Showing posts with label flora and fauna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flora and fauna. Show all posts
Tuesday 12 November 2019
Tuesday 24 September 2019
Rescuing flying foxes across Northern NSW & Southern Queensland in the current drought
The Daily Examiner, 23 September 2019, p.10:
As WIRES becomes inundated with sick and starving bats, residents are being urged to give them a helping hand.
A bat starvation event is occurring across Northern NSW and Southern Queensland as WIRES works hard to nurse sick and starving back into health.
WIRES officer Linda Harrison said she had been receiving a large number of flying foxes, particularly juveniles, which were severely undernourished.
The lack of blossoms due to a combination of worsening drought conditions and continued destruction of the natural habitat went some way to explain the event.
“I have had them come in near dead. They are just starving, there is just no food out there for them,” she said.
“A big part of that is the amount of clearing that has been done – 200 years ago this would not have affected them near as much as it what it is now because there would have been more trees out there.”
Ms Harrison said the lack of blossoms meant the bats were starting to look for alternative food sources and were increasingly being found in backyards and trees lower to the ground.
“They are flying in and finding a food source and because they are just so worn out they are staying where they are,” she said.
“People are finding them in their backyards because they don’t have the energy to go anywhere.
“They do have a fairly specific diet but at the moment they are eating anything.”
Ms Harrison said while the bats should be left alone, there were a few things people could do to give them a helping hand, including putting fruit out on string for the bats to have a feed.
“As a rule we don’t usually encourage people to feed them but at the moment they are eating anything and we are doing what we can to keep them alive,” she said.
“Cut up some soft fruit or hang some fruit on bits of rope.”
Despite some rainfall in the last week, Ms Harrison said she was expecting the problems to continue and flying foxes were not the only animals having a hard time.
“I think I am in for a long couple of months, this is going to go on for a while. I think we are in for a long summer.”
“You can see there are more kangaroos coming into people’s yards around South Grafton, they are just coming in for fresh grass.”
WIRES rescue line: 1300094737.
Labels:
climate change,
drought,
flora and fauna,
rescue
Tuesday 17 September 2019
Insecticide poisoning caused the death of 15 Satin Bowerbirds found at Modanville, near Lismore in recent weeks
Echo NetDaily, September 2019:
Insecticide poisoning caused the death of 15 satin bowerbirds found at Modanville, near Lismore in recent weeks, investigators have revealed.
Investigations conducted by North Coast Local Land Services have confirmed that the bird deaths were caused by the banned insecticide Fenthion.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is now seeking assistance from members of the public in a bid to determine how the poisoning occurred.
As the responsible regulator for pesticide use, the EPA is exploring the possibility that the birds, which are a protected native species, may have been deliberately targeted.
No other bird species is known to have been impacted.
EPA Manager Regional Operations North Coast Benjamin Lewin said the killing of native birds, whether through intentional or reckless pesticide misuse, was a serious offence.
‘We are encouraging anyone with information on these deaths, or anyone who may have seen some activity that could be related to this illegal baiting, to contact the EPA as soon as possible,’ Mr Lewin said.
Fenthion, which was banned from use in 2014 with a phase out period of one year, is a broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide.
It is extremely toxic to birds and substantial penalties exist for its possession and use.
The chemical was widely used in the past for insect control on a broad range of fruit crops and for external parasite control on livestock.
Tuesday 3 September 2019
Northern Regional Planning Panel to consider 140 lot development on 19 September 2019
29 August 2019
Dear Sir or Madam
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING – NORTHERN REGIONAL PLANNING PANEL
The panel will meet to determine the following development application:
2015NTH026 – Clarence Valley – SUB2015/0034 ‐ Hickey Street, Iluka ‐ 140 lot residential (Community Title) subdivision and new roads
Relevant documents will be available on the Planning Panels website www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/planningpanels at least seven days before the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to give interested people the opportunity to speak directly to the panel before a decision is made. If you wish to present to the panel, you must register to speak by contacting the Planning Panels Secretariat before 4pm Tuesday, 17 September 2019 on 02 8217 2060 or via email to enquiry@planningpanels.nsw.gov.au
Any person is welcome to attend the public meeting to observe.
