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

NEXT MEETING - Thursday 19th March, 7pm at Sunnybank Hills library     
Level 2 Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown
Cnr. Calam Rd. and  Compton Rd.  Sunnybank Hills

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

The upcoming State Election is as good a time as any to demand answers from those in power and those who wish to be. Just as we tend to become cynical of our politicians at times, when words on paper are just that and not followed through with insightful actions and perspicacious solutions the result is disillusionment.

We have been lobbying (fighting, cajoling) for years on the importance of our corridor connections to both Bulimba Creek and the Flinders Peak—Greenbank Karawatha Link.

The Draft South-East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 was released for comment in December 2008. The basic principle of the Biodiversity Section is to “protect, manage and enhance the Region’s significant biodiversity values and supporting ecological processes.”

This all sounds mighty in principle. In fact, the first of four policies under this category “seeks to maximise the protection of significant biodiversity values in the Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area by requiring development to avoid any impacts. The simplest solution for avoiding impacts is to ensure development is located outside areas of significant biodiversity value and managed to avoid impacts on adjacent habitat areas.”

Hooray, we are saved—or are we? Define “Significant Biodiversity Value.” If, as happens now we link this value to significant species and ecosystems, and worse still, rely on Federal Government lists to make the final evaluation, then not only are the important species which for various reasons are incorrectly not on the list, but are as of importance which may not have these ecosystems but exist as corridors, roosting sites, wintering grounds, and protection for creek lines or against the excesses of human impact on the fringes of key areas.

Peter Garrett promised me to my face that it was his intention to restore the powers of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to the levels of 1994. It has not happened yet. Meanwhile, the tendency to take species off the protected list rather than add to them has remained as a legacy of the previous administration. Even a moratorium on this seeming craziness (as well on development which cannot be sustained long-term) would be better than leaving all areas which are without “significant biodiversity values” open to potential development.

As we have seen locally one developer removed all significant species from a particular development application, happy in the knowledge that it would not be challenged by his hired researchers because their contracts bore legal penalties if they were to challenge the development company.

Councils do not have the resources, sometimes the expertise and often the courage to draw a line in the sand to discourage destructive or misleading behaviour. As well, the Planning and Environment’s Court’s willingness to compromise can be like cutting up Solomon’s baby at times—and the Councils and developers know it.

We want insightful actions that plan for a sustainable life style and a healthy green space. Ask every political candidate you can access to explain their environmental policies and their ideas of planning for a survivable future.

P.S. There has been some surreptitious planning for a new pipeline through Karawatha. We don’t want it. We don’t need it. Ask the candidates what they intend doing about this link known as the Kuraby Interconnection. So far they have chosen to ignore the Society’s entreaties.

COFFEE BREAK
If you are interested in the Coffe Break get together resuming, please contact Margaret Parkhill on 3341 7365 or email mlparkhill@yahoo.com.au

BRISBANE CIT COUNCIL GRANT
The Society has been successful in its latest application to the Brisbane City Council for a community and environment grant to the value of $6 500.00

This money will be used in 2009 to cover a large part of the Society’s operational expenses. We would like to thank Lord Mayor Newman and his team for their continued support for our protection, community awareness and rehabilitation programmes.

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA IN KARAWATHA
Thank you to Brisbane City Council’s staff and organizers Matt DeGlas, Ranger Rachel and all the  volunteers who did such a great job cleaning up Karawatha Forest on Clean up Australia day 2009.

Numerous bags of rubbish were collected from around the quarry and within the lake as well as all the other sites in the Forest. Hopefully the effect will be long lasting so we can all enjoy the bush looking as pristine as possible.

BUSH CARE
There are some folk out there keen to be involved with the bush-care program.  There have been some changes with BCC taking on responsibility for an area that was traditionally working space of the Bush-care group. We are still working on other sites and request those interested to either contact Dennis Kerr on 0450 353 206 or alternately phone 3341 7365 or email mlparkhill@yahoo.com.au to indicate your keenness to be involved.

The Bush Care Group is currently working in Karawatha at the end of Pamela Cres. Woodridge on the second Sunday of each month from 7am to 9am

BEST MATES PET SHOP
At the last meeting the Society approved expenditure of items, purchased from Best Mates Pet Shop of Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown at a generous 20% discount, to be forwarded to OANRR (Orphaned Animals Native Rare and Released) to assist surviving animals from the Victorian bush fires. This was facilitated by Society member Nikki van Kammen.

TRINDER PARK 40 YEAR CELEBRATIONS
Our dear friend Sarah Sheppard is wanting historical recollections of the Trinder Park area. A time capsule of memories will be buried in the Lutheran Community Care facility on 13 June 2009 at the 40 year Birthday Celebrations.  Information is sought from community to contribute to a book acting as an oral and visual journey of the history of Trinder Park.

 Do you have something to share about the area—lived or worked here in the 60/70’s, then please contact Sarah 3387 4999 / 0418 733 125 or email sarah.sheppard@qld.lca.org.au

COMMITTEE NEWS
Our newly appointed Treasurer Joyce Zhuang has tendered her resignation with regret as she needs to return to China.  We thank Joyce for her contribution to the Society.  At our next meeting we will formally motion to accept Amy Wang as replacement for the Treasurer position.

 Ensure your membership is current for 2008/09

DATES TO REMEMBER - March/April

Report illegal activities to 3403 8888