“The Oxley Creek Catchment Association (OCCA) views with great alarm the
Premier's decision that 17 greenfield sites are to be fast-tracked for
immediate development despite local government plans, and that the Urban
Footprint for South East Queensland is to be reviewed without
opportunity for the Association, or other stakeholders, not even local
government, to have any input into the revision of the Footprint and any
other changes to the SEQ Plan.” said OCCA Secretary, John Nightingale.
He went on to say:
OCCA has been stunned at the cavalier manner in which the Premier has
announced far-reaching changes to urban planning as though she expected
these changes to resolve the deep-seated and long standing problems
faced by South East Queensland in general and the Oxley Creek Catchment
in particular. They appear a knee-jerk response with the potential to
undermine the strategic approach to planning established by the SEQ
Regional Plan.
Her action is a disgracefully arrogant display of hubris by a Premier
who leads a government which has no idea of how SEQ will have to respond
to the challenges of climate change, on top of the current water, power
and transport infrastructure crises. Moreover, the idea that releasing
more greenfield land will solve anything is simplistic and naïve.
Of the 17 parcels of land Premier Bligh and Deputy Premier Lucas
suddenly ‘discovered’ as ‘immediately available for development’, the
so-called ‘Oxley Wedge’ is one that will NOT be ready for anything like
the 15,000 or more residents to move into if housing lots were released
there in 12 months time.
The obvious problem is a total lack of infrastructure in this area,
not even adequate roads, no public transport, distant from railway
stations, significant areas subject to flooding, huge land fill
requirements, inadequate schools. Any development will impact on large
areas protected by state and federal vegetation orders as well as
endangered and vulnerable fauna, including koalas and the iconic sugar
gliders.
Areas of green space around Brisbane such as the Oxley wedge (the
last remaining large greenspace on the southern side of Brisbane)
provide vital habitat corridor linkages to areas such as the Greenbank
Military Area to the south and Karawatha in the east. It is imperative
that any plans for greenspaces such as the Oxley Wedge be open to
consultation with all those with interest and expertise in best practice
environmental management. Whether it should ever be chopped up into
urban allotments should be the first question.
SEQ has already squandered too much of its greenspace. Only 17% of
the region is currently out of reach of development, supposedly
inalienable greenspace. This contrasts with over 42% of the same area
in Sydney and 33% in Melbourne.
Premier Bligh is now openly advocating the trashing of yet more of
our very small legacy of greenspace, without giving any consideration to
alternatives available under the current regional Plan. These areas are
now even more critical in balancing the increasing population density
and pressure and the impacts of climate change.
Higher densities in existing centres around our rail transport
network – with decentralisation of employment to match higher density
housing around well located growth centres, could accommodate our
growing population at lesser cost to both the new residents and our
precious and dwindling environment.
Dr. John Nightingale,
Hon. Secretary, Oxley Creek Catchment Association,
You all know that
Anne has been a very active member of OCCA since its inception in 1995;
some may say she is its heart and soul. She has been its chair since
2001 and only relinquished this position at the end of 2007.
What you may not
know is that as a young woman Anne graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree from James Cook University followed by a Dip Ed and a long and
illustrious career as a science and maths teacher. Anne’s love of the
environment led her to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, where
she has been a member for over twenty-five years, and was Secretary from
1992 to 2000. During these years she was delighted to meet and be able
to work with members of the Oxley Creek Environment Group, other groups
and local Councils in forming the Oxley Creek Catchment Association
under the guidelines of Integrated Catchment Management.
Somehow in amongst
all this, she also found the time to marry and raise a family. Even
today, Anne continues to devise and oversee environmental participation
programmes for local primary and secondary schools, effectively
instilling her abiding interest in the environment and the natural world
into today’s generation of young students. There are no doubt many,
many other substantial achievements on Anne’s CV to which I am not
privy.
What I do know
however, is what she’s like to work with on a daily basis.
Our offices are not
grand; some might call then homely, or crowded, or even untidy, which
would be unkind. Anne can put her finger on
anything in
seconds – a government report from years ago, an invoice, a grant
application, you name it. She possesses a phenomenal amount of stored
memory and any bureaucrat who chooses to cross swords or question
details with her had better be on his game.
Anne gives phone
callers to OCCA the same amount of attention and consideration whether
they are a State Government member, a local Councillor, a member of the
public ringing with a matter of concern in their area, or even a sales
person from an office consumables company. She is a wonderful listener,
and her comments and replies are given after due thought in a voice that
would make a radio announcer envious.
I’ve never seen her
angry. Perplexed at a curious outcome of an OCCA submission? Yes.
Hackles up and ready to take up the fight for an OCCA cause? Oh you
better believe it! But anger? No, never.
She achieves results
through diplomacy, reason, a superb knowledge of the topic of
discussion, that voice, and a slow serene smile that can disarm even the
most resolute protagonist.
