Koala Action Group’s open letter about Shoreline as a newspaper advertisement (click to enlarge)
The Koala Action Group (KAG) is unconvinced by Shoreline’s recent assertions about its impact on koalas.
KAG says:
The proposed ‘Shoreline’ development contradicts State and community planning intents and will be catastrophic for Redlands’ koala population.
In a petition and an open letter KAG is asking the Government to call in and refuse the Shoreline development application.
Shoreline has responded with various assertions in a statement on its website and an open letter to KAG.
Shoreline’s assertions have been rejected by KAG in an open letter, published below.
Koala Action Group response to Shoreline
Thank you for your email, however KAG remains unconvinced on your so-called facts surrounding vegetation retention and replanting of the Shoreline development site.
The BAAM Ecological Assessment report available on Council’s PD on-line states on pg.17 “BAAM have calculated that 728 non-juvenile koala habitat trees occur within areas mapped as Medium Value Rehabilitation, therefore 3640 trees will need to be planted to meet the offset requirement of 5:1”. Offsets are triggered by the removal of trees so it is difficult to make any interpretation other than trees will be removed.
KAG has not found any further detailed information on vegetation management that indicates how many trees will be removed from the Shoreline development site and our group has no firm commitment from yourselves to provide absolute certainty on vegetation loss and/or retention on the development site. Overlays in the Ecological Report show many koala food trees under areas such as the town centre and medium and high density residential. It is difficult to imagine how trees are to be retained in these areas and without being impacted on over time by surrounding development.
With reference to your claim that 350,000 new trees will be planted, our group has no confidence in your intention to do this and see no accountability if this commitment was not to occur.
Redlands Koala population is in a critical state, on the brink of extinction. Our group strongly believes that a development of this scale in the Koala Coast region will be the final nail in their coffin regardless of the replanting, corridor development and road crossing you have claimed will occur on the development site.
As we have previously explained to Garry Hargreaves, the danger to koalas from road hits is from traffic generated by the population of 10,000 traveling through the whole Koala Coast region, not only within the development area.
To summarise, the following facts support our position:
-The planting of new trees are of no use to koalas for 7-10 years
– Koalas do not confine themselves within corridors. Their ecology demands that they cross open areas for social and resource requirements.
-The many thousands of extra cars on roads created by a project of this size will have significant impact on koalas and other wildlife regardless of the mitigation measures implemented on the development site.
-The potential for the introduction of a couple of thousand domestic dogs increases the danger to koalas.
Kind regards,
Debbie Pointing
Koala Action Group Qld Inc.
Community support for action to save koalas
Anyone who shares KAG’s concerns can sign this petition and also send a copy of this open letter to the State Government.
Report by Redlands2030 – 28 June 2015
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
Can we ask KAG, are there any koalas anywhere near the Shoreline development -east of serpentine creek road? Seems like a reasonable question.
I too doubt any developer’s commitment to planting koala habitat trees. Far better to retain established habitat trees and the associated undergrowth plants for the safety and preservation of koalas. I have volunteered for Landcare projects for several years and it isn’t easy to re-establish habitat for local fauna. The percentage of plants that survive is disappointing due to all sorts of reasons such as watering at the wrong time, lack of weed control, people unintentionally mowing over the site, hares and rabbits, etc There are a lot of hours of commitment in time and materials to maintain the plantings. Years of work and cost no doubt for the local Council to take on.
Koalas in Redlands can’t be saved. They need habitat for survival. As each parcel of land purchased by developers, and I’m informed developers have land banked up for years to come…so as each new area is approved for a housing estate, koalas will die as their trees are felled. We saw it in Ormiston…locals were not en permitted to purchase a line of trees to preserve local koalas with one carried away screaming as heartless developers encase base of trees with metal collars so koalas can’t climb..before that koalas were shot. Seller of land 29-37 Moreton Bay Rd Capalaba bragged to me in 1987 of shooting 13 koalas on the Coolnwynpin Creek bank and told me I could see koalas outside of Brisbane… that they were developing the Redlands, then moving on. But…those of us who care about wildlife, koalas, try and cry but it seems our cries fall on deaf ears in local, state and Federal governments…while developers with deep pockets are heard loud and clear. Member of Redlands Sporting Club a decade ago told me the Redland koalas were doomed! Shoreline will see to that…in my opinion.