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

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

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General meeting of the Society will be held at 7pm on Thursday 16 th November at the Sunnybank Hills library meeting room as per the above address.
Guest speaker on the night will be Mr. Shaun Fitzgibbon who will speak about the “Conservation of Habitats in Brisbane.” Shaun will focus on the needs of ground dwelling mammals as he has a particular interest in bandicoots.

NOMINATION FORM FOR 2006/07 COMMITTEE

I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Wish to nominate the following for committee positions

President _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Vice President _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Secretary_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Treasurer _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Signature of nominator _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Please post to KFPS PO Box 2017 Sunnybank Hills 4109 or hand in at the AGM

PROXY FORM FOR AGM 16 NOVEMBER 2006

 I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Being a financial member of the Karawatha Forest Protection

Society wish to appoint _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to vote on my behalf at the AGM

Or failing him/her I appoint _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ as second choice.

Signature _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Dated day of 2006

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

We are in the endgame for acquisition of the last remaining open spaces in private hands. Some want to develop everything. There is much potential today for large, immediate profit in being a developer or real estate (housing or industrial) and the construction and supply industries which support them. The god of progress and economic expansion has been so adored that it has been easy for those in authority to blindside the general populace as to perceived public good. Selling the locals at Berrinba Wetlands on bike paths and picnic areas at the very moment that wholesale destruction was occurring behind them is one example. Talking about ‘jobs’ as an override to environmental degradation is another.

Money and politics are driving the expansion of our city. Greed is encouraged by ‘bottom line’ economics. The political fabric of compromise and deal-making is reflected even in agreements made to resolve objections against rejection of development applications. The potential for covert bribery with no obvious trace is present without strict vigilance. All this is tempered by idealism within the public service sector and community action, based on either broad-scale issues or preserving our own ‘backyard’. If public feelings extend to complacency, expediency, ignorance or helplessness and the political control is too easily diverted, the environment is under great threat.

All these factors could have played a part in our efforts over the case of 293 Compton Road but fortunately they were defused and our efforts are being rewarded. Despite having to be embroiled in the spirit of compromise rather than idealism, the arrangements we have tentatively made with the land owners, after much negotiation between them and Council, and two years in Planning and Environment Court so far, are good enough to preserve our corridor and a large part of the basic environmental values of the property. Areas of community concern which do not make a profit may have been put on the political backburner but concerted action still has its place. Our preferred position remains that Council acquire this land (at much greater cost than when we first mooted the idea), but at least the present position is a far better outlook than the original proposed development. As an aside, we would like to note that the landowner and his agent have been thorough gentlemen throughout recent meetings, resulting in cordial and productive progress.

OCTOBER BUSH WALK

The October walk will leave from Illaweena Street picnic ground at 7am on Sunday 29 th

LOGAN WILDLIFE FORUM FOLLOW-UP MEETING – 17 OCTOBER

PLACE – Gould Adams Park Community Complex – Kingston. (Nearest cross street is Juers St/Jacaranda Ave)

TIME – 7pm – 9.30pm

Following the very successful Wildlife Forum held in Logan recently another meeting will be held to maintain momentum and decide on a course of action. Guest speaker on the night will be Larissa Waters, a solicitor from the Environmental Defenders Office. Larissa will speak about “Public Rights to Challenge Developments”

THANK YOU

A big thank you to everyone who helped with the activities for this years Wildlife Corridor Week. The community picnic was a huge success with many new forest neighbours making their first trip into the bush. Children and adults alike appreciated the GECOES wildlife presentation and we are sure they will be back to take advantage of the forest very soon. The display continues in the Sunnybank Hills library until 21st October

DATES TO REMEMBER - October/November

Report illegal activities to 3403 888