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Kings Forest Submissions 2012

al — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:54:44 +0000

Public submissions for the Kings Forest Development were discussed last night at a community public information night in Cabarita, on the Tweed Coast of Northern NSW. Over 60 individuals and representatives of a number of Community Groups and alliances turned up to hear speakers on a wide variety of critical issues, concerning this massive Tweed Coast Development. The peaceful meeting attracted no “hecklers”, and participants were shocked as to the extent of foreseeable problems that were attached to the planning documents.

SAMPLE SUBMISSIONS AND INFORMATION can be downloaded in the PDF’s below. This public information meeting was facilitated by the Caldera Environment Centre. Submissions are due 25th January 2012.

If you find that your submissions are to cumbersome, long, or if you realise that you want to say more, (but have already lodged one submission – then DO NOT WORRY, according to the NSW Department of Planning, you CAN make more than one submission.

Whilst due date for Submissions is 25th January. If people are mailing submissions and they are sent prior to 25th January but, due to mail, are received a few days later, they will accept if the office is called and alerted. Ph # (02) 9228- 6461 to alert office, if this is your case
The STAGE 1 PROJECT APPLICATION attachments and resources, supplied by the developer can be accessed at the NSW Department of Planning HERE.

Submissions Information discussed at public Meeting

Presentations were made on Water issues, wildlife issues, Koalas and other threatened species affected both already, and into the near and distant future, as this development is “rolled out”. Concerned community members, including those from landcare and environment groups covered topics such as loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction, water table alteration, facilities for youth education, the lack of community outreach by the developer ( concerning understanding the planning documents) and the current physical state of the Kings Forest Site. Many more concerns were raised regarding this Part 3A State Significant Site development on the AT RISK wetlands and threatened species habitats of the Tweed Coast, NSW.

Submissions for this round of development’s application will be accepted by the Department of Planning, NSW, until (and including) 25th January 2012.

Submissions can be sent to:-

Dept Planning, GPO Box 39, Sydney, NSW 2001 Or by email to: plan_comment@planning.nsw.gov.au

Planning applications, for this round of submissions are for :

(08_0194 Stage 1 Project Application and Minor Modification to the Concept Plan (MOD 2)

Stage 1 Project application Precincts 1 and 5.

Subdivision to create new lots for future development;
Construction of the entrance road to the site and associated intersection works on Tweed Coast Road;
Subdivision and associated infrastructure works for the first stage of urban development;
Bulk earthworks and planting for the proposed future golf course;
and a service station and fast food outlet.

________________________________________________________________________________________

SUBMISSIONS INFORMATION that may help ( PDF’s on Cudgen Nature Reserve; Cudgen Lake ; DOT Points for Kings Forest Submissions and Form submission Letters below )

For some info on the illegal clearing of Cudgen Nature Reserve, please see this article:- “Illegal clearing Cudgen Nature Reserve – a balance of faeries revisited” .

“SUMMARY_Cudgen_Lake” -

You can also look at Tweed Coast Estuary Management Plan HERE.
The Cudgen Nature Reserve Plan of Management link is HERE.
There is a fair bit of information about, but it is in many places. Some information and links for ACID SULFATE SOILS is HERE.
Australian Wetlands Data Base – NSW References
The 13 Threatened Native Wildlife Species listed by the developer’s documents for this current application are listed further down in this article.
Many experts and local Tweed Coast residents are calling for a moratorium on the Kings Forest Development application process until the illegal clearing that has taken place is REMEDIED, (and other non ecologically sustainable site management issues are remedied). (**see the very bottom of this article – past the PDF’s, pictures, more writing… go right to the END of this article….. for more information re this)
NOTE from author at bluecray: Please note that recent and historical benchmark scientific information concerning groundwater health, ecological units, flora, fauna, soil degradation, native seed banks (above and below ground), soil health and condition, general property natural health and condition appears to be lacking for future monitoring purposes. There seems to have been much land, drainage, habitat and vegetation disturbance occurring on this Kings Forest site for many years now. Hence, one would hope that these benchmarks have already been documented, prior to the existing disturbances – benchmarks concerning environmental parameters and issues such as – general and threatened wildlife habitat alteration, drainage pattern alteration, acid sulfate soil disturbance, native seed banks. Concerning demonstrating compliance with legislative obligations and requirements, this benchmark information is essential. (see end of article for more info re this)
“Dog Ban lifted at Kings Forest“ by Tweed Councillers – article at mydailynews.com.au – 24th January 2012 “Councillors Kevin Skinner, Joan van Lieshout, Cr Polglase and Phil Youngblutt voted in support of the motion to remove the ban recommendation……..The motion to remove the ban from the submission was successful four votes to three.“

If you want to understand some of the main points, have a look at the following Kings Forest dot points…….

Some KINGSFORESTdotPoints

**Examples of the types of submission outlines that were presented include:-

Kings Forest form submission 1

Kings forest form submission 2

Kings Forest form submission 3

The Caldera Environment also has some project and submission information. Information, other than via the NSW Planning Department has been very “thin on the ground”, and public consultation by the developer with an interested and concerned Tweed community has been virtually non-existent.

**NOTES on copying these form submissions:-

A. You can either download the above form submission by clicking on the above individual PDF logos or form submission links, OR

1) Click on whichever of the above form submission LINKS, that you chose to use

2) If you wish to make a copy:-

SELECT the text of the submission, then, RIGHT CLICK and select copy and then, paste your selection of the submission, into a notepad / text document. You can then edit and / or print it out.

3)You may wish to add your own comments. OR, you may simply use the “form submission” as is, please feel free to do so. They have been given as a resource to the community at large, for using as a template submission in this complex development.

OR……

4) you may just wish to take points, that you feel are important to you, concerning this complex development, and create your own submission.

good luck!!

Kings Forest on GOOGLE MAPS if you go to this map, you can see the area of Kings Forest – NW of the Cudgen Nature Reserve – yes, that’s right folks, that big scar on the landscape – all cleared or partially cleared of forest and wetland / woodland. That is where all the dear little native wildlife creatures and remnant native flora are trying to eek out a living. At least 20 threatened wildlife species are connected to this Kings Forest Development, with *13 threatened wildlife affected by the current development stages 1 and 5. TWO of these species are listed Nationally, as threatened species. 3 Endangered Ecological Communities are under threat.

You can have a look at the Tweed Council’s report (submission?) to this Development application, which is in the Tuesday, January 24, 2012 – Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda (item 24). The developer’s application was reviewed by Council’s technical staff. The report is a compilation of the assessments which have been derived from various divisions of Council.

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The local environment will become increasingly loud, traffic will dramatically increase as people move into the new homes built. The amenities of the beaches and nearby little villages will be overwhelmed by more traffic and people. The site has numerous areas of toxic and potentially toxic soils (eg Acid Sulfate Soils). Because it is a Part 3A Significant Site Development, the State Government has the controlling say on how it goes ahead. The developer has given very little outreach to the community concerning information, and many locals have found it hard to find out even what is going on, behind the fences. This is going on in your own back yard, residents of the Tweed Coast. Please have a look at the above letters and documents, and have your say, to help keep this Coastline from being over developed in a non ecologically non sustainable way. (*see list of 13 threatened wildlife species list below )

Already many experts and local Tweed Coast residents are calling for a moratorium on the development process until the illegal clearing that has taken place there is REMEDIED.

HAVE YOUR SAY!!!!

Threatened FAUNA species in regard to the KINGS FOREST DEVELOPMENT:-
*Stage 1 Project Application Work Precincts 1 and 5 (Project 28 Pty Ltd)*
*Rose-crowned Fruit- Dove (Ptilinopus regina) *
*Grass Owl (Tyto capensis)*
*Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) *
*Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) *
*Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus ) *
*Bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) *
Bush-hen (Amaurornis olivaceus)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Eastern False Pipistrelle (Falsistrellus tasmaniensis)
*Yellow-bellied sheathtail Bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris) *
Common blossom Bat (Syconycteris australis)
*Common Planigale (Planigale maculata) *
Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus)
Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica)
*Grey-headed flying-fox(Pteropus poliocephalus) National Listing *
*Olongburra Frog (Litoria olongburensis) (wallum sedge frog) National Listing*
*Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinnula) *
Glossy Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)
Large-footed Myotis (Myotis adversis)
*Little Bentwing-bat (Miniopterus australis) *
Black flying Fox (Pteropus alecta)
*Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) *
3 NSW Endangered Ecological Communities in the vicinity of
Precincts 1 & 5 – Swamp sclerophyll forest on coastal floodplain, Freshwater wetlands &
Subtropical coastal floodplain forest

Kings Forest Investment Property – Wetland Habitat Destruction on the Tweed Coast

al — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:13:11 +0000

The Property Investment Market and Residential Development Opportunities, on the Tweed Coast of NE NSW, rely largely on the following 3 things:- 1) destruction of Threatened Native Wildlife Habitat, 2) Wetland Destruction and 3) increased lack of safeguarding for Sustainable Social Wellbeing within the Tweed Shire Council area.

This is an historically SHAMEFUL situation. The shame is continuing, and soon, more shame will be forthcoming. Not all property investment is shameful. Property investment, when combined with AUTHENTIC ecologically sustainable principles, a good heart, and reasonable duty of care to the future populations of the Tweed Shire – property investment based on these authentic principles, can go a long way to heal the destruction that has been rampant on the Tweed Coast for well over 50 years.

WHAT COSTS?

Looking for Investment Property? Do NOT look at a place such as the Kings Forest, Kingscliff development. This Development is pointing to ecological and financial failure:- expensive outlays that may not be recuped over time, unless further, costly investment is created to rectify the ecological damage that has, is and continues to occur. The profit margins attached to such a development are highly DUBIOUS. The historical evidence points to an extremely poorly managed property, with dubious legal frameworks and processes involved.

“THE ROLE OF REGULATION IN FACILITATING OR CONSTRAINING ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIAN INFRASTRUCTURE” – a report by Maddocks ( ISBN 978-1-922003-03-4) to the Federal Government Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. This report outlines scenarios of regulatory concern, with regard to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events in Australia. The coastline of eastern Australia, and the development and infrastructure occurring there, has plausible chances of incurring extreme weather events, such as storm surge and related groundwater alteration, water security issues and threatened species survival consequences. The issues surrounding infrastructures and development along the coast may involve scenarios of higher level sea changes than previously thought. This may occur in the lifetime of our children.

