Save Bahrs Scrub – Why & How? Moral and practical reasons for reversing a bad decision (Petrina)

Factors Against LDA Democracy Democracy Australian Biodiversity Australian Biodiversity Climate Change legislation Climate Change legislation Sustainable Design Sustainable Design Population growth incentives of Urban Planning Population growth incentives of Urban Planning Site-specific issues Site-specific issues Local pride, local value Local pride, local value

Bahrs Scrub Priority One Bahrs Scrub is a Biodiversity HOTSPOT Bahrs Scrub is a Biodiversity HOTSPOT Should trigger EPBC Act and the Federal Ministers attention Should trigger EPBC Act and the Federal Ministers attention Very expensive mitigation will be required by Developers and Council Very expensive mitigation will be required by Developers and Council Costs passed on – buyers, ratepayers Costs passed on – buyers, ratepayers Unique biodiversity cannot be mitigated/offset Unique biodiversity cannot be mitigated/offset

The Democratic Process Cr Black: BS LDA is mandated by the SEQ Regional Plan (Oct 8/09) Cr Black: BS LDA is mandated by the SEQ Regional Plan (Oct 8/09) Cr Lutton: We will not be retreating from development there [Bahrs Scrub] (Nov 4/09, A&L News) Cr Lutton: We will not be retreating from development there [Bahrs Scrub] (Nov 4/09, A&L News) Human Laws are made by elected Parliamentarians and Councillors Human Laws are made by elected Parliamentarians and Councillors Parliaments are constantly changing laws Parliaments are constantly changing laws Laws are amended/reversed with every election Laws are amended/reversed with every election Democracy = majority opinion: not evident re BS Democracy = majority opinion: not evident re BS No human law is set in stone No human law is set in stone

The Lobbying Trail Gecko, LACA, BREC, Wildlife Logan…? Submissions from pre-1998 Gecko, LACA, BREC, Wildlife Logan…? Submissions from pre-1998 Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Conservation Management Plan (May 2009 compiled by NSW CERRA, QLD EPA, and Australian Govt DEWHA) Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Conservation Management Plan (May 2009 compiled by NSW CERRA, QLD EPA, and Australian Govt DEWHA) CERRA East Australian Rainforest Draft Management Plan CERRA East Australian Rainforest Draft Management Plan Mangroves to Mountains (Leiper, Glazebrook, Cox & Rathie, 2008). Mangroves to Mountains (Leiper, Glazebrook, Cox & Rathie, 2008). EPA agents – recommendations for NP acquisition from 1981 EPA agents – recommendations for NP acquisition from 1981 Gold Coast City Council 1998 Nature Conservation Strategy. Gold Coast City Council 1998 Nature Conservation Strategy.

Australian Biodiversity National Biodiversity Strategy: Australian Government Dept Environment, Heritage, and the Arts National Biodiversity Strategy: Australian Government Dept Environment, Heritage, and the Arts Recognises Australias biodiversity is precious and significant Recognises Australias biodiversity is precious and significant Acknowledges rapid and serious decline Acknowledges rapid and serious decline Calls for urgent reversal of decline Calls for urgent reversal of decline Calls for action at all jurisdiction levels, among businesses and individuals Calls for action at all jurisdiction levels, among businesses and individuals Is greatly welcomed, in principle, by long-term, concerned conservationists Is greatly welcomed, in principle, by long-term, concerned conservationists

Bahrs Scrub Biodiversity Astonishing range of flora (Glenn) Astonishing range of flora (Glenn) Platypus – WPSQ project (weblink) Platypus – WPSQ project (weblink) Koala – SEQ Koala Plan – Million dollar mapping & AKF mapping – Logan mapping – Bahrs Scrub mapping Koala – SEQ Koala Plan – Million dollar mapping & AKF mapping – Logan mapping – Bahrs Scrub mapping Officially unrecognised values despite nearly three decades of lawful, democratic lobbying Officially unrecognised values despite nearly three decades of lawful, democratic lobbying

Climate Change - Legislation Anthropogenic argument aside Anthropogenic argument aside Carbon Legislation is imminent – ETS or Carbon Tax Carbon Legislation is imminent – ETS or Carbon Tax Global, national, state, local laws and effects Global, national, state, local laws and effects Businesses, communities, individuals Businesses, communities, individuals Expensive! (Even at a 5-25% ETS target) Expensive! (Even at a 5-25% ETS target) Preserving forest (vegetation) will be a money-saver Preserving forest (vegetation) will be a money-saver