The panel is required to make an audio record of the meeting and make the recording publicly available on the Planning Panels website. You should be aware that this may include your personal information if you are presenting to the panel.
The panel will aim to publish its decision on the Planning Panels website within 7 days of the meeting.
Guidelines for speakers
As a guide, individuals will have 3 minutes to speak, a community group will have 10 minutes in total, and the applicant, including consultant(s), a total of 15 minutes to present and address issues raised in public submissions. Any requests for extending time limits are to be granted at the discretion of the Chair.
Please consider focussing your oral submission on how the assessment report has addressed your concerns, as the panel will have read your written submission before the meeting.
If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Panels Secretariat on 02 8217 2060.
Yours sincerely
Lisa Foley Project Officer
Clarence Valley Council voted to recommend the subdivision 6 to 1 on 27 August 2019.
Tuesday 27 August 2019
More koala news....
Last Friday morning my neighbour James alerted me to this boy who he followed across the Barrage. He was a young dispersing male looking for a new home,from Lismore to Ballina LGA. Koalas often just keep on their merry way even with a car @Matt_KeanMP @greencate @KateRWashington pic.twitter.com/UL5V5K3WvR— Maria Matthes (@talkingkoala) August 25, 2019
Labels:
flora and fauna,
Koala,
Northern Rivers
Monday 26 August 2019
It's Koala Breeding Season in the NSW Northern Rivers - keep an eye out for animals crossing the road and slow down when driving at night
Images: @talkingkoala |
Although the Koala is a tree dwelling marsupial it often has to travel across the ground, especially during breeding season when males are searching for females.
These photos are of a Clarence Valley male koala hit by a car on 24 August 2019 at a crossing 'hot spot' on Broadwater-Evans Head Rd .
He was partially scalped, with multiple wounds and sheared nails.
Please drive with extra care, so this scene is not repeated with you at the wheel.
Labels:
flora and fauna,
Koala
Thursday 1 August 2019
Presentations on the plight of Koala populations will be held at Maclean and Lawrence on 14 August 2019 - be there to support Lower Clarence koalas
Koala at Lawrence in the Lower Clarence Valley Photograph supplied |
Deborah Tabart, Chairman of the Australian Koala Foundation is coming to brief the local community on the plight of koalas and why we need a Koala Protection Act.
It is amazing that we do not have such an Act to protect one of Australia’s iconic animals. As we know, koala numbers are declining and this issue is now very topical in our area, especially around Lawrence, where koala habitat trees are under threat.
Ms Tabart will be visiting Lawrence and adding the koalas there to the Foundation’s koala map. If you know where koalas are living in the Lower Clarence please come along to the presentation to make sure that all the koala habitats are added to the map.
There will be two information sessions in the Clarence Valley on Wednesday the 14th August one at 11 AM and one at 6.00 PM.
Maclean Branch of the NSW Country Women’s Association invites everyone to the Koala presentation at 11 AM on Wednesday 14 August at the CWA Rooms, 40 River Street, Maclean followed by a light lunch.
A donation of $5 is requested to help with catering. Please let the CWA know via Linda if you are coming so that we will have enough chairs and lunch. Ring Linda on 02 66 47 7373 or email santilinda@aapt.net.au
The next session is at 6 PM in the evening at the Lawrence Hall, located between the pub and the shop, with a light supper provided for free.
Ring or text Elizabeth on 0407 883 656 or email elizabethparker96@rocketmail.com. It helps to know how many to cater for.
These events are friendly and informal and a great way to meet interesting people.
Bring your Koala questions and your appetite.