Infrastructure and urban structural maintenance and repair, populations’ wellbeing during extreme weather and climate events, ability to rehabilitate disturbed ecological communities, wetlands, rehabilitation of poorly managed forestry and grazing lands, increased competition from weeds on natural vegetation remnant communities that have been disturbed…. this list is incomplete. I could add many more scenarios to this list, as examples of what type of future costs and maintenance, social issues may occur, concerning poorly implemented Wetland coastal developments. The impacts on Acid Sulfate Soils, and surrounding wetlands, creeks, lakes and estuarine areas along the Tweed coastline, as the sea levels rise ( and on other land fill locations) – what are the short term and long term consequences here? What are the impacts for the waterways and their sustainable management, and how do the costs of management become allocated? Will it be the property owners who will bear the costs? The rate payers?

Threatened Species, beautiful wildlife habitats, endangered Ecological communities, ecologically sustainable development and SAFEGUARDING for SOCIAL HEALTH and WELLBEING – none of these things are being cared for , by certain regional public and non-local, evasive, ignorant yet powerful entities active in the Tweed Coast Council area.

Living with Climate Change - Climate Change Adaption and Impact Fact Sheets for Australia at the National Climate Change Adaption Research Facility. Here you will find reference to Wetland Destruction being counter productive to surviving climate change.

Adaption Research Network (NCCARF) – Terrestrial Biodiversity. Here you will find a link to the KOALA CASE STUDY. Koalas are threatened in NSW. The biggest threats to Koalas are habitat fragmentation (habitat clearing), dogs, cars and disease. Koalas are considered to be highly vulnerable to climate changes, as predicted by current scientifically modelled scenarios. Inappropriate and non ecologically sustainable development of coastal wetlands not only threatens many native wildlife species (such as the Koala), but listed threatened species run the risk of completely disappearing.

The environmental costs of such species disappearing are hard to put into monetary terms, regarding the future wellbeing of human populations on earth. Loss of Biodiversity is the most critical issue facing Australians and the world, right now.

Developments such as those occurring in the Coastal Wetlands of the Tweed Coast have incredible costs associated with them, that are not fully accounted for, by mere monetary balance sheets. To invest in wetland habitat destruction is to invest in loss of BIODIVERSITY. Pretty stupid, eh what?

Better to invest in coastal wetland restoration, coastal habitat retention, linking of fragmented coastal wildlife habitats, minimising coastal (ASS) wetland soil disturbance and maximising coastal/marine zone conservation. better to invest in wise democratically elected representatives who want to support biodiversity, rather than those who seek to sanction its destruction.

Better to invest in areas where urbanisation has already occurred, but requires enhancement and rejuvenation/restoration. Better to invest in areas where the development has already occurred, and is being brought up to date with sound ecologically sustainable rejuvenation.

The cost to volunteers – the valuable community volunteers and spokespersons for the voiceless native wildlife of the disappearing and destroyed Coastal Wetland Habitats is immense, as they seek to find a way to halt the ongoing Wetland Habitat Destruction along the Coastal Zone of the Tweed Shire. This cost must also be put into monetary values, and if it was… well, what would it be???? Community Volunteers are considered a valuable resource to the Northern Rivers Region, as outlined in the Northern Rivers regional Plan 2011 – Vision to 2020. Volunteers and and Biodiversity = 2 important priorities for the Regional Vision of the Northern Rivers.

And so, I ask you…. WHAT COST, regarding the Wetland Habitat Destruction as it relates to the associated time, money and effort spent by volunteers organisations and their committees and individuals, does Non Ecologically Sustainable Development bring to the Tweed Coast Community? WHAT COST, regarding the loss of biodiversity from WETLAND HABITAT DESTRUCTION, as it relates to non ecologically sustainable land use management practices? This is something that investors, in Australia’s future, investors in the TWEED COAST should be asking themselves, and others.

This is a question you should be asking yourself, dearest reader!!

see “Rally calls for Koala Protection” article Tweed Shire Echo 15th December 2011

Who is destroying koalas on the Tweed coast?

see the Australasian Legal Institute databases for the Supreme Court of NSW : William Robert Ell v Katie Milne [2011] NSWSC 645 (27 June 2011)

see the article in the Tweed Shire Echo 21st December 2011 “Leda implicated in illegal clearing”

Short poem honoring Trees

“Dodgy Dossiers on Demand”, an editorial at Tweed Shire Echo (3rd November 2011). see Freedom of Information Act 1989 at the NSW Government Legislation Website

The Australian Government’s “Australian Institute of Criminology” website has some useful INFORMATION on illegal native vegetation clearing. Environmental crime in Australia “Research and public policy series no. 109″, by Samantha Bricknell (ISBN 978 1 921532 64 1 ISSN 1836-2079) Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, October 2010 . This publication is available at the AIC’s website.

Adam Gosling’s full paper presentation at the Healthy wetlands 20th NSW Coastal conference 2011 stated ”Australia is reported to have lost between 75 and 90 percent of coastal wetlands over the past 200 years (Finlayson, 2000. Usback & James 1993). Not only have wetlands been decimated historically through land clearing for agriculture and urban development and drained or isolated from adjoining wetlands, they remain one of the most severely threatened ecosystems in eastern Australia through coastal development and land use.“

The following Questions:-

What is Habitat Destruction? What is Wetland Destruction? What is Degrading Development? And, above all, what is Ecologically Sustainable Development? These questions need to be asked by the NSW and Australian Government Departments assessing ALL development on the Tweed Coast.

WHO SHOULD HAVE CONCERNS?

A MORATORIUM and INQUIRY concerning THE KINGS FOREST, KINGSCLIFF investment property development should be created IMMEDIATELY, by all levels of government, as well as by independent Judicial, AUTHENTIC Scientists’ and ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES BODIES.

I refer you to the 2002 Keynote address for the 6th International acid Sulfate Soils Conference, by Professor Bruce Thom, who was Chair Coastal Council of NSW. The article is entitled ” Environmental History and Decision Making”. Professor Bruce Thom is a remarkable Australian, and a member of the WENTWORTH GROUP OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS .

“Very little research has been undertaken on processes, impacts, and consequences of environmental change resulting from human activities in coastal eastern Australia.” & ”many problems remain in resolving management difficulties because of conflicts in land and water use arising from population growth, persistence of often fragmented administrative structures, case law, divergent community aspirations, economic greed and environmental ignorance.”

in the white room

Whilst I make reference, in this article, to the LEDA (Bob Ell’s development group) KINGS FOREST, Kingscliff investment properties, this article encompasses much more than the LEDA Groups’ Project 28. The entire Coastal Wetlands of the Tweed Coast have virtually been destroyed by

1) the individuals who have lobbied for, granted permission for and voted for such developments and infrastructures – in all levels of government,
2) the Private Investment Property Industries of Australia (and their overseas connections), and
3) every single ignorant person who has invested in, continued to gain profit from and supported the degradation of (the properties) and then continued to further misuse and degrade the property that they have invested in.

Some Where’s and Why’s………?

The misuse of PLANNING INSTRUMENTS, Ecologically Sustainable Development Principles, Policies and Political Lobbying Arenas (concerning NSW Legislations, hidden, backroom deals and agendas, ignorance and greed of a number of wealthy “players”) should be dealt with by an INDEPENDENT INQUIRY .

Part 3a – at EDO website

EDO Fact Sheet 5.5 Coastal Protection:- here you will find references to SEPP 14, SEPP 44 and SEPP 26

Ecologically Sustainable Development – at Australian Government Environment home (currently called the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities). See the current (December 2011) Australian Federal Government cabinet members, and their portfolios:- HERE.

Some WHO’S?

Here are some recent links to look at concerning the highly destructive planning agendas and property investment ignorance of the Tweed Coast “PLAYERS” and legislative protections.

State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Development) 2005 (2005-194) Formerly known as :- State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005 and State Environmental Planning Policy (State Significant Sites) 2005.
Map Index for schedule 3:- Kings Forest Site Land Application Map (SEPP_MD_KIF_LAP_001_20100115) & Kings Forest Site Land Zoning Map (SEPP_MD_KIF_LZN_001_20100201) – this link will give you a couple of the MAPS of KINGS FOREST as per Application and Zoning
TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL and Tweed Shire Councillors
Kings Forest Stage 1 Project Application for subdivision to create new lots for future development, entrance road and associated intersection works (Tweed Coast Road), subdivision and infrastructure works for Urban Development (Stage 1), BULK EARTHWORKS and plantings for the Kings Forest GOLF COURSE which is proposed for the future, within the Kings Forest Development, as well as a service atation and fast food outlets.

***The Kings Forest Stage 1 project application for subdivision is on public exhibition from 22 November 2011 to 23 December 2011. The Department will be accepting submissions up to and including 25 January 2012.

Write to the Premier and Ministers of the NSW Government to INSIST that the KINGS FOREST submissions for this ***latest stage, be extended, due to the many concerns of scientists, locals and wildlife carers regarding this highly inappropriate development

There has already been ASSESSMENTS against this Part 3A Kings Forest Development:- Residential community concept Plan (Part 3a) and modification to the Concept Plan for Kings Forest. See NSW Department of Planning State Significant Sites – Kings Forest, Tweed Shire.

There are at least 21 THREATENED SPECIES that have, and will continue to lose critical habitat, via this ongoing SHAME that is the PART 3a State Significant Site. All about the Tweed Coast, the native wildlife, habitas, ecosystems and ecological units are disappearing at an alarming rate. Small parcels of land cleared, fragmented, drained, bulldozed, overlaid with costly, non ecologically sustainable infrastructures are far outweighing any OFFSETS, TRADES and Development LANDSCAPE TREE PLANTINGS that do not involve comprehensive Vegetation Community ENHANCEMENT using Scientific and local KNOWLEDGE.
CALDERA ENVIRONMENT CENTRE :- while you are there, why not offer them some support!!!
Development project threatens second largest koala colony in tweed shire - The last stand for Tweed Coast KOALAS – our local heritage and icon at stake - article at Candobetter.net (21st February, 2009 – by Menkit Prince)
coastalconference.com :- 20th anniversary NSW Coastal conference (8-11th November, 2011)
ECOSYSTEM LINKS – including wetland links and Acid Sulfate Soils links
ADVOCACY LINKS : – bluecray.org’s Environmental Advocacy LINKS PAGE for the MT WARNING CALDERA REGION of NE NSW and SE QLD.
“Illegal clearing Cudgen Nature Reserve - a balance of faeries revisited” article at bluecray.org

Incoming Searches: kings forest submissions, destruction of wetlands, isbn 978-1-922003-03-4, north queensland animals droppings, poems about wetlands, kings forest sepp 14 wet lands, kings forest development australia, land cray, land kings forest, mullumbimby earthships

I will protect you and teach you….

al — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:05:25 +0000

Mothers of children all around the world care deeply for their childrens’ future. Mothers protect and teach their children. In this uncertain world, protecting and teaching our young requires, amongst other things, continuity of educational basics within a safe teaching environment. Environmental concerns and fears do not always seem immediate to our lives, if we live in Australia – particularly within the cities and towns along the eastern coast..

