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
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