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

NEXT MEETING
Thursday 16th NOVEMBER AT 7PM SUNNYBANK HILLS LIBRARY
SUNNYBANK HILLS SHOPPINGTOWN CNR CALAM AND COMPTON RDD
SUNNYBANK HILLS

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Over the holidays I went into the country with a dear friend of mine to study rare, endangered and vulnerable species.  At dinner one night over a wine or two, a lively discussion ensued regarding the relative merits of efforts to preserve species and habitats in both the rural and urban landscapes.  My friend’s contention was that, although there is real value in having urban environmental areas, more species and larger areas are saved, and greater problems are tackled by putting the emphasis on rural lands.

I proceeded to get my back up and argue using every justification, from mental and physical health, species preservation, pride in the local area, education and recreational usage, and anything else I could think of, in order to defend efforts to preserve urban green spaces.  Amongst other ideas, he kept coming back to several points which were irrefutable: more preserved in the bush, for the same cost; human degredation and overall impact was far greater in the cities and thus the land required greater ongoing maintenance. Saving the country achieved bigger bang for the buck.

For a moment I found myself questioning the motivation behind the quest for urban preservation. Was it a cause for those with nothing better to do? As Joni Mitchell implied in “Song for Sharon”

Dora says have children
Mother and Betsy say find yourself a charity
Help the needy and the crippled
Or put some time into ecology.

Is it all part of Mitchell’s search for a “wide, wide world of noble causes and lonely landscapes to discover” or is there a long-term, achievable and sustainable result which would leave a little better world for those who follow?

Then it became obvious. Everything we do is part of the political process and forever dependent on the will of a community.  In the last few years the political will has changed.

In this time, Federal funding has been rejigged to favour catchments. Preferred catchments in the urban setting have been reduced to just a few, severely limiting broad-scale necessary expense.  Population centers and greater catchment diversity lie on the coast.  Complying with this catchment idea is much easier in rural areas, covers greater proportions of electorates, and goes to the heart of economic sustainability for those living there, focusing as it does on the health of the water supply.  This change in emphasis curries favour with country electorates and has also allowed the Federal Government to hamstring and to some extent silence the environmental lobby in this country.  In April 2005, critical monies were withdrawn from environmental organizations across Australia. To be eligible for future funding, groups had to then demonstrate that they engaged in ‘On-ground activities’ such as tree planting and weed removal. The role of many of our most important advocacy groups did not extend to these activities.  Neither, it seems, does that of some rural recipients.  Since there appears to be little monitoring of some of the allocations to country areas, and funds have been known to be spent enhancing private properties without any appreciable environmental gains, this criterion is a strange and limiting choice, one which further enhances the inequality between rural and urban.

In fact, what I feel we need is a common principle, with common values which would unite country and city in a process of recovery for Australia’s environment.  We might call it Love the Land and it would embrace all those with a genuine interest in ‘green’ preservation. Recognizing that both city and country require financing, it should aim to put an end to the idea that worthwhile causes be weighed against each other for funding.

‘CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY’ SUNDAY 5 MARCH  Check papers or Cr Bianchi’s office for sites.
FEBRUARY BUSH WALK leaves from Acacia Road Picnic area on Sunday 26th  at 7am

BUSH BREAKFAST 9am following the walk. Everyone welcome Ph 3272 3292. cost $3

COMPTON ROAD UPDATE
This is an extract from a recent Griffith University/Brisbane City Council report on monitoring results of the Compton Road fauna crossing and land bridge.

The monitoring program is currently in phase 3 post-construction which is scheduled to continue to at least mid 2006. Preliminary monitoring has yielded positive indications of use of infrastructure by local native fauna. Furthermore, a more comprehensive understanding of species composition and population dynamics of arboreal and ground-dwelling species has been established on both sides of the road.

The first definitive evidence of fauna use of the land bridge was the detection of swamp wallaby scats on the southern slope of the land bridge within three weeks of the end of construction. Since this time, scats of all three local macropod species, red-necked wallabies, eastern grey kangaroos and swamp wallabies, have been detected on all sections of the land bridge.  There is evidence that hares are also using the land bridge, and to a lesser degree, possums, echidnas and foxes.

Preliminary sand track analysis has indicated the presence of a single echidna and numerous small, unidentified rodents.  Over an eight-week period 144 individuals used the underpasses, 12.5% of these were actual crossings from one side of the road to the other.  Species use of the underpasses has increased over time, most likely attributable to individuals habituating to the new infrastructure. Intensive monitoring of the use of the crossing facilities will commence shortly with the installation of infra-red cameras on the land bridge and in the culverts, as well as further comprehensive sand tracking analysis.

Bird surveys
Phase 3 monitoring further supports the findings of phase 1; Karawatha Forest is an important reserve for birds supporting a large and diverse array of species.  A total of 77 avian species have been detected and despite obvious differences in size and level of disturbance between Karawatha Forest and Kuraby Bushland, similar numbers of species have been recorded on either side of the road. Several significant species have been detected, including the brown goshawk and the white-throated treecreeper.

Mammal surveys
Both arboreal and ground-dwelling mammal surveys have been undertaken. Although very few ground-dwelling mammals have been detected, both Karawatha Forest and kuraby Bushland have been confirmed to support a high species richness of arboreal mammals, including greater gliders, squirrel gliders, ringtail possums and common brushtail possums. Significant numbers of both glider species and ringtail possums have been recorded in both bushland patches.

Reptile searches and pitfall trapping
A high diversity of reptiles has been recorded in bi-monthly pitfall trapping surveys.  A total of 15 different species have been identified to date including gecko, dragon and skink species representing a typical assemblage for a South-east Queensland lowland eucalypt forest communities.  Of particular note is the identification of the fire-tailed skink, a species considered significant in Brisbane and the bioregion.  A feather-tailed glider was also captured in a pitfall trap. These tiny gliders are common in SE Qld. But are secretive and infrequently seen. It is unusual to locate one in a pit-trap, although it was no doubt intercepted while foraging on the ground.

Future partnership actions
A number of new projects have recently commenced that will also contribute important information to the Wildlife Movement Solutions program.

Comprehensive frog and reptile surveys of Karawatha Forest,  Sand track monitoring of culverts, Infrared camera surveillance, Macropod pellet surveys, detailed roadkill comparison with other forest bordered roads in Mt Cotton area, bird crossing study aimed at investigating species able to cross the road.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
In a ham and egg breakfast the chicken contributes and the pig is committed.

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