We hear about these dreadful things that are happening in our world – fires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, war, oil / gas disasters, species extinction, habitat loss, increasing pollutions and nuclear threat, but often, we are so busy in our own little world, that all these things seem far away from the safety of our homes here. Living safely in our homes, we also forget that there are many homeless families and individuals in Australia.

Homeless Persons’ Legal Service .

youhaveafriend.org.au – sign the petition here to help the Tweed get a drop in centre for homeless people. The Tweed district has the highest per capita homeless rate in NSW, Australia. “homeless forced to camp on the street” article in Tweed Shire Echo 7th October 2010

The ACE Study – “Bridging the gap between childhood trauma and negative consequences later in life” Adverse Childhood Experiences Study & Score

Public Interest Advocacy Centre :- “The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is an independent, non-profit law and policy organisation that works for a fair, just and democratic society, empowering citizens, consumers and communities by taking strategic action on public interest issues. “

Below is a poem about a mother and her young son. In the poem, the mother is looking after her son with love and care, teaching him all she knows…..but harsh circumstances prevail upon her and and, uprooted from her home, she endeavours to find a new place to live with her son….

I will protect you and teach you……..

(an environmental advocacy poem )

“For you, little young one, as you sleep with your dreams
cradled in arms of protection, it seems
that your future on earth faces heat, drought and less
than the past futures made by “them” leaving this mess.”

“I cry for your children, your hopes dreams and cares
As mysterious moneymen count ill gotten fares.
The userers wallow in time stole from you
Masked wasters of life , toxic moneys accrued.”

“You stir as the night owl glides from its tree
And the howling of dogs surrounds you and me
My arms close about you, ancestral strength
I’ll protect you and feed you, I’ll teach you at length”

“Now waken my dear one, the night closes in
And it’s time that we moved through this forest -so thin
We’ll find a tall tree where the shelter is safe
To keep us till morn – ”

They moved on in good faith.

Following tracks, the mother showed son
what she’d learnt and had followed when she had been young
But tracks, trees and wetlands – were now tarred concrete
It went on for miles, it hurt their bare feet.

“For you, my dear young one, hold fast on my back
I promised to lead you, but I’ve lost my old track
The morning approaches, dogs bark - so near
My darling – please waken – I smell a great fear”

The mother and child then ran for their lives
straddling a fence and cut by the wires.
The fierce dogs chased them and hounded them hard
as a tall tree loomed up – unfenced in its yard

Scrambling treeward they climbed, then looked down
three dogs barked out loudly with dark dogged frown
Up in the tree, confused, bleary eyed
Mother cradled her child - with full strength of the wild.

. … …. …. . …. …. … .

It was a crisp winter’s morning……..a young child woke up and looked out of her window.

(She had woken suddenly from a nightmare, where, as she played in a faery glade, large fierce dogs came to attack her. In her dream, she had run into a tall building where smiling business suited men , dripping with oil and tar, offered her suitcases filled with plastic money . )

The young child cried out to her mother, “Oh Mother – look see – a Koala is in our tree!! Oh, Mama, I think it has a baby with it!!!”

Concreting the Coastal 2003 : Clearing and Development Pressures on the NSW Coast 2003 Total Environment Centre PDF – this compiled resource by the TOTAL ENVIRONMENT CENTRE show problematic development, land clearing activity, approvals and proposals in coastal nsw 2002 -2003. It looks at the larger, more controversial, uncompleted developments at that time – (not the smaller, under the radar ones, nor the already completed ones). This is an excellent recent historic resource.

“I will Jail you and Feed you” – Balance of Faeries article at bluecray.wordpress.com – includes links to help you understand SEPP’s for NSW Koala Plan of Management.

Clearing the habit of Habitat Clearing .

“Koala warning ignored in assessment” article at Tweed Shire Echo 30th September 2010 which states:- “A draft habitat study which warned about the plight of the Tweed’s dwindling koala population had been kept secret by Tweed Council while the state government assessed the controversial township of Kings Forest which it recently approved”

SEPP 44 koala plan of management – search results bluecray environmental search

State Environmental Planning Policy 44 - Koala Plan of Management – NSW Consolidated Regulations

Below is some Koala Legislation, policy, koala advocacy, habitat management information for NE NSW and SE QLD, Australia:-

(not exhaustive, but includes links to some current (2010) ways in which the governments of Australia steer people and their industries to save the Koala on the east coast of Australia from increasingly localised Extinction - habitat clearing and koala corridor destruction- death and illness.)

Spatiotemporal dynamics of habitat use by koalas: the checkerboard model . William A.H. Ellis, Alistair Melzer, Fred B. Berkovitch Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology Volume 63, number 8,1181-1188, DOI: 10.1007/s00265-009-0761-2. find at http://cat.inist.fr/ or SpringerLink . Published online 31st March 2009 – the keywords are :- foraging strategies , koalas , phascolarctos, resource use, spatial ecology, home range.

Bluecray now has a number of Koala Articles and LINKS to Koala info, and so searching the KEYWORDS and using the Bluecray Environmental Search Engine may turn up more info to help you understand.

joint submission prepared by the North Coast Environment Council and the NSW Nature Conservation Council:- Re: Phascolarctos cinereus (Koala) – Assessment of Koala’s eligibility for listing as a threatened species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) EPBC Act nomination to list as a threatened species , ( link disappeared!.. like the Koala?) at Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts. FIND the KOALA info the Australian Government makes available…..

by searching for KOALA listings at the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts.

Threatened Species Scientific Committee assessment of the koala – Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett Interview with Annie Gaffney ABC Sunshine and Cooloola Coasts 25 May 2010

NCC of NSW = Nature Conservation Council of NSW – their Assessment of Koala’s eligibility for listing as a threatened species under EPBC Act 16th June 2010

KOALA at Qld Government Department of Environment and Resource Management .

KOALA Response Strategy at Qld Government Department of Environment and Resource Management – this link has the following information, mostly in PDF format :-

South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provision

State Planning Policy 2/10: Koala Conservation in South East Queensland

Offsets for Net Gain of Koala Habitat in South East Queensland Policy

There is also the following information:-

The State Government Supported Community Infrastructure Koala Conservation Policy .
Koala Habitat Mapping . This section deals with the 2009 SEQ Koala Habitat Values Assessment map & the GHD Report: SEQ Koala Habitat Assessment and Mapping Project .
Koala Habitat Programs :- This Koala Habitat Program is focusing on the Koala Nature Refuges Program.

I am not sure as to what “on the ground IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS ” to the plight of the Koala all these initiatives are creating.

The information about koala habitats and the capacity to create useful extension tools and outreach programs for KOALA GUARDIANS and koala future wellbeing has been about for decades. Whilst new techniques, scientific studies and all typesof “credentialled experts” and authentic Koala HABITAT guardians have contributed to this “new approach” from the Qld Government, the fact remains that Koalas are and HAVE disappeared from many KOALA HABITAT areas in SE QLD and NE NSW. KOALAS are, right NOW, and in the near forseeable future, GREATLY AT RISK

The above poem about habitat destruction and its consequences on wildlife mothers and their young shows us that the education of young wildlife by their parents can be very stressful in a constantly changing environment. This is especially so when the native fauna habitat is destroyed or altered dramatically. Non environmentally sustainable development and its related infrastructure nightmare in SE QLD and NE NSW are two of the many factors destroying habitat for native Australian wildlife.

BIODIVERSITY LINKS : - some useful links for Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna, Koalas, Ecology and Catchment Management (NE NSW and SE QLD – Mt Warning Caldera Region)

Animal Law Centre :- nice animal advocacy site – giving an overview of Animal Law in Australia – references and links to Australian and State legislation. Includes animal law and the Australian Constitution, enforcements and threatened species laws in Australian States

KOALA SCHOOL

Biodiversity Certification : enabling ” local government in areas with high development pressure to provide for the protection of biodiversity, including threatened species at the strategic planning stage. These are likely to be mainly urban and coastal areas.

Certification can switch off the need for threatened species assessment under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, providing more certainty for local government, development applicants and other stakeholders. Biodiversity must be improved or maintained for certification to be conferred. ” from environment.nsw.gov.au – biodiversity certification”

More plans, more paperwork, more “expert opinion” and re-hashing of studies, more re-arrangements of habitats and ecosystems to justify heavy machinery handling and toxic lifestyles???? hard to say, but more than likely it is going to be the same as it always is……. better to focus on education of our young in environmentally friendly ways of living… then, instead of regulations, paperworks, endless time and money spent on professional “spin”, people may just end up walking gently with the earth….

PLANNING GUIDELINES FOR KOALA CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY – C McAlpine – 2007:- search results bluecray environmental search engine

Advocacy for Animals at Encyclopaedia Britannica and Kangaroo Culling .

Wildife – Native Australian Wildlife Advocacy at (We) can do better .

Meanwhile, at Kingscliff,NE NSW:- large developments (that will further fragment our native wildlife habitats) are planned nearby (Kings Forest, Cobaki Lakes ) and the sea is moving inwards – “Hungry Mother Nature bares her teeth” - infrastructure damage at Kingscliff on the NSW North Coast - by coastal erosion (2010): SMH article by Saffron Howden

Kingscliff battles beach erosion (story 11th august 2010):- at ABC local + other local beach coastal erosion stories from NE NSW (Tweed and Byron shires)

the above environmental advocacy images by al at bluecray

Tread lightly, honour the earth – it is the only home we have.

.. and now,

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Survival of the most Powerful Ignorance – Development in NE NSW and SE QLD, Australia

al — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:47:20 +0000

The EDO (Environmental Defenders Office) has created a Major Projects Toolkit for the people of NSW, Australia. The Toolkit can be found at the EDO website. It is easy to read and understand.

“The toolkit comprises a step by step guide to the Part 3A process with information on opportunities for public participation and ideas for how to achieve best practice outcomes” (from EDO website)

The EDO Major Projects Toolkit is a simply presented 21 page downloadable PDF that outlines how people in NSW can interact and become involved in Major Project applications.

