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

NEXT MEETING   7pm Thursday 15th March at Sunnybank Hills library     
Level 2 Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown
Cnr. Calam Rd. and  Compton Rd.  Sunnybank Hills

GUEST SPEAKER AT THE MARCH MEETING WILL BE DR JEAN-MARC HERO WHO WILL BE INFORMING US ABOUT THE LONG TERM FAUNA STUDY HE IS PRESENTLY CONDUCTING IN KARAWATHA FOREST.  DR HERO WILL BE SPEAKING AT 7PM SHARP.

SEQ REGIONAL OUTDOOR RECREATION STRATEGY - Form Letter

The State Government is currently calling for submissions from the community via a “discussion paper for public comment on the South East Queensland Regional Outdoor Recreation Strategy” aiming to identify land suitable for outdoor recreation.  The Society urges anyone concerned about the protection of our biodiversity to put in a submission and voice such concerns.

The KFPS and other Brisbane natural area groups are deeply concerned about the current shortage of suitable areas put aside for outdoor recreation.  State Government ROSS scheme funds intended for the purchase of land suitable for outdoor recreation were redirected in the 1990’s leading to the current shortage, thus increasing pressure on the natural areas that are available.

The outdoor recreation industry is worth an estimated $1billion and with our growing population demands are now being put on natural areas to provide services for this industry. The Society fears that areas such as Karawatha Forest, which have been set aside for biodiversity protection and low impact recreation will be called upon to provide services to a greater number of groups servicing this industry.

Natural area groups are concerned that conservation values of green spaces in South East Queensland –including our national parks- will be sacrificed to accommodate the growing demand for suitable outdoor recreation sites.

Click here to download a form letter. We encourage as many people as possible to send in a submission either by writing their own or by signing and sending in the one provided. The address is written at the head of the letter.  Submissions close 30 March 2007

Copies of the discussion paper are available from your state member,  www.oum.qld.gov.au  or the Society Ph 3711 9346.

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY IN KARAWATHA

Sunday 4th March proved to be a momentous day for Karawatha forest. It saw the final stage of a seven year  planning and working operation to remove all the car bodies out of the Forest. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman was there to encourage and commend the State Emergency Service volunteers bearing up against the uncomfortable heat of the day. The whole operation ran smoothly and professionally with minimum disturbance to the Forest. It is hoped that the dumping of cars in Karawatha will now be a thing of the past as illegal entry points from the highway have been closed off and reinforced by Council to prevent further access.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Recently we have been approached to comment on the BCC’s proposal to address the Climate Change issue as it might apply to future workings of Council.  Our response has been to recognize that there is considerable debate at the moment and there appears to be a number of ways in which this issue could be addressed.  The delicate situation for us is that choosing one direction or form of problem solving could easily be seen as taking a political side at a time when the issue is being hotly debated at the Federal level prior to elections in the not so distant future at both Federal and local levels.

As with our initial thoughts on the Office of Urban Management’s SEQ Regional Outdoor Recreational Strategy discussion paper, plans may be well and good but the implementation and policing of them is far more important than having a vision alone.  We have seen a number of Management Plans prepared for Karawatha Forest and parts of it over the years, only to find that adherence to these plans was dependent as much on the will of those who were part of the process as they were on the circumstances which encouraged money to be spent in achieving a desired outcome.

Full-time equivalent numbers of Brisbane City Council staff dealing with the natural environment have not risen since 1992. For the last two or so years, staff numbers at each of the four Local Assets Offices responsible for service delivery of many on-ground works by Council, including natural areas management, have been capped at 23.  The estimated annual cost of maintaining, but not reducing the pest and weed problem in Brisbane is around $10 million yet last year’s budget was $1.4 million. There has been a need for increased staff in the Development Regulatory Services area which ensures that Council regulations are adhered to, and this was recognized by the previous Lord Mayor and through responses we have received to enquiries and requests.  At a time when lack of compliance with the water regulations alone is of major significance, the shortfall may be quite costly.  The Natural Environment and Sustainability Branch has finally been returned to the same compliment it was a few years ago, yet anyone who deals with this section will tell you that they have a considerable portfolio and the expectations of each staff member have increased as the burgeoning problems associated with the environment threaten to completely overtake their ability to give considered thought to appropriate solutions.
 
It must be a good thing that Council has chosen to be pro-active in addressing the climate change issue. It will not be off the table in any immediate time.  However, we must think globally and act locally.  We must take care of our own backyard before we can propose to look at our neighbour’s. If protection of our environment is insufficient and our service delivery leaks like a sieve, talk is cheap when we cannot become an example as a result of effective actions.

BUSHWALK

This months bush walk will leave from the Elizabeth Street Trinder Park entrance on Sunday 25th March, at 7am sharp. Remember to bring along some drinking water as the mornings can still be quite warm.

DATES TO REMEMBER - MARCH/APRIL

Report illegal activities to 3403 888

SES Volunteers cleaning up Karawatha