up for loss of large areas of existing, vegetated natural space. At the Federal level we were able to have meetings with, and make submissions to, both the Prime Minister and Peter Garrett. The Federal Department of the Environment has shown interest in our ideas on east-west corridors linking back to the coast and dividing range.
The coming year promises more challenges and hopefully resolution of some of the issues currently on the board. The committee would like to thank all members and supporters for their contribution to this years effort and would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.

BUSH WALK – 30 12.2007
The December bush walk will leave from Elizabeth Street, Trinder Park entrance at the usual time of 7am.

The January walk will leave from Illaweena Street Drewvale entrance on 27th January 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER - DECEMBER/JANUARY

Report illegal activities to 3403 888