This interaction is essential because:-

cumbersome Laws relating to Environment and Planning in NSW reflect a complicated, alienating and basically not easy to understand environmental planning process.
the needs of only the Developers and other beneficiaries of the Part 3A Projects clearly disadvantage many smaller community groups and individuals in the NSW Planning process.

the wider community and more importantly, the Future Generations of Australians, and those of the wildlife that may be impacted by the Part 3A Development are almost totally unrepresented within the Part 3A planning Law. Education about Part 3A is essential.

Environmental & Planning Law in Australia has become a cumbersome and largely inaccessible component of many peoples’ lives. There are Environmental & Planning Laws in place that people just don’t know about.
Given knowledge of these Laws, then cost and time can still make it virtually impossible to interact with, and understand the LAWS.
The EDO is a precious Australian Resource of dedicated people and knowledge, that can help us understand Environmental Planning and Law in easy to read words and methodologies. This is practical Environmental Advocacy.

I once thought that the Australian Nation prided itself in a fair go for the individual. Slowly but surely, Laws have invaded our privacy, right to defend, right to know and freedom of reasonable expression.

Those who have vast resources available to them (such as having connections in the government), access to large amounts of money, consultants, specialised LEGAL knowledge – these people have a clear advantage over the individuals / community who believe that a particular planning process is abhorrent and non environmentally sustainable for future generations, but are unable to understand the Legal context.

The cost of going to court, in large development V’s community cases is beyond most of the population of Australia.

That Laws can be enacted to deny basic survival rights to Native Australian Wildlife, when other Australian Laws are working ever so hard to create a sustainable future for these Animals paints a very harsh picture of the intent of some “Lawmakers” and “Lawmaking” processes.

The dichotomy is this:-

Environmental Sustainability is largely a hollow statement these days. Current and past methods of infrastructure building and development processes are brutal to any wildlife habitats on and nearby to such development. Mostly, when the developments are created, the wildlife is either locked up in nearby “corridors” and reserves or given token pathways in which they are presumed to live. Meanwhile, in reality:-they can be killed, maimed, their food chains and habitats disrupted horrifically and cruelly.

Fences, landscaping, infrastructure, concrete drains, catchment and water table alteration, acid sulphate soil disturbance, new DAM requirements for increased urban water use, increased fires, traffic, noise, light, interference, toxins in food chains, dogs, cats, translocation, heavy machinery use, drastic change in micro habitat and native seedbank destruction are just some of the stressful challenges that wildlife face when non sustainable development occurs

Animals DO NOT keep dwelling stress free in developing areas full of machinery, noise, light, fencing, water catchment alteration and environments altered by (human engineered) Chemical useage.

When a development is commenced, it may be that the *developer has owned the land for some time, and gradually degraded the land so that the Native Australian Wildlife gradually disappear – this is called LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY.

When a development is created on paper, it doesn’t account for changes to all the tiny micro biological components that are occurring within the future “REAL” development. The paper law only focuses on those components of the natural environment that it is required to by LAW. The multiplicity of consequences, when the smaller units of BIODIVERSITY are killed and stressed ARE NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT by the paper LAW. This is called loss of BIODIVERSITY.

Loss of biodiversity and associated stresses to Australian native wildlife occur in many (most) of the developments that have proceeded and continue to proceed, unimpeded along the Coastline of SE QLD and NE NSW.

Alteration of Catchments, both above and below the Ground can have long lasting consequences on biodiversity. (MURRAY-DARLING Catchment is a global example of this; The Hunter Region in NSW is another example.)

If current Paper Laws enacted out the Environmentally Sustainable Vision that they supposedly say they do, then harmful and degrading engineering principles, machinery and chemical destruction of biodiversity, and water catchment ill health would become a thing of the past.

This does not appear to be happening. Non renewable energy consumption, reliance of old, proven non sustainable infrastructure development practices are increasingly killing off our Australian Biodiversity and ecological communities.

However, there is a way. But it requires an honest approach to the real issues, instead of the focus on paper laws and processes that address issues largely unrelated to the reality of what is actually happening.

The Six Clusters of Denial—Death by Storytelling at candobetter.org

The Part 3A component of the NSW Planning Process hijacks much of the
current knowledge about the intricacies of Biodiversity, Water Catchment health and Air Quality. Part 3A creates a playing field that is ARTIFICIAL, not related to Future Environment(al sustainability). Part 3A is brutal to the beautiful and diverse habitats of our many smaller Australian native fauna that are struggling to survive in our quickly changing Australian Environment.

some links:-

EDO Northern Rivers :
The EDO discussion paper entitled ‘Planning in NSW: Reconnecting the community with the planning system’ – search results at bluecray environmental search
EDO Planning Survey :- I am not too sure if this survey is still current, but have a look anyway
EDO NSW Ltd WORKSHOPS :
Total Environment Centre :-
The Big Scrub Environment Centre :-
EDO Planning Discussion Paper :-
Planning Institute of Australia : – try searching for their “BIODIVERSITY” sections – appear very limited. Also try the NSW and QLD divisions….. “money talks”… as the song goes
URBAN TASKFORCE :- their news 15th March 2010 “$1.8 billion in projects quietly rejected in just eight months”
Media Release 15 March 2010
“The NSW Government has quietly denied “Part 3A” status to 14 major development projects worth $1.8 billion since July last year, according to documents obtained by the Urban Taskforce“
Independent Commission Against Corruption – media release, 13th December 2010 “ICAC recommends reforms to Part 3A of the NSW Planning legislation” following the release of the report ”The exercise of discretion under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Development) 2005″

…..“money talks”… as the song goes – there is a huge gap between the multi million dollar money sector of development groups in Australia and grass roots biodiversity and regional sustainability issues. It is time that this gap was breached. Money may talk, but unfortunately, if money is not the issue, then biodiversity has few advocates in a practical sense, when it comes to development in NSW and QLD. Not many people seek to admit this, or even try to breach the gap. However, the EDO has come some way in attempts to breach this gap by openly informing people about the practical legalities surrounding development approvals and the rights of communities and individuals.

Revolutionary thinking is required to breach this gap – politically, socially, through development, infrastructure & market reform based on authentic Land and Water Stewardship and Custodianship. Self seeking profit takers within the development industry do little to enhance the situation. Self seeking egos within the environmental industry sustain the current system. ……. a little humility may go a long way.

EDO Queensland, – there are a number of FACT SHEETS that the Queensland EDO publishes, concerning accessing information, coastal protection and management, climate change law and biodiversity, defamation, nature conservation, mining, heritage, planning and challenging development, water, vegetation protection, regional planning and planning schemes to name a few. Have a look at this website, and think about giving donations to the EDO to help their cause. Whilst there is a “paper” boundary showing separation of NE NSW and SE QLD, native fauna do not read maps, and are not necessarily permanent residents of just one state.

In SE Qld, development is forging ahead, despite all the motherhood statements about “iconic” Koalas, environmental sustainability and how wonderful the SE Qld WATER GRID (stream stealing) is. In reality, development has decimated the wetlands south of Brisbane and the Koala is disappearing.

Sprawling urban development is riddled with vaste industrial developments, highways (existing and in the pipeline) and disappearing wildlife habitats. Coastal hinterland housing estates are promoted as “real estate investment opportunities” and do little to enhance the decreasing habitats of many native wildlife species.

The website candobetter has some good information concerning the state of affairs in SE QLD, and makes good reading. The Koala is still a political football, and still disappearing at alarming rates.The koala is only one of many many threatened species at risk in SE QLD from habitat clearing for development and infrastructure creation.

below are some search engine results from bluecray for:-

koala SE QLD : there are no doubt plenty of other links to search, but this is a start

candobetter koala se qld : some very nice summaries about the state of play for KOALAS in SE QLD

*An example of inappropriateness and community concern regarding the Part 3A Planning Law in NE NSW can be found in the process surrounding the Kings Forest Development by Bob Ell’s LEDA Group (Project 28) in the Tweed Shire (Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia) :-

Environmental Sustainability as a guiding principle is found to be extremely hollow when connected with the NSW and Tweed Shire planning processes and Part 3A of the NSW Planning Law. In Luis Feliu’s article “What’s the Hurry?” ( Tweed Shire Echo – March 11th, 2010) “Councillors are set to vote next Tuesday on a rescission motion aimed at scuttling a move which originally endorsed council planners’ submission to the planning department on the massive Cobaki Lakes and Kings Forest residential subdivisions.” READ the rest of the Article HERE , and view some of the Tweed Shire Echo’s more recent letters concerning this Kings Forest Development . Kings Forest is a State Significant Site, and hence comes under the Part 3A of NSW’s Planning Law.

candobetter.org also has some great information concerning the above development here and here .
some search results for recent Tweed News concerning Kings Forest and Cobaki Lakes Development
also try Tweed Link Issues at the Tweed Shire Council.
Environmental Justice Society – “environmentally conscious lawyers, doctors, scientists and campaigners who want to empower individuals and communities with the knowledge and resources to rally support and take action to bring negligent companies to account“

Well, congratulations, if you have reached the end of this article, as it is, like many of my long winded posts – um, rather sprawling…

However, if you have reached the end, then, do not forget to have a look at the EDO websites in the above links.

The above photos show introduced honey bees foraging on introduced pasture grass flowers. Native bees will also forage on this grass. Bees have communities that all work for the common good, from the leader down to the workers.

Educate yourself courtesy of the work done by the EDO, and above all, do keep your mind clear of worry. LAWS, such as the Part 3A, created and used by elected members of the NSW Parliament and Developers, define the individuals who make and use these Laws to their advantage.

Eventually, greater wheels turn than those impressive wheels of the “development must go ahead” vehicle. The compulsive and obsessive habits that promote wasteful, non sustainable economy of scale infrastructures, industrial centres, earthmoving businesses, large shopping centre complexes, monocultured nurseries, insatiable greed, need to control and pugnacious courtroom battle scenarios define those who seek to prosper from such habits.

Incoming Searches: bob ell, images development planning law, non sustainable development, destruction of biodiversity, QLD native bees, australian betong, chains of destruction to wildlife, images of australian native bees- vic, kings forest development latest news, landscape infrastructure

Our Coastal Zone, Engineering for Climate Change and our childrens’ future

al — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:45:41 +0000

Engineers have a critical role to play in the management of our Coastal Zones for projected climate change scenarios. Here are some search results at google for coastal zone management and Climate Change . Here are some bluecray environmental search engine results for the same. You can find the CSIRO and BOM CLIMATE SNAPSHOT (15th March 2010) at these search results HERE .

The above photo is of PK, looking out from the Hinterland, over the Gold Coast, SE QLD, Australia

The creation of an environment that is both sustainable for our Childrens’ Future and yet high in life quality is often deemed to be the domain of Engineers, Scientists & Politicians. And, these days, Science, Politics and Engineering appear to be intrinsically linked.

