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

NEXT MEETING   7pm Thursday 17th July at Sunnybank Hills Library     
Level 2 Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown
Cnr. Calam Rd. and  Compton Rd.  Sunnybank Hills

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Some months have predominantly good news, and this is one of them. More land has been purchased from the Green Levy, Main Roads and Queensland Motorways are showing greater environmental sensitivity, the day care centre on Gowan Road is up and running and working with the Society, and we just may have powerful friends in our opposition to the 495 Wembley Road proposal.

The importance of the Green Levy cannot be over-emphasized. Whilst there is no doubt that the purchase cost of the remaining ‘green’ land is beyond the potential funds available as they now stand, without this resource an ongoing programme of acquisition would sit on shaky ground.  At present, the imposition and subsequent use of this levy is subject to tinkering, but the alternative, ad hoc purchasing based on yearly budget allocation, would so easily be subject to political interference and eliminate the guaranteed nature of the current system. Council still retains the power to access other funds if land of great significance were to come on the market, however in the current climate where funds are being funneled to specific projects the likelihood of this happening is diminished.

We understand that Brisbane City Council has just purchased over 8 hectares of bushland on the eastern side of Acacia Road.  This property is a significant acquisition. It sits opposite the gates to Karawatha and therefore has great connectivity, making its potential far greater than a block of this size purchased in isolation. It also encapsulates a creek corridor with direct connection to the section beside Karawatha which used to be an old dump. This site should be rehabilitated and added to the Forest as well, since any leakage from the dump should now have to be cleaned or processed as part of restoring the creek downstream and this land has never been put to any use in all the time that it has been lying fallow, and does not appear likely to any time in the future.

A recent meeting between the Society and representatives of both Main Roads and the Motorway Authority has reinforced the idea that these groups are becoming increasingly committed to appropriate environmental outcomes.  These groups have community support from a large section of the populace who want more and more roads and from the political sector where infrastructure is often seen as a way to increase the chances of re-election.  Thus this shift in consciousness is coming about more from a moral perspective than one of expediency or forced necessity.

We have been closely involved with the development of the day care centre at 939 Gowan Road and this will be continuing.  Part-owner Pru Turnbull will be shortly taking us through the facility which has an environmental theme.  There is an area set aside for the environmental education of the children with which the Society will be closely involved.  Also, we are assisting in the efforts of the centre to restore its creek line.

PEAKS 2 POINTS FESTIVAL.  19th July to 3rd August
Celebrating our precious creeks, catchments and natural areas from Flinders Peak to Moreton Bay.

A free family fun day is being held on Sunday 20th July from 10am to 4pm at the Oxley Creek Common on Sherwood Road Rocklea.
For further festival details go to the web site at www.peakstopoints.com.au or phone 3278 2899.

KARAWATHA COFFEE BREAK
Please note - our coffee group has changed the date of meetings to the fourth Tuesday of each month  with meetings held at BB’s Coffee Lounge Level 4,  Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“It’s hard to get used to these changing times. I remember when the air was clean and sex was dirty.”
George Burns, comedian 1896-1996

DATES TO REMEMBER - July

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