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

NEXT MEETING Thursday 16th October, 7pm at Sunnybank Hills library     
Level 2 Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown
Cnr. Calam Rd. and  Compton Rd.  Sunnybank Hills

PRESIDENT'S REPORT
At the time of writing - Tuesday, October 14th, a Conservation Partnership agreement will be signed at Stretton Reserve by  State and Local Government representatives.  This Partnership is designed to preserve the Flinders-Greenbank-Karawatha corridor by providing coordinated and ongoing protection over 40kms of green space land from Brisbane to Ipswich. The signatories will be The Honorable Andrew McNamara, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman (Brisbane) and Mayors Paul Pisale (Ipswich), Pam Parker (Logan) and John Brent (Scenic Rim). This enlarges the previous commitment between these parties (and the Federal Government) beyond each caring for recognised areas of environmental significance, to a situation where collective efforts are made for the whole corridor and not just for the local patch.

Previously, Brisbane’s commitment was to Karawatha Forest, Ipswich were to look after White Rock Conservation Area and the Federals were to secure Greenbank Military Base. This new Partnership has the potential to expand well beyond assurances which we felt were already natural expectations of  the wider community. Meanwhile there are still glaring anomalies which could, and ought to be corrected within the framework for this Partnership. This corridor, and core areas such as Karawatha, should be recognised in a category and through legislation such as to forever protect their environmental sanctity. This could extend over private lands just as recognition is given in such as the City Plan.

We are constantly faced with situations in the environment, such as currently, one of the wealthiest couples in Queensland is seeking expansion of a development from a previous level of approval, on land with high environmental values within this corridor. While the system can sustain excessive levels of avarice, those whose philosophy is “Who dies with the most toys wins” will attempt to exploit it.  Legislation is the tool in these cases.

 In order for this agreement to have any teeth however, a way to recognise and define the boundaries of this area must be decided, and long-term sustainability at the financial and legislative levels must be forthcoming.  From our meeting with Minister McNamara earlier this year, we came away feeling that the man had his heart and intelligence in the right place.  Brisbane City Council have shown a consistent commitment to purchasing land constituting part of this corridor. Other parties must help.The Federal Government needs to give written assurance that the Greenbank Military Base will never be developed, and that what remains of the area excised from the western border be retained as green space. Logan City Council (LCC) needs to do more on their side than assure that local homeowners do not subdivide their blocks. Backyards still have dogs and other human impacts on wildlife. LCC needs to purchase significant properties and establish a corridor as soon as possible.

The principle of wildlife bridges, as recognised in the Letter of Intent circulating at present, needs to be established as a workable tool and implemented where necessary. Scenic Rim Council needs to put substantive weight on the areas they currently recognise as corridors but have done nothing to protect. Ipswich Council needs to save a section through the Ripley Valley, instead of boasting about how much development, without corridors, will take place here.

The fragile corridor south of Springfield lakes requires an intelligent solution before it becomes more than a pinch-point and more like the death of the corridor.  Most of all, this is a chance for the combined weight of these substantial bureaucracies to work as one in convincing the Federal Government to recognise that this corridor is of national importance and needs an injection of funds commensurate with its worth.

SECRETARY'S REPORT
After seven years as assistant secretary/odd jobs person and eleven years as secretary, I have decided to retire as a committee member and will not be nominating for any positions at the coming AGM. My other work and family commitments have changed considerably over the past five years and it has become very difficult for me to continue this highly rewarding and interesting part of my life.

I still intend to continue as an active member of the Society with my involvement with the KFPS community education and schools programme and hope to be available to help out wherever necessary, but it is time the secretarial baton be passed on to someone else.

It has been a privilege for me to be part of a team of committed and dedicated people achieving wonderful things for the environment while my personal reward has been the gaining of a great deal of confidence by the development of many skills which I was able to accomplish at my own slow pace.

I must thank President Thomas Creevey for his patience during the past eight years as well as the endless list of supporters who have made my time as secretary such a fulfilling experience.

This brings us to my current job of making the position less intimidating by breaking up the responsibilities I have taken on over the years. I would like to thank Margaret Parkhill for taking on the newsletter publication and Patricia Keiler for keeping the mailing list updated. This means that the main bulk of next year’s secretarial duties will be the minutes and agendas of the monthly meetings and flow on correspondence.

If anyone is willing to take on this rewarding position at the AGM I will be available to give them lots of support and inside information.

Jane Cajdler

DEAD ANIMALS
Our data base is important for future planning so please take note of any dead animals you may see in your travels and promptly report them to the Society on 3711 9346.

NOTICE OF AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held 7:00pm Thursday 20 November 2008 in the meeting room at the Sunnybank Hills library.

Guest speaker on the night will be Brendan Taylor from Southern Cross University. Brendan has been researching the gliders in Karawatha and their usage of the land bridge over Compton Road. He will present his findings under the title “Urban Gliders, Their Ecology and Responses to Roads.”

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NOMINATION FORM FOR 2008/09 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

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PROXY FORM FOR AGM 20th NOVEMBER 2008

 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 this ________day of _______ 2008

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BATTY BOAT CRUISES ARE BACK!

Cruise dates and times - Summer 2008/Autumn 2009 cruises on Sundays:
2 November 2008
16 November 2008
7 December 2008
15 February 2009
1 March 2009
15 March 2009

Call Wildlife Queensland on +61 7 3221 0194 to book and pay by credit card over the phone.

BUSH CARE GROUP
Meet at Pamela Cres. Woodridge at 7:00—9:00am
Second Sunday each month

For more details contact Dennis Kerr 3272 2918

DATES TO REMEMBER - October/November

Newsletter ideas are welcome. Please forward information to Margaret Parkhill - email: mlparkhill@yahoo.com.au

Help to keep our Green Spaces in good hands!

Report illegal activities to 3403 8888