Coastal Development & Sea Levels – some Australian Links:-

National Sea Change Taskforce: Link to – Conference at Byron Bay 2-3 March 2010 “The program will focus on the complex issues currently facing coastal LGAs including sea level rise, the legal implications of climate change and ageing populations………Byron Bay has been selected to host the event because of its relevance in terms of coastal hazards, development pressures and issues associated with climate change impacts”

The 18th NSW Coastal Conference 2009 – 3rd-6th November 2009 to be held at Ballina, Mt Warning (Wollumbin) Caldera Region, NE NSW. The Theme is “Staying Afloat – Rising to the Challenges”. The Conference involve government sectors, planners, consultants, engineers, community and user groups & will present awards for outstanding achievement in coastal zone management activities. ABC North Coast News has nice updates for local info, including this Coastal Conference.
Planned retreat, climate change & biodiversity – Byron Bay :- this is a workshop by the EDO Northern Rivers on 3rd December 2009

Sea level Rise Policy Statement by NSW Government (late October 2009), and
the Draft Coast and Flood Risk Assessment Guidelines – that are now open for submissions at the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (Urban & Coastal Water Reform Branch). Closing date for comments are December 11th 2009
National Sea Change Taskforce : “national body to represent the interests of coastal councils and communities experiencing the effects of rapid growth and development” – includes Conference, Committee, Publications & links to the Federal Parliamentary Coastal Inquiry (report released 26th October 2009)
EDO NSW (Environmental Defender’s Office) has the following publications available:- Climate change and the legal framework for biodiversity protection in Australia: a legal and scientific analysis & Climate change and the legal framework for biodiversity protection in NSW: a legal and scientific analysis
Draft Queensland Coastal Plan : at Queensland Department of Environment & Resource Management . Submissions due by 30th November 2009.

This is a photo for environmental advocacy : showing how coastal development and infrastructure is still going ahead, near the beachfront, at Byron Bay. The houses on the beach side of the photo have already lost their dune frontage to the encroaching sea, and the Council and Landcare are spraying the vegetation (albeit Bitou Bush!) with herbicide, for future regeneration, thus facilitating more habitat destruction in the name of healing.

“Administrative Law in an Environmental Context” search results at bluecray Environmental search engine

The TWEED COAST is also experiencing engineered non sustainable development:-

Maps for the Tweed Coast Area near Casuarina, Kings Forest, Cudgen, Cudgen Creek , Wooyung – in fact much of the coastal area of the Tweed Shire!

Kingscliff battles beach erosion (story 11th august 2010):- at ABC local + other local beach coastal erosion stories from NE NSW (Tweed and Byron shires)

Here are some more google search results for NEWS about Coastal Zone Management and Climate Change - remembering that much of Australia’s Population is centred on or about our Coastline. And now, back to

ENGINEERS…..

Engineers! Do you think that the word comes from building engines? oops… wrong.
the etymology of the word engineer has the word coming from…………………go ahead, guess first, then look and see if you were close!

Definitions and etymology of the word “ENGINEER”

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
The Free Dictionary online dictionary
engineering at wikipedia
engineering etymology at spiritus-temporus.com
etymology of engineer at the online etymology dictionary

Article at Sydney Morning Herald about the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia’s ideas to abolish councils, make drivers pay and transform public transport subsidies (October 23rd 2009 – SMH Paul Bibby, Urban Affairs)

Photo of Engineering the Hinze Dam Catchment for the SE QLD Water Grid – or, as I like to call it “Stream Stealing“ 2009**(see below)

google search results for Association of Consulting Engineers Australia .

e - earth
n – noise
g – grandeur
i – illogical
n- non-sustainable
e – every day
e – easy
r – repeating
s – stuff

Now, thanks to the world engineers, and the ancestral contribution of engineers long gone, we have fantastic and celebrated networks of “stuff” all over the world.

Stuff that is slowly making our world a sick place.

Petro chemical bi-products that do god knows what to our ecosystems and food chain, when combined in their ever increasing lethal dose combinations.
Climate change, monoculture to the n’th degree, genetic engineering that is making our planet dependent on food sources that have no true genetic source from adaption and selection processes but rather laboratory type “births” and “heritage”.
This list is endless. Always behind the grand schemes in humanities slow slide into extinction, are engineers. Planning and engineers often go together.

Now, again, as I am sure bluecray has confronted some of your more intrinsic values, I do not want to target engineers, who are after all people like you and me, with some kind of “let’s get rid of the engineers” post.

Collage of Engineering & Biodiversity – Byron Bay Style (October 2009)

Far from it. why, My uncle was a well known, highly regarded engineer and I admired and respected him greatly. Some of my best friends are technical and computer engineers. I love to ride my motorcycle, which is itself an engineering wonder, along roadways engineered by many people. This ancient computer that I use here is an engineering wonder, as is the internet connection and associated satellite and electrical paraphenalia that is required to put my words onto the screen that you are currently watching and reading.

I have also met engineers who have transformed great stretches of waterways from past mistakes, by bringing in earth movers to recreate riffles and bends where once, engineers had created straight stretches of water flow, that needed constant upgrading and earthworks. It wasn’t until they came back, decades later and recreated the natural meanders and riffles, that the streams began to “breath” and work as a sustainable ecosystem.
The purpose of this article is just to get you thinking, like all other bluecray articles that I have written. And to help you make decisions to change the way you live, so that our Childrens’ future is brighter and happier.

Environmental Advocacy Collage : “Choices – Discernment-Integrity – Love“

Just a few thoughts that may help you get back to some more basic loving principles for improved life quality on the planet. And to help you to inspire others to do the same, by setting an example, slowing down your life, and trying to get some honest love back into your modern day engineered intellectual capacities.

People tend to hand over power readily to engineers. Their brilliance, their contraptions,the ease that their inventions appear to give our lives. Their ever increasing powerful technologies can eventually overwhelm us to thepoint where our simple life values of food, shelter, companionship, love, clothing etc become a massive encumberance that chains the whole planet down to doom.
And so, why target ENGINEERS?

Because everywhere I look these days, they appear to hold a much greater sway over the way things go in life, compared to the other necessary, more basic natural relationships in life.

“It’s All Upsidedown“

Earth moving equipment – a massive industry

Agricultural and Horticultural machinery and chemicals – a massive industry
Telecommunications – a massive industry
Mining - a massive industry
Medical technology – a massive industry
Genetics - a masssive industry
Transport – a massive industry
Building construction – a massive industry
Military and arms production – a massive industry

and lets not forget the movies, the music industry and entertainment industries in general…..
endless endless lists…..endless endless “stuff”

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Just how much stuff do we need to feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, protect ourselves and create a quality life?
Just how much stuff do we need to create out of toxic processes to prove to ourselves that our collective wisdom is still in the dark ages???

Modern thought, with its electric lights and enthusiastic middle men selling more and more products, is still in the dark ages.

We misdirect our personal egos towards an ever increasing consumption whilst millions starve elsewhere.
We are surrounded by climatic, geological, idealogical and industrial disasters. Habitat Clearing and toxic food chains are just the tip of the “iceberg”.
Do you care to take some personal responsibility for this, and question your personal wisdom?
Maybe you would prefer to shop, talk and justify your way out of it. If you get really good at this, you can enter politics!!

The engineers will help you. They are, as you read, designing new machines, building new war state of the art contraptions to fill our skies with. They are, as you read, creating new fangled better than the business oppositions’ blackberries, rasberries, tokenberries and genetically engineered betterberries for your healthy berries.
All of this stuff – you and I may benefit from, no doubt, in some way or another. All of this stuff will also, in some way or another, cause untold problems in yours and mine lives, and in the lives of others – all over the planet.
Engineers are largely responsible for the way in which cities have been formed all over the planet:-

Great dams, irrigation pumping and now water grids that alter our water catchment flows;
long pipes, roads and electronic networks that, in the end, never DID make our lives that much easier; but alot faster, more complex, more stressful, and more toxic.
and now, make your own list…..for those in NSW, why not start at…

………………..well, Part 3A of the NSW Planning law?

Now of course, some of this science and grand engineering has its benefits – IF USED WISELY. Moderation is a wonderful word. Moderate use of many substances and technologies is a most amazing thing. However, to keep up with the “Jones’s” – our technologically savvy “neighbours” with their engineered enhanced lifestyles and ahead in the sands of modern enlightenment, we think we must go faster, harder, smarter, “cooler”.

It is this simple (!!) :- Moderation is a tricky quality to embrace. My Father was a master at it. He led by example. I am not so good at it. I tend to be a bit complex. Nature and nature’s needs in nature shift amazingly slow, complex though they are.. There are some “rushes” of activity depending on natural cycles, but in general, our needs in nature are the same as they were before we created, with the assistance of our engineers and their ideas, grand cities, buildings and infrastructures. Now, caught in the “City of Light”, we no longer see our shadow selves. Our egos, meanwhile, are still running rampant!

Collectively? We lack DISCERNMENT. We lack INTEGRITY. We lack GENEROSITY. We lack VISION. Collectively, I always felt that if enough people wanted war, then WAR we would have. If enough people wanted more than we can eat or carry on our backs, then that is how we would feast and travel. AND, engineers have just kept giving us answers to these requests.

“Wisdom in Engineering“

What about LOVE engineers? The philosophers, the musicians, the artists, the writers? The engineers that do amazing engineering works, but do it for humanity and have a holistic approach to their work. The little guy down the road who lives a simple life in his organic garden, sharing the food with others, and quietly planting out trees and shrubs for the native wildlife. OR, does he even really exist anymore? Well, yes he DOES! Mainly “he” is living below or just above the poverty level, and his quality of life is just fine, thank you!
Collectively, we are sliding back into a time of “the beast”. Ego driven want, un-enlightenment and hedonism all appear to be alive and well. And engineers have contributed to our false sense of securities and fantasy that it is ok to continue supporting clever regimes that lack transperancy, integrity, statesmanship and the vision of a loving future for our children.
And so, where do I stand in all of this, after displaying how I see this trend of sanitized, but in reality, toxic engineered insanity?
Like Fukuoka, I believe that the spirit holds the key. That engineering is in essence – like science- a wonderful thing, and has much use. But not ALL of it – just SOME of it. Discernment is not a luxury. It has now become a necessity. Good luck!!