Friday 26 July 2019
Land clearing law in New South Wales
Environmental
Defenders Office NSW (EDO), 17 July 2019:
It’s
been almost two years since the NSW Government introduced a new
scheme for regulating land clearing and biodiversity in NSW. While
the business of tree clearing has continued apace under self-assessed
codes and a new Vegetation SEPP, fundamentally important parts of the
scheme are still missing. This EDO NSW series of legal updates looks
at how the laws are being implemented and the regulatory gaps that
are putting our wildlife and healthy sustainable landscapes at risk.
Our
first
update looked at clearing in rural areas and outlined the
fundamentally important parts of the scheme that are still missing
even while tree clearing has continued apace under self-assessed
codes. The second
update looks at elements of the new scheme that are missing or
lack clarity for tree clearing in urban areas and e-zones. This third
update looks at compliance and enforcement of new clearing laws.
Read
the third update here.
Friday 19 July 2019
In the Kalang River forests of New South Wales......
According to the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage the Milky Silkpod is found only within NSW, with scattered populations in the north coast region between Kendall and Woolgoolga.
This plant is currently listed as Vulnerable in NSW and has a Commonwealth conservation status of Endangered. Little is known of its reproductive biology.
However, this means little to the Forestry Corporation of NSW, its board of directors and workers or the Berejiklian Coalition Government.
The Belligen Shire Courier, 16 July 2019:
OEH-Milky Silkpod profile. Photo Shane Ruming |
A volunteer survey team that trekked
through the Upper Kalang forests on the weekend found dozens of
endangered plants damaged by Forestry Corporation's logging
preparations.
The
Milky Silkpod (Parsonia dorrigoensis) is listed as 'vulnerable' in
NSW and is a nationally endangered plant.
As
the name suggests, the forests of the Mid North Coast are a
stronghold for it, with most records found between Kendall and
Woolgoolga.
In
1999 it was estimated that there were less than 2000 individual
plants and the main threat to the survival of this species is low
numbers.
Official
government advice on how to manage the plant says that "searches
for the species should be conducted prior to any logging operations"
and known habitat should be "protect[ed] from clearing, high
levels of disturbance and development".
"Yet
once again Forestry Corporation has shown its disregard for the the
environment," survey team member Jonas Bellchambers said.
"Of
the 110 confirmed new records identified on the weekend, 39 specimens
were found that had already been damaged and are unlikely to recover.
"With
more logging and roading imminent it is highly likely to wipe out a
good part of this population.
"Like
for most species, it's a death of 1000 cuts, and before we know it
another plant has blinked out and has gone from our planet
completely. We are in the midst of a major extinction event. Here we
have a clear example of why. Because government and industry just
don't care....
Sunday 14 April 2019
Who will be to blame if Essential Energy cuts down koala trees in Lawrence, NSW?
Koala habitat within Lawrence, NSW |
Essential Energy is a NSW state-owned corporation supplying
‘poles and wire’ infrastructure to communities on the North Coast.
One of those
communities is the small village of Lawrence
on the Lower Clarence River.
An attractive feature of living in this village is that it is one of the ever
diminishing small regional/rural urban areas which still have resident koalas.
Koalas like
this one sitting in a tree line marked by Essential Energy for felling.
Photograph of Lawrence koala supplied |
Koala mid-canopy & circled in black Photograph supplied |
Apparently those surveying the short new route for a section of poles and wires in Lawrence neglected to look up into the trees – what else can explain the fact that known koala trees have been marked for destruction?
So who is it
that employs such incredibly blind staff?
Well
Essential Energy has a Board
of Directors (very comfortably remunerated from $60,600 up to $764,200 pa) and all apparently living far from this particular group of
koalas.
These board
members are:
Patricia McKenzie – Chair, Non-Executive Director
Robyn Clubb – Non-Executive Director
Jennifer Douglas – Non-Executive Director
John Fletcher – Non-Executive Director
Peter Garling – Non-Executive Director
Patrick Strange – Non-Executive Director
Diane Elert – Non-Executive Director
John Cleland – CEO and Executive Director.
The
shareholders are represented by the NSW
Treasurer and Minister for Finance,
Services and Property. Current Treasurer is MP for Epping Dominic Perrottet.
