Invitation to assist in flora and fauna surveys on Bimblebox Nature Refuge, Central-West Queensland 5-6 September 2009

The 8000 ha Bimblebox Nature Refuge is in direct line of a proposed open cut coal mine, yet has habitat suitable for threatened species such as the vulnerable squatter pigeon and the endangered black-throated finch (see image). It has 97 woodland and wetland species and 9 other fauna species of conservation significance for the Desert Uplands, and at least one rare plant species.

More surveys need to be done to locate other species. If you have expertise can you help? There will also be a bus tour and presentation for those interested in the issue of mining on Nature Refuges.

For more information on accommodation and contacts view event flier.

Wind Farms

It is not inconceivable that landholders who manage freehold land near the coast and in higher elevations, will at some time be presented with the option to host a Wind Farm development on their property. In some cases land which has been set aside as a Nature Refuge will be a suitable site. At the present time and in the past when Nature Refuge agreements were drawn up between government and landowners, developments such as this were not envisaged or considered. There are however Nature Refuge agreements which encompass tourism developments, livestock grazing and native forest timber harvesting thus setting a precedent for some forms of commercial activities in these areas.

The question I would pose to members of NaLRA is would we as an association like to consider the issue of wind farm developments as a suitable development in Nature Refuges and if so are we as an association prepared to develop a position statement to present to the government on this issue?

My background reading on the subject included "Siting a Wind Farm", an online publication from the Aust. Wind Energy Association [ http://www.westwind-energy.com.au/html/..%5Cfiles%5CBP5_Siting.pdf ] which outlines suitable geographical and topographical locations, title considerations, compatible activities, the relationship to existing infrastructure and alludes to likely impacts of the developments and minimisation strategies (eg soil erosion).

I then unearthed this reference

http://72.14.235.132/search?q=cache:x9Aj5poJLxsJ:www.auswind.org/accreditation/windinfo/assets/8Bird%26BatImpact.pdf+windfarms+environment+birds&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au&client=firefox-a

which gives an insight on the possible effects on birds and bats of Australian wind farms.

For a social comment I found this link

http://www.swellnet.com.au/surfpolitik.php?surfpolitik=Gone_With_the_Wind_100209.php

Dixie Nott

Burwood Nature Refuge

KABA GADA - The Blue Hole

It is World Heritage, the highest order of protection that Australia can give. It is listed as a Cultural Heritage site. Queensland’s Iconic Places legislation protects “The Blue Hole” in Cooper Creek and includes a unique species of fish found there. According to Mike Rowland of the Cultural Heritage Coordination Unit, DNRW, (Department of Natural Resources and Water), The Blue Hole is listed on the Aboriginal database as EN:C53. The site is already given full protection under the Act. (Cultural Heritage Act 2003).

The northern bank of the Blue Hole forms part of Cooper Creek Wilderness Nature refuge giving it another layer of protection. The Conservation Agreement with the State of Queensland states that the landholders may not allow the public at large onto their land. With such an array of protective mechanisms available, why is this sacred site being destroyed without any intervention from the many government agencies?

Who is responsible?
1. Environment Australia (EA)– World Heritage protects cultural and natural heritage
2. Queensland Environment Protection Agency (QEPA) has delegated authority from EA for protecting WH values.
3. Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) is the agency established to manage the Area in partnership with the land managers
4. Department of Natural Resources & Water (DNRW) is the lead agency to manage any changes required to address the problem
5. Cairns Regional Council (CRC) has replaced Douglas Shire Council as the trustee of the land.
With a veritable army of bureaucracies, why is it that the problems have continued without abatement for more than 15 years?

On 26 April 1994 Douglas Shire Council (DSC) Meeting minutes record a letter from Sheila Michel, a neighbour from Lot 51 re environmental damage. “The writer sees the situation as a tragedy that this could happen to such a precious, even sacred spot.”

In April 2009, 15 years after this letter was written, Cairns Regional Council has called a meeting of government agencies and stakeholders at Kaba Gada.

Will this meeting recognise the sacred values of a world heritage global treasure or will the public right to destroy be protected, as it has been for the last 15 years?

Coal Mine Threatens Nature Refuge

In Queensland there are areas rich in biodiversity and serving as crucial carbon stores being sacrificed to produce more climate-changing coal. One 8000 hectare property in the central-west was saved from land-clearing with the assistance of National Reserve System funding and deemed worthy of Nature Refuge Agreement. This property is a test case for sustainable grazing and the site of many on-going research projects relevant to the entire bioregion, which are run with the assistance of numerous volunteers. Now with coal discovered under the soil it is in line to be dug up for a coal mine.

Many of Queensland’s valuable conservation reserves have no protection against mining interests! For more information go to www.bimblebox.org.

To sign the petition to demand protection of these special places, go to:

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=1188&lIndex=-1

Rain,rain,rain...

During the 450ml (18 inches) deluge on Sunday 11 January 2009, 6 inches fell in less than one-hour (a 20-year record) and the majesty of Nature “rained” supreme!

Cooper Creek Wilderness Nature Refuge is on the northern bank to the west of the causeway. This is the heart of the renowned Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest in the world. It is at this very point, where freehold land and protected area coincide, at the epicentre of significance, that Queensland’s environmental policies become incomprehensible.

A couple of months ago, 2 carloads of poachers entered Cooper Creek with scuba-gear and removed several bucketloads of fish. There is one extremely rare fish called a goby that is a newly-discovered species in the western reaches of Cooper Creek adjoining the freehold lowland rainforest. It seems that “protected species” are only protected when they are on State- protected land. There is a fine of $225,000 for fishing east of the causeway and no penalty west of the causeway. You can imagine fish in Cooper Creek crossing the causeway in the flood of water. Too bad if they get caught on the wrong side because the State will not save them.

When State Government realises that all Nature is precious, and that we are responsible for the entire environment, not just green patches painted on a map, then we may recognise the value of nature refuges, voluntary conservation agreements and wildlife that crosses between tenures.

Until then, goodbye Goby.

And goodbye from me,
Prue