Anne Clarke has been
a student, scholar, teacher, mentor, networker, wife and mother, and a
true champion for the cause of marine and waterways environment in
south-east Queensland for over a quarter of a century. She has touched
the lives of many people, people who would be much the poorer for never
having met her. We know that the OAM is not given lightly, and that only
deserving people receive this award, but we at OCCA all think that Anne
is just that little bit more deserving than most!
Footnote:
Prior to going to print, Anne proofread this article to ensure I had
reported factually on her achievements. True to her nature, she was
uncomfortable that insufficient mention had been made of the substantial
number of dedicated people she has worked with over the years, and
without whom, she says, she would not have had the opportunity to
achieve the significant milestones she has.
To all those
wonderful folk, and you know who you are, Anne offers her sincere thanks
and wishes you all continuing success in your chosen fields of
endeavour.
She is proud to
accept her award, but in her heart she shares it with each and every one
of you.
- DM.
We’ve
got a new name, a new logo and a new team so now it is official -
The Oxley Creek Water Festival is back! Except that this year it is
expanding as the Peaks to Points
Festival - The Biggest and Best Environment Festival on the
Southside of Brisbane!
TheOxley
Creek Catchment Association has joined forces with the Bulimba Creek
Catchment Association, Norman Creek Catchment Association, Bayside
Creeks Catchment Group, Eprapah Creek Catchment Group, and Wolston
and Centenary Catchments to organise a Festival taking in the area
from Flinders Peak to Moreton Bay through the local government areas
of Ipswich, Logan, Brisbane and Redland.
You
can get involved - we need to hear from environmental, community and
other groups who would like to host an event or activity in their
neighbourhood.
These can include bushland plantings, tours of revegetated areas,
walks through your area showcasing the history or the fauna and
flora, birdwatching, night spotting, poet’s breakfast, film night,
talks, discussion forums, community BBQ, photographic competition,
neighbourhood fair, performances, canoeing or anything that you
think will showcase your area’s natural environment.
We are also looking forSponsors either
financial or to provide in-kind support and Volunteers to host an
activity, or to help organise this fantastic event. To get involved
or for further information, please contact OCCA on 32782899 or email
occa@flatrate.net.au
The Oxley Wedge
stands in its own right as vital greenspace with its semi-rural
footprint, offering important environmental benefits for our catchment.
It provides habitat
for five of Australia’s 6 species of arboreal gliders as well as a host
of other creatures. It also facilitates movement of wildlife from the
major green space on the south side of Brisbane, the Greenbank Military
Reserve feeding through to the Karawatha Reserve.
However, it also
provides these benefits for the whole of the Brisbane region, as inner
suburbs become increasingly densely populated. Services provided by its
greenspace include reduction of airborne pollution, removal of carbon
dioxide from the air, and feeding back oxygen for the city’s wellbeing.
If the
environmental values of Oxley Wedge are taken into account in future
planning, it will provide the opportunity now and into the future to
strengthen wildlife corridors.
There are local
plans to link Toohey Forest which is becoming increasingly isolated,
back to Oxley Creek through Rocky Water Holes Creek, Stable Swamp Creek
and Moolabin Creek. Maintenance of the environmental values of Oxley
Wedge will make feasible the vision of a corridor of bushland linking
Toohey Forest to the headwaters of Oxley Creek through Greenbank to Mt
Perry in the Flinders Peak region. Oxley Wedge is crucial to this
vision.
The current
Regional Nature Conservation Strategy for South East Queensland,
advocates the “decision-making model of the future”* whereby
environmental values underpin all other decisions, whether economic or
social. With climate uncertainty ahead, it is even more urgent.
* Regional Nature
Conservation Strategy for South East Queensland, 2003-2008, p 15, figure
10
For a higher resolution
map please click on the image
OCCA’s
Biodiversity Services Unit (BSU) continues to surge forward. In order to
keep up with continued demand for their services, the BSU have recently
acquired a much needed second vehicle.
"The
purchase of new vehicle has been made possible through the continued
support of the Assoc. by Don Gulley and the team at East Coast
Commercials, Brisbane. The larger vehicle will enable the Biodiversity
Services Unit to improve the services offered to its commercial and
community partners." - Peter Michael, manager of BSU
November saw over
1300 trees planted in the Oxley Creek Catchment. The plantings were
distributed over 3 venues and involved over 40 volunteers. A big thank
you and congratulations go to all those who helped out and to our
Biodiversity Services Unit for the organisation and coordination of the
events. As you can see from the photos below, the planting days were
great fun as well as making a positive and lasting contribution to the
health of the Oxley Creek catchment. We have many other such exciting
events lined up for the near future so stay tuned and make sure that you
don’t miss out.
Westpac, Landcare and Oxley Creek Catchment Association
are teaming up throughout 2007-2008 to conduct a series of corporate
volunteering days at Brisbane bushland sites in Oxley Creek catchment.