With the
exception of the Treasurer all these people belong to what might be called the
professional directors class and, between them are associated with a number of other businesses and a research facility:
APA Group, Health
Direct Australia,
Australian Wool Exchange Ltd,
Craig Moyston Group Ltd, Elders Ltd, NSW Primary Industries Ministerial Advisory Council, Rice Marketing Board of NSW,
Hansen Technologies Limited, Opticomm Pty Ltd, Peter MacCullum Cancer Foundation,
Hansen Technologies Limited, Opticomm Pty Ltd, Peter MacCullum Cancer Foundation,
Charter Hall Funds Management Limited, Charter Hall Limited, Energy Group Limited, Downer EDI Limited, Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Limited, Tellus
Holdings Limited,
Auckland International Airport Limited. Chorus
Limited, Mercury Energy, NZX Limited.
A fair number of people in Lawrence have told Essential Energy that they want these koala trees to be left standing and the corporation states it has taken its plan under review.
So if Essential Energy does decide these koala trees are to be cut down in the next few months, don’t blame the men with chainsaws, blame these eight professional directors and the successive NSW Coalition governments who appointed them - from the O'Farrell Government in 2013 through to the Berejiklian Government in 2018.
So if Essential Energy does decide these koala trees are to be cut down in the next few months, don’t blame the men with chainsaws, blame these eight professional directors and the successive NSW Coalition governments who appointed them - from the O'Farrell Government in 2013 through to the Berejiklian Government in 2018.
Because state government is clearly appointing directors who cannot even ensure that Essential Energy’s
environmental
policy (for which they are responsible) is comprehensive and actually mentions vulnerable and threatened
flora and fauna.
It is a policy which (aside from a brief mention of greenhouse gas emission reduction) fails to give clear direction to staff, given there is only a single broadly worded line in its 12 point health, safety & environmental policy to cover all manner of environmental issues ie., "Comply with relevant legislation, regulations, standards, codes, licences and commitments"
These directors appear so divorced from real life that they apparently never thought that their regional/rural staff need to be trained to look up into tree canopies before they decide to mark a tree line for destruction.
It is a policy which (aside from a brief mention of greenhouse gas emission reduction) fails to give clear direction to staff, given there is only a single broadly worded line in its 12 point health, safety & environmental policy to cover all manner of environmental issues ie., "Comply with relevant legislation, regulations, standards, codes, licences and commitments"
These directors appear so divorced from real life that they apparently never thought that their regional/rural staff need to be trained to look up into tree canopies before they decide to mark a tree line for destruction.
The bottom
line is that the Koala as a species is at risk of localised extinction across the areas in which
populations still survive and, sadly is at risk of total extinction across the entire country by as early as 2050 if those in positions of power continue to be
deliberately blind to the fate of this Australian icon.
Morrison Government caught out attempting to retrospectively censor native bird export information
The Guardian, 4 April 2019:
The Australian
government has attempted to retrospectively censor critical information related
to exports of rare and exotic birds to a German organisation headed by a
convicted kidnapper, fraudster and extortionist.
Guardian Australia revealed late last
year that
Australia had permitted the export of 232 birds, some worth tens of thousands
of dollars, to the Brandenburg-based Association for the Conservation of
Threatened Parrots (ACTP) between 2015 and November 2018.
Conservation groups and federal politicians
had repeatedly expressed concern about the group, which is headed by Martin
Guth, a man with multiple criminal convictions.
The Guardian’s
investigation relied on internal government documents secured through freedom
of information laws, released in August.
Guardian Australia made
subsequent freedom of information requests and received further documents in
January. But the federal department of environment has now attempted to
retrospectively redact parts of the documents, saying it accidentally released
information it shouldn’t have.
Some of the inadvertently
released information could “facilitate fraudulent export applications”, the
department said. The department had also accidentally released “personal
information, such as birth dates and name, and confidential business
information”.
The department has asked
Guardian Australia to destroy its copies of the documents, and not further
disseminate the newly redacted details.