Oh, and just one more thing – imagine a world without all this stuff – except some beautiful basics, with a moderate amount of engineered assistance? Like hand grown and hand crafted textiles, hand crafted buildings, hand crafted vehicles, hand crafted musical instruments, hand grown and prepared foods. Simplified energy use and requirements – add just a few engineers, with discernment, and LOTS of LOVEand everyone will be gainfully employed, sheltered, clothed and fed, and entertained. I know this sounds like I am oversimplifying things. Perhaps I am….And the world turns to a new day, and life is most likely, is as it is meant to be……

and, Collectively, we still haven’t found our way back to the GARDEN.

Now something else to look at:-

Dale Jamieson at google search

“A Companion to Environmental Philosophy” by Dale Jamieson ISBN 1557869103

Natural Sequence Farming : search results at bluecray ENVIRONMENT SEARCH

National Sustainability Initiatives at the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts. This website page includes links to the related areas of :- EPBC Reporting, Indicators & Local Agenda 21, as well as to Ecologically Sustainable Development LINKS .

The Ecologically Sustainable Development LINKS page includes (as at November 2009) :-

Conferences and Events
Sustainability Networks and Discussion Groups
State Government Sites
Australian Government Environment Sites
Local Government Sites
Non-Government Organisations

Coastal Design Guidelines for NSW (from 2003 ): at NSW Department of Planning (Coastal Protection).

The Sea Level Rise Policy Statement by the NSW Government 2009 & and Draft Policy information- :

The NSW Department of Planning worked with the Department of Environment Climate Change to finalise the draft statement (21st February – 3rd April were submission times).

Sea level Rise Policy Statement by NSW Government (late October 2009), and
the Draft Coast and Flood Risk Assessment Guidelines – that are now open for submissions at the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (Urban & Coastal Water Reform Branch). Closing date for comments are December 11th 2009

** Regarding my term “stream stealing”:- the concept of Stream Capturing, as per the geological process that was created causing the Rhine River to take the waters of the Danube River, via a slow and gradual centuries long process, thus diverting waters away from one catchment to another has implications for how the water of these two Catchments is distributed throughout parts of Europe.

“Stream Stealing”, or taking the water from the catchment and removing it to another catchment is akin to diversion that may have future consequences for that catchment later on. The Murray-Darling system attests to this on a grand scale. The water was purloined (see etymology HERE), and the consequences in the future are already here, to see – in black and white. The Government is now having to rethink where and how this Murray Darling Water actually goes, over time. This is for the sake of future generations and future environmental habitats. Much damage has already be done.

The concept of altering catchment water flows, taking water from one series of catchment ecosystems to completely different catchment systems, can have consequences further down stream.

Many engineers and scientist show, via quantitative and qualitative measures, that Dam Building and altering Catchment flows can be managed in an environmentally sustainable way. However, there are still serious doubts, in my mind, as to water flows for a catchment’s well being down stream, and ecosystem health when water is removed from one catchment to serve a purpose in another.

The Qld Water Grid of South East Queensland is doing this. Dams and irrigation networks do this. Construction and earthworks within developments can do this. Altering water flows from one catchment, to provide another catchment with that water has historical implications. Only time will tell, and as the benchmarks can keep changing, the ecosystem health consequences further down the catchment, and into the sea may not show up for many decades. “Stream Stealing” is an insidious form of Habitat destruction by “clearing the habitat” via habitat water theft.

This type of activity is stealing from natural ecosystems and habitats (that have little voice in the matter), to serve human consumption and industry.

Capture:-definition and etymology .

Stealing:-definition and etymology .

“Clearing the Habit of Habitat Clearing” – at Journey for Wisdom in the Land

Incoming Searches: gold coast queensland, toxic mine water queensland, australia climate change coastal, kingscliff beach history, google pk search, eastern brown snake scats, cray zone, analysis of northern river by judith wright, collage on climate change europe, future gold coast

Endangered ecological community and Kings Forest Development, Tweed Coast, NE NSW.

al — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:57:55 +0000

Endangered ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY : Coastal Cypress Pine Forest (Callitris columellaris Forest). This ecological community was once widespread along the coast of Australia in various forms. It is threatened and very much at risk(*see below) and is listed by the NSW Government. The LEDA development (Leda Group owned by Bob Ell) at Kings Forest and other nearby potential URBAN and INFRASTRUCTURE developments pose serious threat to these sparse Ecological Communities that are now scattered through the Tweed Coast of NE NSW.

I have struggled to complete this article, so sorry if it has seemed abit over the place. Have been in hospital having an operation and the internet has been not working. However, from what I can glean, this Ecological Community HAS been listed as endangered by the NSW Government, – as of 2008. I have just updated this on the 14th October, 2009. And to echo Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.‘s words of Kilgore Trout in Timequake – I have been sick, now I’m well and there’s work to be done……….And so it goes:-

Callitris columellaris and some of the native grass species found in association with it

Threatened species recorded in Coastal Cypress “Pine” Forest or associated vegetation, including Acronychia littoralis (scented acronychia), Archidendron hendersonii (white lace flower), Geodorum densiflorum (pink nodding orchid) and Drynaria rigidula (basket fern)

“Kings Forest sent back to the Drawing Board” at the Tweed Shire Echo 9th July 2009 article by Luis Feliu.
“Administrative Law in an Environmental Context” search results at bluecray Environmental search engine
Kings Forest – State Significant Site – information that is provided by the NSW Department of Planning .
NSW Far North Coast Regional Strategy at NSW Government Planning
Planned retreat, climate change & biodiversity – Byron Bay :- this is a workshop by the EDO Northern Rivers on 3rd December 2009. Whilst this is for Byron Bay, you may find some interesting information at the EDO website
Projected non-environmentally sustainable construction based development and the Tweed Shire Council – article at Tweednews.com.au 17th September 2009
kings forest land release part 3a : search results at bluecray environmental search
Planning Workshop Australia – Kings Forest and some other State Significant Sites’ work for developers : this uses Part3A of the NSW Planning Law

Meanwhile, at Kingscliff,NE NSW:- large developments (that will further fragment our native wildlife habitats) are planned nearby (Kings Forest, Cobaki Lakes ) and the sea is moving inwards – “Hungry Mother Nature bares her teeth” - infrastructure damage at Kingscliff on the NSW North Coast - by coastal erosion (2010): SMH article by Saffron Howden

Kingscliff battles beach erosion (story 11th august 2010):- at ABC local + other local beach coastal erosion stories from NE NSW (Tweed and Byron shires)

National Framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia’s Native Vegetation .The shifting sands and Callitris sp. – what the Autralian Government was saying about Managing and Monitoring Native Vegetation in 2001. This framework included directions for seed bank management and outlines “duty of care” issues in the 2001 perspective.
Duty of care and the precautionary principle : search results at bluecray environmental search engine.
The TWEED COAST is also experiencing engineered non sustainable development near Casuarina, Kings Forest, Cudgen, Pottsville, Cudgen Creek , Wooyung – in fact much of the coastal area of the Tweed Shire! These Google Map links will give you an idea of what this Coastal Zone looks like.

Let us look at what job the Callitris columellaris Forest does for the Coastal Ecosystems of Australia. In particular, NE NSW and the Tweed Coast.

Firstly, the Ecological Community of this “Cypress” has largely disappeared from the Northern NSW Coastal Region. Accounting for 2% of Australia’s Forest cover (at about the year 2008), the Genus of Callitris was revised in 2006. The species Callitris columellaris and its associated ecological community has disappeared by almost 80% in the North Coast Bioregion of NSW.

Secondly, Callitris columellaris is being currently studied as one of the Significant Projects in the Australian Government’s $100 million Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) initiative for understanding and preparing for Climate Change. I guess that means that this plant is somewhat special!

Thirdly, Callitris columellaris Forests and their Ecological Communties have withstood the changing dunal system of our Coastal Landscapes for eons – as the sea levels have risen and fallen over time.
Fourthly:-The Ecological Communities associated with Callitris columellaris are now so fragmented and sparsley populating the coast of NE NSW that enhancement, re-establishment and re-connection of these communities is essential to help the North Coast of NSW withstand the pressures of Climate Change, sea level rise and native habitat survival:- Coastal Cypress Pine Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion – endangered ecological community listing :- In NSW, Coastal Cypress Pine Forest is currently known from the local government areas of Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley, but may occur elsewhere within the NE Coastal NSW bioregion.

This Conifer – (Pinophyta) - is from a very old – ancient group of plants. It’s seed is protected in a cone. It has been around longer than the flowering plants of more modern millenia. The Callitris genus is found only in Australia & New Caledonia. That’s right – NO WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD! At some stage in Australia’s history they have formed GREAT forests across our continent. ***

Fifthly, Callitris columellaris grows primarily on sedimentary soils of a sandy nature. Seed banks of these soils are easily altered by clearing, fire, water table changes, environmental weeds, machine and other human traffic disturbance. The resilience by sandy soil seed banks to recreate their native vegetation cover is lessened by continual disturbance, weed infestation and over cultivation.(see below #)

The above dangers to an already fragile seed bank will increase with Bob Ell’s proposed INTENSE urban development and associated infrastrutures, industries and traffic. The Tweed Coast has been pressured enough by development of housing estates, shopping centres, transport corridors and habitat fragmention / clearing.

Much of the reason that Australia’s unique marsupials, frogs, other fauna and flora are now becoming “threatened” status is because of inappropriate development decisions and practices. Many of them only a short time ago. Town Planners, Ecological and Environmental Consultants and Directors of Government PLANNING Departments have all gone through a similar higher educational standards, that at some time show them why species, ecological communities and whole ecosystems become threatened with extinction. It is incredible that these Australian decision makers are condoning developments such as these Tweed Coast Developments, as they are still letting our future and the future of our children’s children slide into horror.

There is the looming threat of climate change and rising sea levels to consider also. Gold Coast coastal developments are testimony to this. Habitats and ecological communities have totally disappeared with intense non sustainable developement. The sea is moving inland, and the dunal systems are, and have already been disappearing over the past thirty years. The fragmented remnants of time tested ecological communities that inhabited coastal areas – wetlands, old dunal systems, estuarine areas – require rescuing, rather than surrounding and over-running by non sustainable development.

Land management practices and non sustainable regional development that may be condoned by the NSW Department of Planning Director-General and Minister under the Major Project Assessments and Part 3A of the EPA Act NSW have potential to further destroy this fragile Ecological Community.
What is a State Significant Site in NSW? How do you find out more about them, where they are, and when they were listed?