The days have been designed to bring together the corporate and
community sectors for a day of hands-on activity at 6 of the catchments’
Habitat Brisbane Bushcare sites.
Staff from Westpac will work along side bushcare
members and OCCA’s CreekCare volunteer corps to plant 1200 trees and
shrubs, install 24 wildlife nesting boxes and treat environmental weeds
through applying natural area restoration principles.
The sites have all been short-listed for their
proximity to natural waterways and their importance as linkages in the
catchments’ wildlife corridors. The corridors not only allow for the
passage of native fauna, but contribute to clean and healthy waterways
through soil stabilisation, shading and cooling of pools and sediment
trapping. The sites are also well-used places of passive recreation for
the local communities.
The program kicks off on Friday, September 14th
at Gaddes Park, Sunnybank.
For more information on this ongoing project, please
contact OCCA on 3278 2899 or visit www.oxleycreekcatchment.org.au.
A place
to share views, opinions, news and knowledge, the online forum is
essential viewing for anyone who has an interest in ecological
restoration.
The online forum is part of OCCA's series
of workshops on Ecological Restoration in an Urban Catchment.
For more information please click on the
link to Sign Up
Industry takes the lead to turn
things around
Waterways
in industrial areas will be healthy waterways that provide valuable
habitat for our animals and aquatic life and social amenity to our local
businesses and community.
Believe it or not, in this day and age, some of our creeks still suffer
from very poor treatment. From the accidental spill to more regular
deliberate acts, pollution winds up in our waterways to the detriment of
our flora, fauna and aquatic species and also to our own recreational
activities.
It’s time to say enough really is enough, and this lead was taken by
Martina Glenn, OHS&E Manager with BlueScope Steel Queensland Logistics.
After a spate of recorded regular pollution incidents in the later
months of 2006 and no culprit being found, a call was put to the Oxley
Creek Catchment Association to help establish a network of likeminded
businesses, community and government representatives to form CreekWATCH
– a group that would play a lead role in preventing pollution of our
waterways, particularly in industrial areas.
From the small beginnings with BlueScope Steel, OCCA and the Brisbane
City Council, the CreekWATCH program has now grown to include CSR
Gyprock Fibre Cement, Queensland Rail, Environmental Protection Agency,
SkillsTECH Australia, Brisbane Warehousing and Distribution, and
Stoddart Metal Fabricators. There are also other interested businesses
out there that are kept in the loop, like MJP Smash Repairs and
CoachWorks, and local community and students from Acacia Ridge State
School are also involved.
This is big business!
CreekWATCH has identified three core components to preventing pollution
and will deliver programs to address each one:
Reporting and Training:
Clarify the message of who to call in case of a spill and what to do
in an event. Ensure all staff are trained and updated regularly.
Promote the pollution hotline number and awareness that dumping
wastes down the stormwater drain is NOT ok.
Education:
Why are our waterways worth looking after. Who looks after them.
What happens when pollution enters our waterways.
Creek Rehabilitation:
If our waterways look like drains, then they’ll be treated like
drains. Weed removal, increased bank vegetation, improved water
quality and water habitat and creek corridor connections for
wildlife movement and habitat.
Launched on June 5
(World Environment Day) 2007, CreekWATCH Acacia Ridge is an exciting,
leading program that will change the way we view and treat our waterways
in industrial areas. Stay tuned for regular updates on the program’s
activities and outcomes.
Great news regarding the glider boxes at the
Readymix site on Paradise Road !
A recent inspection
revealed that of the twenty boxes installed on the property twelve
months ago by Hollow Log Homes, well over half showed signs of current
or recent habitation by gliders, with seven boxes containing glider
colonies of between two to five animals.
The boxes have been specifically designed
for gliders, having a concealed entrance to inhibit their use by birds,
especially Indian Mynahs. Unfortunately this has not stopped several of
the boxes being colonized by feral European bees which have now been
convinced to set up home elsewhere.
The
high uptake rate by the gliders, whilst satisfying and exciting to us at
OCCA, can probably be attributed to the devastating loss of habitat
caused by recent fires along Johnson Road. There is now an established
need for further boxes on this site. Readymix, the sponsors of the
original boxes, have been approached again and we are hopeful that
negotiations with them will prove fruitful.
No really,
what's inside the computer you're looking at right now?
Greenpeace has recently taken five popular brands of laptops to the lab
and produced an in-depth report on which nasties may lurk inside your
computer.
Testing for heavy metals, PVC and bromated flame retardants they've
found some disturbing results. You can check out the full report from
the link below:
I’ve never seen her
angry. Perplexed at a curious outcome of an OCCA submission? Yes.
Hackles up and ready to take up the fight for an OCCA cause? Oh you
better believe it! But anger? No, never. 
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