“While we understand
that the FOI decisions have already been made, and that you are under no
obligation to follow the department’s wishes, we kindly request that you
either: destroy the documents that the department has previously released to
you and instead, use the redacted documents attached to this letter; or
otherwise ensure that the information in question … is not further disclosed or
made publicly available,” the department said in a letter emailed to the
Guardian on Wednesday, but dated last month.
The documents have not
been published on the department’s online FOI disclosure log. The department’s
stance suggests that other parties – journalists or conservation groups, for
example – would be subject to the newly introduced redactions if they requested
the same documents.
Freedom of information
experts say the government’s actions have “no legal basis”……
The new redactions remove
details that made it possible for Guardian Australia to establish that the
operator of ACTP’s Netherlands facility was convicted in 2015 of involvement as
a buyer in a trading ring that was illegally selling protected exotic birds.
The department has also
removed identification numbers for the birds that were exported to Germany, arguing that its original decision
to release that information could lead to “fraudulent” exports of Australian
birds overseas.
It has also blacked out
permit numbers from the export permits issued in Australia, the names of
individuals who operate other ACTP facilities in Germany and in other
countries, and removed information relating to ACTP’s exemption status from corporate
tax.
The redactions remove
images of ACTP’s main breeding facility and maps that illustrate its layout.
In recent months,
Guardian Australia has been trying to establish whether the department
undertook adequate due diligence to ensure that all of the birds sent to ACTP
were legally captive bred.
But the department has
refused to release names of suppliers in Australia that would show the chain of
custody for each of the birds before they were exported to Germany. Those
details were redacted from FoI documents released to the Guardian in January
and from documents tabled after an order for the production of documents in
parliament.
Attempts by government
agencies to retrospectively recover or redact FOI documents have previously
been found to have no lawful basis under NSW freedom of information law.
Landcom, the NSW government’s land and property development organisation,
attempted to retrieve documents it had accidentally released to a school
committee group in 2005, and took its case to the NSW
Administrative Decisions Tribunal.
The tribunal found it
had no power whatsoever to retrieve previously released FOI documents.
Labels:
#MorrisonGovernmentFAIL,
birds,
exports,
flora and fauna
Thursday 11 April 2019
When local people power has a win
The rejection of a $25 million development at Byron Bay’s
Ewingsdale Rd for a 282-lot subdivision was met with thunderous applause.
Villa World’s plan for a controversial development was
unanimously rejected by members of the Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel
at a meeting on Monday.
It was the second DA for the West Byron site to be
refused by the panel, as a $40 million development put forward by West Byron
Landowners Group was rejected earlier this year.
Numerous speakers pleaded with the NRPP on many grounds,
including that they “did not want a Gold Coast” in Byron Bay.
The proposal was refused on 10 grounds including: adverse
impacts to surrounding properties; a significant visual impact and undesirable
impact on the street scape inconsistent with the northern entrance to Byron
Bay; the development was likely to have had adverse impacts on threatened
species and ecosystems; no adequate discharge of storm water and was not considered
in the public’s interest.
Echo
NetDaily, 9
April 2019:
No social or
environmental license
Newly reelected MP
Tamara Smith said this another great win for our community and people power.
‘The thousands of community submissions and actions highlighting the
fundamental flaws in developing this land have successfully culminated in the
NRPP rejecting both subdivision plans – against the odds,’ she said.
‘With the rejection of
both the West Byron subdivision applications by the NRPP the developers should
immediately approach the State government and request that they buy the land
and restore it to the Cumbebin Swamp Reserve.
Ms Smith said there is
no social or environmental license for a subdivision of the swamp land known as
West Byron. ‘So why waste more money on legal battles when the community is
utterly opposed.
‘Restitution is on offer
for the landowners and they should jump at the chance to be made whole and walk
away. They need only look to Condon Hill at Lennox to see decades of iconic
land ownership that has never passed muster to see development on it. Get out
now is my advice.
‘I strongly advise Byron
Shire Council to shelve any idea of a reduced sub-division and instead
respectfully ask them to help me actually deliver what the community wants – No
West Byron Mega-development.”