Threats that will affect the Endangered Ecological Community (still awaits listing?) of the Callitris columellaris Forest include weed invasion, human interference such as trampling, fragmentation, easement maintenance and illegal rubbish dumping. Fire is a great threat to this Ecological Community

Phantom Koala (PK) and Benoit look at coastal development further south of Kings Forest, on the Tweed Coast. They see that fences, roads, bare earth, fires, cars, people, cats, dogs, fences, mown land, rubbish, noise, cleared land and building after building present many challenges to the native wildlife that rely on the remnant Callitris trees and their associated ecological communities.

Find out more about the Endangered Ecological Community of the Callitris columellaris Forest at bluecray environmental search. The PDF “Coastal Cypress Pine Forest in the NSW North Bioregion” should be available at the NSW Department of Environment Climate Change & Water. You will be able to find out more about what other plants grow in this endangered Ecological Community and its associated vegetation.

Look up threatened species & ecological communities at the NSW Government’s Threatened Species Website

North Coast Bioregion of NSW -

Look up Callitris collumellaris at the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Bureau of Rural Sciences : Australian Forest Profiles – Callitris.

FIRE : the more people – the more fires are lit. This is a reasonable consideration when bringing urban populations close to Significant State Sites and Endangered Ecological Communities . Especially where that Endangered Ecological Community contains species that do not recover well from fire. This year (2009) quite a few fires have been fought on the Tweed Coast:- a number of them have been thought to be suspiciously lit.

“Arson suspected in bushfires” 23rd November 2009 Lismore Northern Star
“Firies battle suspicious blazes” 22nd November 2009 Tweed Daily News (Cabarita / Pottsville area)
“Fire pests suspected” 29th September 2009 Tweed Daily News
“Houses saved from scrub and grass fire” 25th September 2009 Tweed Daily News (Cudgen area)

* A note here about the listing of this community and the endangered status. I had thought that at the time of writing this post, the list was yet to be implemented by the Government. I had thought that listing wouldn’t occur, due to technicalities, politics, insufficient urgency… etc etc…perhaps like the KOALA, it never does get listed, and just disappears from the area/North Coast NSW Region all together. Pedantics can be an interesting feature of rationalising destruction and non sustainable development. The reality of endangered and the “legals” of endangered can be two very different things.

***The great Callitris Ecological Communities have withstood just about everything that nature can throw at them. These great forest cycles can be upwards of 500 years. As a human lifetime is nowhere near that, we are unable to grasp just what this means, unless we look carefully at the GREAT CYCLES. These precious CONIFERS have kept ecological communities and habitats going, thriving, changing, maintaining biodiversity in times of stress from climatic and geological changes. Should climatic change and stress occur in Australia, one of the tried and tested species of plants, that can probably recreate ecological communities is Callitris columellaris.

# Whilst wetland sedimentary soils can have a high seed bank percentage and longevity, sandy soils that are well drained tend to have much less seed held in the soil. Due to the nature of the overclearing and disturbance of Tweed Coast Soils, many weed seeds now inhabit the seed bank, both below and above ground. These form strong competition for the Callitris species and the associated native vegetation that is critical for the survival of this ecological community.

Phantom Koala and Part3A of the Planning Law .

Koala Sagas : “When Phantom Koala was Young” and “There is a Way”- two poems about how Phantom Koala lost his mother, and then found her in trapped in Kings Forest, thus becoming a “Hero”.

For more about some of the Wildlife and Plant Species threatened by Leda’s Kings Forest development try Kings Forest Development threatens 21 Threatened Species of Fauna . Some of these species are also known to be found in Callitris columellaris forests – I have made a note beside some of these species in the Kings Forest threatened species list below, but others on the list may also be present in Callitris Forests and ecological communities as well. It is hard to say, as the Callitris columellaris Forests have been so badly destroyed in recent decades, and historical scientific evidence is extremely scattered.

And NOW, some of the threatened Kings Forest species:-

the Koala

Rose-crowned Fruit- Dove (Ptilinopus regina) – and images .

Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) -

Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) – known to inhabit Callitris forests

Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) –

Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus ) -

Bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) (Aust. Govt) and at NSW Govt- and images .

Bush-hen (Amaurornis olivaceus) -

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – known to inhabit Callitris forests

Eastern False Pipistrelle (Falsistrellus tasmaniensis) -

Yellow-bellied sheathtail Bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris) -

Common blossom Bat (Syconycteris australis) - and images . known to inhabit Callitris forests

Common Planigale (Planigale maculata) - and images . known to inhabit Callitris forests

Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) – and images .

Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica) – and images .

Little Bent-Wing Bat (Miniopteris australis) - and images .known to inhabit Callitris forests

Grey-headed flying-fox(Pteropus poliocephalus) and images .

Olongburra Frog (Litoria olongburensis) and images .

Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinnula) and images .

Glossy Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) and images .

Archidendron hendersonii (white lace flower) – a species of threatened flora that is found at Kings Forest

Caldera Environment Centre .
Whilst no specific mention is made, on the Kings Forest Planning Documents, that I could find, about Callitris columellaris other that planting it in landscape plans, it is the fragile remnants that I am concerned about. Remnant vegetation is as worthy as a large stand, ecologically significant, if it is highly fragmented and under pressure from human interference. Ecological stands of Callitris columellaris are more than like very close to this development and other developments on the Tweed Coast, due to the nature of the geology and natural/botanical history. Constant burning and disturbance can force this conifer and its vegetation associations toward heathland. The presence of vegetation that grows in association with Callitris columellaris in the Kings Forest planning documents suggests that the conifer was more than likely there at some stage, and could easily be struggling to survive in the area. No mention of this ecological community, how it can be preserved, enhanced, protected, appears to be an oversight in the planning and development stage of this huge development.
Land-use and land-cover change : local processes and global impacts / Eric F. Lambin, Helmut Geist (eds.) : ISBN 3540322019 (hd.bd.)
Callitris sp at Wikipedia
A natural history of conifers / Aljos Farjon ; foreword by William G. Chaloner. ISBN 9780881928693
Terrestrial ecosystems through time : evolutionary paleoecology of terrestrial plants and animals / edited by Anna K. Behrensmeyer … [et al.].
ISBN: 0226041549 (cloth : alk. paper)
0226041557 (pbk. : alk. paper)

search for Aboriginal (Indigenous peoples) research literature for the North Coast of NSW at the Libraries Australia Search
I had the opportunity to speak with a young Indigenous Australian a number of years back. She told me how her “totem” animal was no longer living on the planet. It was EXTINCT. She described how it felt to go to a museum, and see an exhibit of this dead totem. She told me that it felt very strange indeed. This made me feel sad for her. I grew up spending many hours sitting under these trees and listening to stories, learning about nature. Back then, there were many more of these trees along the coastal strip, together with their biodiverse ecological communities. Back then, people were already speaking out about the clearing of forests, and our precious habitats. The facts were already there, the data, the knowledge. That was three generations ago.
Reforestation of Degraded Lands at http://www.agroforestry.net/ .
Search results (Google search) for Managing Our Coastal Zone in a Changing Climate .

National Sustainability Initiatives at the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts. This website page includes links to the related areas of :- EPBC Reporting, Indicators & Local Agenda 21, as well as to Ecologically Sustainable Development LINKS .

The Ecologically Sustainable Development LINKS page includes (as at November 2009):-

Conferences and Events
Sustainability Networks and Discussion Groups
State Government Sites
Australian Government Environment Sites
Local Government Sites
Non-Government Organisations

“Clearing the Habit of Habitat Clearing” – at Journey for Wisdom in the Land

Incoming Searches: ecological community, bioregion australiana flora, callitris columellaris, endangered animals and plants from tweed area, phantom coast endangered animals, mt lamington etymology, goannafood chain in ecosystem, leda illegal clearing, la fauna de la biorregion paleartica, fauna de australis y collage

Phantom Koala and Part 3A of the NSW Planning Law

al — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:26:28 +0000

The NSW Government, in Australia, is currently undergoing more public scrutiny concerning developer and government corruption. Corruption in land dealings has had a long history along the eastern coastal strip of Australia. Also, money and ego can play a large part in the well being of Australia’s environmental sustainability for future generations.

Phantom Koala

Below are a a few links that may help you understand what is happening in the Tweed Coast concerning development.

Kings Forest Development threatenes 21 Threatened Species of Fauna . This article includes a list of some of the Threatened species (including the Koala -Phascolarctos cinereus ), with links to find out more about some of them.

Phantom Koala sees that the KOALA -which has been “iconised” by a number of organisations- is much much more than an ICON##(see below). Inappropriate development threatens many more individual endangered species than just the KOALA of the Tweed Coast. The creation of “sustainable development” which is NOT sustainable development, but in reality, development that threatens many AT RISK vulnerable individual Australian wildlife species and their habitats on the Tweed Coast is inappropriate for this day and age of disappearing species and habitats.

In July 2005, with very little consultation, the NSW government introduced a new Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. See more about the implications of this planning law HERE.

“Administrative Law in an Environmental Context” search results at bluecray Environmental search engine
Duty of care and the precautionary principle : search results at bluecray environmental search engine.

Urban Taskforce – representing property developers

Planning Workshop Australia – Kings Forest and some other State Significant Sites’ work for developers

link on Sylvia Hale (Greens elected Member of the Legislative Council NSW) website to the Green’s Bad Developer Awards – to be announced October 15th 2009

Ian Cohen : media release Kings Forest (11th March 2010)

Some Regional Advocacy Links and EDO Compliance Portal .

Stateline NSW – Special Features: Systemic corruption in New South Wales?
View the letter from The Greens to the ICAC and the ICAC response.

search for Bob Ell development on bluecray’s ENVIRONMENTAL SEARCH engine

search for Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act on bluecray’s ENVIRONMENTAL SEARCH engine

PK and Moneybags discuss the future on the Tweed Coast

As I am writing this advocacy article, (24th September 2009) fire fighters are battling a blaze close to Kings Forest, on the Tweed Coast. While this fire has been contained, 40 ha of land has burnt, requiring 6 tankers to respond to the emergency. *The State Significant Site of Kings Forest and the surrounding area is under serious threat by a potential development being engineered by Bob Ell, one of the wealthiest people in Australia, who has a history of environmental vandalism. Development, habitat disturbance and inappropriate land management in Australia’s eastern coastal strip between Brisbane and Byron Bay has led to vaste numbers of native Australian fauna and flora disappearing forever from this zone.

The creation of Kings Forest as a State Significant Site and Part 3A, as successfully lobbied for by Bob Ell’s Leda Group ??(see Planning Workshop Australia above), has resulted in limited appeal actions on the part of advocates and concerned parties over inappropriate development there. To understand how Part 3A of the NSW works – try this link here to the Nature Conservation Council articles on Part3A of the Environment Planning & Assessment Act in NSW

When fires occur in the Australian landscape, many species are equipped with survival mechanisms that help them withstand the pressures of fire regimes so that these species can survive the ravages of fire in the Australian landscape.