Climate Change – Local Govt Logan City Council CO2 abatement targets Logan City Council CO2 abatement targets Cannot be met by wiping out forest Cannot be met by wiping out forest Cannot be met by increasing infrastructure Cannot be met by increasing infrastructure Embodied energy; human activities Embodied energy; human activities LCC MUST preserve and regenerate to avoid imminent costs LCC MUST preserve and regenerate to avoid imminent costs Preservation & Regeneration must start NOW Preservation & Regeneration must start NOW

Sustainable Design Promoted by Council as the answer to todays issues Promoted by Council as the answer to todays issues Rigorous, highly expensive design required for authentic sustainability ( ) – not merely the current requirement of solar water heater, water tank etc Rigorous, highly expensive design required for authentic sustainability ( ) – not merely the current requirement of solar water heater, water tank etc Sustainable design only has potential to address climate change issues (through excellence in ghg abatement) and then only after the fact of construction Sustainable design only has potential to address climate change issues (through excellence in ghg abatement) and then only after the fact of construction Sustainable design will not address the biodiversity decline issues (deforestation; human neighbours – weeds, vandalism, pets, roadkill) Sustainable design will not address the biodiversity decline issues (deforestation; human neighbours – weeds, vandalism, pets, roadkill)

Population Growth 2000 people per week to SEQ – the reason why we have to accept the BS LDA 2000 people per week to SEQ – the reason why we have to accept the BS LDA Logan City Council required to play its part by State Govt Logan City Council required to play its part by State Govt LCC must provide 28 Infill sites and 42 Greenfill sites by 2031 LCC must provide 28 Infill sites and 42 Greenfill sites by 2031 WHY? WHY?

Population Growth Incentives Coastal Councils bowing to peoples desire to live near the coast; the coast is full! Coastal Councils bowing to peoples desire to live near the coast; the coast is full! Greenfill allows urban sprawl; encourages population growth by creating attractive, single space dwellings Greenfill allows urban sprawl; encourages population growth by creating attractive, single space dwellings 28 Infill/42 Greenfill – irresponsible proportion 28 Infill/42 Greenfill – irresponsible proportion Greenfill is a very expensive concept in modern times – financially expensive climate change legislation; morally expensive biodiversity loss Greenfill is a very expensive concept in modern times – financially expensive climate change legislation; morally expensive biodiversity loss Biodiversity HOTSPOTS are not the sites for Greenfill! Biodiversity HOTSPOTS are not the sites for Greenfill!

Bahrs Scrub realities - site-specific issues Biodiversity Hotspot – Flora & Fauna Biodiversity Hotspot – Flora & Fauna Very steep areas within the Precinct Very steep areas within the Precinct Unstable soils Unstable soils Valuable waterways – Albert River catchment; wildlife Valuable waterways – Albert River catchment; wildlife Flooding issues Flooding issues Amenity – 11,000 people: traffic, crime, litter, noise, pollution… Amenity – 11,000 people: traffic, crime, litter, noise, pollution…

Local pride, local value Why is a Beenleigh National Park unthinkable? Why is a Beenleigh National Park unthinkable? Why shouldnt Beenleigh have very high value real estate? Why shouldnt Beenleigh have very high value real estate? Why shouldnt Beenleigh attract domestic and international tourists? Why shouldnt Beenleigh attract domestic and international tourists? Why cant Beenleigh serve as a national and international model for addressing todays extremely serious problems? Why cant Beenleigh serve as a national and international model for addressing todays extremely serious problems?

Saving Strategies Protect Bahrs Scrub AND its landowners Protect Bahrs Scrub AND its landowners Acquire BS as part of the National Reserve Acquire BS as part of the National Reserve Acquire BS as part of the State Reserve Acquire BS as part of the State Reserve The Springbrook Model The Springbrook Model Explore carbon/biodiversity mitigation green packages and other conservation buyouts Explore carbon/biodiversity mitigation green packages and other conservation buyouts

Save Bahrs Scrub Nothing is set in stone Nothing is set in stone We CAN save Bahrs Scrub We CAN save Bahrs Scrub SBS Community Group SBS Community Group Contacts: Contacts: name at door phone

Contributors Gecko – Gold Coast & Hinterland Environment Council Gecko – Gold Coast & Hinterland Environment Council Logan & Albert Conservation Association Logan & Albert Conservation Association Brisbane Region Environment Council Brisbane Region Environment Council Wildlife Logan Wildlife Logan