Justifiable opposition
Former Byron Shire Mayor
Jan Barham also spoke to the panel. She said she wanted to acknowledge the
amazing efforts of the community in their justifiable opposition to the
inappropriate proposals for the West Byron lands.
‘This development fails
on every point,’ she said. ‘From the destruction of biodiversity and the threat
to the local koala population and wallum froglet, the filling of a flood prone
area, likely negative impact on the Belongil Creek and the Cape Byron Marine
Park and further traffic chaos on Ewingsdale Road, that will not be alleviated
by the bypass.
‘I’m confident these
points have been raised in sufficient detail in the submissions to inform a
refusal.’
Ms Barham summed up the
general feeling on the day. ‘The refusal of Villa World by the Planning Panel
alongside the previous West Byron refusal, justifies years of commitment by our
community to protect and preserve our special place, with evidence, passion and
genuine concern for the future,’ she said after the decision was announced.
‘It makes me feel so
proud to be a member of an activist community who knows the value of standing
up for what we believe in and thankfully, this time, the independence of the
process delivered the right outcome.
‘Well done to everyone
who took the time to be involved, no doubt there will be more challenges to
come but the refusals vindicates us and our role as protectors.’
Wednesday 10 April 2019
Valley Watch urgent message to Clarence Valley residents about saving Lawrence koala habitat
Koala habitat within Larwence village streets |
Valley Watch Inc has sent this email out…….
Hi
everyone brief history and response from Essential Energy below.
Upgrade
and change of route required due to safety (currently passing over someone's
house). Project planned then needed to change route as an underground
water main was identified in their proposed route. New route chosen and
vegetation clearing increased from two trees and trimming to approx. 28 trees
& shrubs being cleared in a known koala corridor.
Thanks
to Community who raised concerns and attended special meeting where they
presented new route that could be considered. As per email below we need
to ensure Essential Energy hear there is large community support for protecting
koala habitat.
Please
telephone and email Raelene Myers at Essential Energy.
Thanks
----- Forwarded
message -----
From: Linda redacted]
Sent: Friday, 5 April 2019, 05:06:11 pm AEDT
Subject: save Lawrence koala habitat
Hi everyone,
At the end of an
information session today in Grafton, led by Essential Energy Community Liaison
Officer Raelene Myers, the Essential Energy staff told the assembled
concerned Lawrence and wider Clarence Valley residents, after much discussion,
that they will now put the plan to relocate some poles and wires to an area
that would involve koala habitat destruction on hold,
while they examine an alternative route that would not.
The alternative route
was put forward by meeting attendees. The plan attached shows the existing
route in green, the habitat-destroying route in orange, and the
non-habitat-destroying route in red.
Raelene has undertaken
to keep updated people who let her know they want to be. Our best chance of
saving the koala habitat now is to get as many people as possible to contact her and let her know we are in favour of the non-habitat
destroying route and want to be kept updated. Her contact details are below.
Please pass this
information on to anyone you think might care.
Regards,
Linda
T: 02 6589 8810 (extn 88810) M: 0407 518 170
PO Box 5730 Port
Macquarie NSW 2444
General Enquiries:
13 23 91
UPDATE
The Daily Examiner, 10 April 2019, p.5:
Clarence Valley
councillor Greg Clancy said the the proposal would result in the removal of a
number of trees and put at risk the koala population in the area.
“We think they could
reroute the power lines a different way to reduce the number of trees that
would need to cut down,” he said. “I think it’s going to push the local
population further towards extinction"
Mr Clancy said despite
the relatively small number of trees marked for removal, the frequency with
which koalas could be found in them meant they should be saved.
“I was out there the
other day with a representative from Essential Energy and there was a koala in
one of the marked trees,” he said.
“The point is the koalas
are always in these trees and there is a lot of habitat they may not find as
suitable. You need to rely on where the koalas are, not where they might be.”
Labels:
biodiversity,
Clarence Valley,
flora and fauna,
Koala,
Lawrence,
trees
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