However, when there is little resilient native bushland left about the area burnt, the wildlife and native plant populations can be stressed beyond repair. As development increases on the coastal strip, and as more people arrive to live in that region, more fires will become the norm. People often light fires, and the more people that are living in an area can often equate to more fires being lit.

Phantom Koala is hoping that love of Australia’s Natural Heritage will prevail over money and ego of developers and planners who use the Part3A of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act to over- develop the remaining low coastal remnant habitats of the Tweed Coast.

Phantom Koala hopes that the spread of Coastal development from SE Qld into NE NSW doesn't become the development from 'ell

And while you are here, have a look at these:-

AFAC 2009 - Annual AFAC Conference Incorporating the Bushfire CRC Conference. AFAC = Australasian Fire & Emergency Service Authorities Council

“Determining the distribution and abundance of a regional koala population in south-east Queensland for conservation management” 2004, at CSIRO Publishing by David S. Dique, Harriet J. Preece, Jim Thompson and Deidré L. de Villiers

PK and Benoit look at biodiversity v's moneybags. They see that moneybags makes things empty, and biodiversity makes things beautiful and abundant

## Developments under the umbrella of “its ok if we make it into some type of environmental Koala sight seeing tour” or more hollow motherhood statement theme developments that are based on tokenism as opposed to valid sustainable environmental practices that cater for many individual Australian Wildlife HABITATS that are required for BIODIVERSITY resilience.

Tim Flannery on Biodiversity - Copenhagen Climate Council at bluecray Environmental Search

“A Balance of Faeries” 1989 by al at bluecray – a true story about Koala Habitat Destruction, and how little by little, the Koala Habitat of SE QLD and NE NSW, if continually destroyed at the rate it is, will have far reaching consequences for our Children’s future. “A Balance of Faeries” tells us that the destruction of small, seemingly insignificant parcels of biodiversity in our natural landscapes, leaves us increasingly exposed to the greater forces of nature, WIND, SUN, HEAT, RAIN, FLOOD, FIRE . And that, folks, can lead to some rather harsh realities!

*AND one more thing – concerning BUFFER ZONES and KOALAS: the concept of a 50m buffer zone is an absurd and very much an “80′s way of appeasing developers’ mindsets or trying to enlighten politicians who still hadn’t been educated.

Lobbying for , say a 50m Buffer zones about large non sustainable developments does a disservice to KOALAS and all Australian native wildlife. Particularly threatened species. Buffer zones are a concept that came about to help ease political mindset into caring for our Natural Resources adn Natural Heritage. We must move forwards in a clever way now, and really see what chronic non environmentally sustainable over-urbanisation of our East coast Australian landscape is doing to our biodiverse ecological heritage. If we must lobby for buffer zones – at least one or two Km is the barest minimum – preferably more.

Many native animals need quite a few kilometres of habitat to live and reproduce in, particularly if the area is already degraded. Some need even more. Buffer zones are not really an adequate way of addressing danger and stress to threatened species when non sustainable urban development is in the area.

Animals do not read maps, follow scientific reasoning or keep up with where the next quick multi billion dollar development is being orchestrated. Some small native wildlife- threatened native species adapt, if they are able to, to small buffer zones, like ones I have seen suggested – 50 m, but the stresses and the pressure from urbanisation will eventually take their toll. Mostly, even a few kilometres is far from adequate, when it comes to other environmental issues, such as fire, climate change and human settlement consequences – fire, pests, domesticated animals gone wild, noise and light to name a few.

Particularly over time, “buffer zone” is a term that is long outdated. Integration of landscape features, infrastructure development and environmentally sustainable living necessitates that we move beyond this false concept, and move directly to honest and authentic land custodianship and land and water stewardship. The ’80′s concept of “wildlife corridors” must also be viewed in the wider context, for the 21st Century and beyond.

Habitat Clearing and habitat fragmentation, that is done little by little, is such a serious threat to the Koala and indeed, all native Australian Wildlife, that we, as responsible Australian Citizens, can no longer turn a blind eye, and allow inappropriate “supposed Environmental Stewardship”, under the guise of “necessary development” to continue.

“don’t be fooled again”

NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water : Summaries of Legislation (ACTS) that the Department operates under
NSW Department of Planning… and the legislation and planning instruments associated with it

Environment and Planning Law in NSW : (book reviews etc) : Environmental and Planning Law in New South Wales By Rosemary Lyster, Zada Lipman, Nicola Franklin 2007
Bluecray Environmental Advocacy Links for the Mt Warning Caldera Region of NE NSW & SE QLD, Australia

EDO New South Wales Ltd – while you are there, check out the Compliance Portal – for environmental advocacy help in understanding matters such as Planning & Development, Land Clearing, Water, Threatened Species & Land
Northern Rivers EDO Office – Lismore, NE NSW
Caldera Environment Centre
“A preliminary investigation of the distribution of koalas and their potential habitat in the Tweed Shire, and implications for management” by Judy Faulk Australian Zoologist, June 1991 Vol. 27(1 & 2). ##You may find it here at the Royal Zoological Society of NSW in the Journals. Alternatively, try this google search : australian zoologist June 1991 Vol. 27(1 & 2)
Draft National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy 2009-2014 – submissions close COB 5th August 2009 and the National Koala Conservation Strategy 1998
Tweed Shire Koala Habitat Atlas this was created 1993 ?by the Tweed Shire Council with the assistance of the Australian Koala Foundation
“Clearing the Habit of Habitat Clearing” – at Journey for Wisdom in the Land

Incoming Searches: australian native animal droppings, hazell donna australia, hortico weed killer MIX DIRECTIONS, plant in transit2012, swallowtail butterfly nsw australia

Environmental Advocacy Collages – Phantom Koala

al — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:21:26 +0000

“Phantom Koala” (PK) has been travelling about the Mt Warning Caldera Region in SE Qld & NE NSW, Australia. He became a “HERO” after journeying to find his mother, who was trapped in the Kings Forest Area of the Tweed Coast. During his “lifetime”, Koala numbers have diminished dramatically along the central eastern coastal and hinterland strip of Australia due to the unsustainable development of SE Qld and NE NSW.

PK looks out over the Hinze Dam and the Gold Coast in SE Qld. Where there was once a diverse network of wetlands, littoral forest and heathlands, interspersed by dry and wet schlerophyll forest and rainforests, there are now drains, canal estates, shopping centres, roads and housing acreage mowed bare and lacking in biodiverse health. The water aquifers are mostly unmonitored throughout this region and the ground water tables have been altered dramatically over the past decades to accommodate unsustainable development at the expense of future native wildlife habitats.

PK’s adventures it seems, are far from over. He journeys about, looking at infrastructure and development management by governments and corporations/powerful developers, human settlements, habitat restoration, land & water custodianship, and land stewardship in general, within the Mt Warning Caldera Region of eastern Australia.

PK travels to Mt Warning to visit his family in “Corridors Conservation & Phantom Koala”

PK travels to Mt Warning, and on the way he meets up with Chin Ting, the dragonfly, who gives PK a Warning!!! in “Phantom Koala and the Roadworks”

Phantom Koala ponders a big fire in the Mt Warning Caldera Region in “Australia’s Bushfire Legacy : an Ash Oracle”

PK travels to Beechmont (hinterland of the Gold Coast, SE Qld – Mt Warning Caldera Region) in “Organic Gardening & Growing the Biosphere”

PK then heads toward Kings Forest, past the developments on the Tweed Coast, NE NSW in “Pk ponders past Pottsville for Food”

PK and Litoria (a little native frog) meet at the roundabout. They have been facing strenuous peril on their holiday north across the coastal border of NSW & QLD in “Holiday time for PK and Litoria at Egg Rock”

PK learns about the spraying of glyphosate in the catchments of the Mt Warning Caldera Region in “PK and Litoria look for Rufous Bettong – a threatened species listed as vulnerable by the NSW Government” and later find out the “Wildlife leaves the Glyphosate Bank to find refuge in an Organic Garden”

A Balance of Faeries

Phantom Koala (PK) and Litoria decide it is safer to stay in the forest, than venture to the Australian Treasury and plead their case for more Biodiversity. They trust that Nature will teach Australians in the end, to care for the Land and it’s “Balance of Faeries”. How caring for Koalas and caring for their forest corridors can lead us into a sustainable future is woven into “Australia’s drop in the Ocean – the Draft Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill is open for comment”

PK worries for the fauna of Kings Forest and their wellbeing in “Kings Forest Project Development – sleepless days and nights to come for endangered species”

Pk and the Planner have a dream together……..

“When Phantom Koala was Young” tells the story of how PK lost his mother when she went on her yearly journey to the coastal trees, their saga, & how eventually he found her, only to be separated by a huge road and high fences.

After travelling yearly to the meeting place and long nights of talking with his mother, across the giant highway, separated by fences, Phantom Koala finally grows into adulthood. He (PK) is told by the Birds of the Land that “There is a Way!” to find his Mom.

PK journeys a long hard trek in the poem “There is a Way”, and after many weeks, he finally finds his mother. FACE to FACE at last.! His mother recounts how she has been trapped in a forest (Kings Forest), surrounded by farmland, degraded bushlands and developing housing estates. But in “There is a Way” they are finally reunited. However, the journey was hard.

PK had to brave long, terrifying roads, wild and domestic dogs, expanses of wasteland and fenced human settlements. His journey to find his mother turned him into a “HERO”. He now travels about the Mt Warning Caldera Region of NE NSW and SE QLD, Australia. The native wildlife are his friends. He has no tracker attached to him from inquiring scientists, and he can now travel just about anywhere he likes, because, he is a “HERO”. Protected by the Spirit Guardians of the Land and more than money can buy (love)- PK is a miracle “HERO”, full of love, laughter and immortality. He shares his insights to us about our human lifestyles and habits. His mission is to help all his friends in the bush regain their natural HERITAGE.

there is a way

Phantom Koala was first conceived back in 1995, when a Koala came knocking on my door, late one night, as I was starting to create a piece of artwork, high up on the Beechmont Plateau, near Lamington National Park, in the Gold Coast Hinterland of SE QLD. I have developed his concept over the years, and finally he has joined me on this bluecray website, as an educational and artistic form of environmental advocacy for helping native wildlife regain their natural heritage in Australia.

Incoming Searches: images of mt warning, collage with indigenous material, australia forest koala, collage making with indigenous materials, fauna night, identify animal droppings in brisbane garden, Koolabare mobi, pk com koola bare