The Beechmont Plateau was largely a cleared section of the Mt Warning Caldera Region during the 20th century. Photos from the 1930′s show the plateau as having large bare expanses from habitat clearing,  clear felling and extensive timber getting.

Many weed species (eg privet, lantana ) and some remnant wet and dry sclerophyll forest  have now revegetated the plateau and its escarpments, which was intensively farmed by the dairy industry up until  deregulation began just before the turn of this century. Fires are a regular hot weather feature on the escarpments and some sections of the plateau. I have spent many nights watching fires burn out of control about the plateau, and quite a few houses have been destroyed by fire and landslides over the years . Indiscriminate clearing and burning off is still taking place.

In this photo, Phantom Koala watches a “farmer” on Beechmont Plateau burn trees that have been cleared

The plateau and its escarpment is under pressure from development as more land is currently being subdivided and sold for housing estates and smaller rural pursuits. This may or may not be a good thing for biodiversity and the water aquifers, depending on the land and water stewardship that prevails into the future.

The Beechmont Plateau is flanked by the open and closed sclerophyll forests and rainforests of the Land Warfare Centre (Canungra), to the west, the Lamington National Park with its Upper Coomera River Catchment to the west and south. These include biodiverse rainforest Gondwana Heritage habitats and ecosystems. To the east lies more diverse Gondwana Heritage wonders of the Springbrook Plateau and much of the Nerang River Catchment and (the Hinze Dam Catchment). This water of the Nerang river Catchment is now part of the SE QLD WATER GRID. The basaltic aquifers of the region are largely unmonitored.

Environmental Advocacy Collage : Beechmont Plateau, SE QLD, Australia

Back in the early 1990′s two gifted environmentalists, Iris Flenady and Ros Woodburn created, a beautiful educational package for schools to use, concerning Remnant Vegetation Restoration and Habitat Rescue. This Book, “Rescuing Remnants” is worth a look at, and bluecray recommends its use in helping teachers grasp Remnant Vegetation Educational plans and methods.

On a more scientific level, Robert Kooyman‘s works, in association with other authors gives us a rich insight into the complexities of Native Vegetation in the Mt Warning Caldera Region of NE NSW and SE Qld. More about some of Robert Kooyman’s work can be seen here at Rainforest Rescue .

Opportunities for combined agroforestry, carbon sequesration and biodiversity within the Scenic Rim (Mt Warning (or WOLLUMBIN) Caldera Region of Australia).

Having attended an agroforestry workshop over a decade ago, in the “high country” of the old Beaudesert Shire, I became convinced back then, that these three components:- agroforestry, biodiversity and carbon sequestration can work very well within the Mt Warning Caldera Region, if put together using the soundest of authentic Land and Water (Environmental) Stewardship principles. The New South Wales Good Wood guide is a splendid start to understanding the types of trees that can be grown within this region. Should you be interested in further discussions concerning this article, please do not hesitate to contact me at bluecray.org

NSW Good Wood Guide :-

Agroforestry LINKS at bluecray.org

Beechmont at wikipedia

The work done by the Rescuing Remnants volunteers , beginning almost two decades ago has created stands of native endemic, largely rainforest plantings that can show the level of Carbon sequestration that is possible in the region of the Mt Warning (Wollumbin) Caldera.

If the stands of trees that have been planted would be measured, (which would be rather easy) they could readily show what level of Carbon sequestration is possible on this and the neighbouring Springbrook Plateaus.

These plantings are a valuable heritage that is directly related to Iris and Ros’s dedication and to the National Parks and Wildlife people, numerous volunteers, landholders, teachers and school children who participated in the Rescuing Remnants program. Some of the Remnant to Remnant plantings are on private land, some on public land. Many are now forming small forested “islands” of rich biodiversity and valuable seed for the birds and other fauna of the area to spread across the Plateau and surrounding region, by natural means. This is a wonderful example of Land and Water Stewardship.

I am not too sure if this program is still running, but I had had some involvement with it years back, and it was a highly valuable education resource for both the school at Beechmont and the community at large. It was dependent on the dedication of the School, community and National Parks to mention some key “players”.

A nice reference for this area is “TAMING the PLATEAU – HISTORY of the BEECHMONT DISTRICT”. compiled and edited by Robert Longhurst. ISBN 064612353X

Rescuing Remnants Beechmont – search results at bluecray Environmental Search Engine. There is not much on the internet about the Rescuing Remnants program. I will ask about it next time I am on the Plateau and see what is happening concerning any recent/ongoing community work with the program, and fill in details as soon as I can.

A beautiful area to the west of the Beechmont Plateau, is the Back Creek Gorge (see google search for Back Creek Gorge conservation association) ( + Killarney Glen – now in the Canungra Land Warfare custodianship?), which the Fitzgerald Family worked hard to preserve and conserve for many years.

The World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests are  found along the border of NE NSW and SE QLD, and a map of their location can be downloaded at Australia’s World Heritage page at the Australian Government’s Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Gold Coast City Council, SE Queensland

Scenic Rim Regional Council, SE Queensland

Dry Sclerophyll Forest &  Wet sclerophyll Forest : search results at bluecray Environmental search engine

The geology of this plateau largely explains what type of vegetation units once were present, and why open and closed forests, wet and dry rainforests occur where they do. I shall endeavour to write more on this at a later date.

basaltic soils SE QLD : bluecray environmental search engine results

rhyolitic soils SE QLD : bluecray environmental search engine results

The Rainforest Information Centre .

See also “Carbon Trading in the USA” at ABC Landline archives October 2009. This story illustrate what happens when the “free market” is allowed to take over what is essentially an environmental issue that needs to be kept out of the hands of those people whose ego’s and greed is running amok, and placed back into the hands of caring land and water stewards.

AND LASTLY, here are some links to other stories that I have written about education and biodiversity that you may find interesting:-

Stewardship – the Balances

Australia’s Drop in the Ocean – the Draft Carbon Pollution Reduction  Scheme Bill – and a brief outline as to WHY Australia’s economy would be best suited to being based on BIODIVERSE FOREST establishment across as much of the continent as possible, and employing endemic, provincial, genetically diverse seed and propagation materials for the Forests.

A Balance of Faeries – revisited:- a story about clearing fragile remnants where Koalas and other vulnerable species live, and why recovery of those remnants may never occur unless immediate authentic land and water stewardship  action is taken.

Growing by Organics – food gardens and sharing

Totem Based Education for Biodiversity :a brief outline of how Schools can introduce into the School “HOUSE” system an environmental education template for species recovery and habitat understanding at a basic and localised level.

some Bluecray Murray Darling Links

Goanna leaves the Glyphosate Bank

PK and Litoria look for Rufous Bettong

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

Benoit, my friend , a ten month old Crow (Mt Warning Caldera Region) says ".......

This Crow Poem reminds us about our personal responsibility to the beautiful life on this planet, and how we need to reign in our wasteful lifestyles and clean up our waste that we have already left all over the planet.

Cryptic Moth Productions :    ”ADDICTED TO PLASTIC  the Rise and Demise of a Modern Miracle” – a film by Ian Connacher.

Product Stewardship Bill 2011  C20011B00048 :- “ A Bill for an Act to provide a framework for reducing the environmental and other impacts of products, and for related purposes( Administered by: Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities)”  http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2011B00048

Environ. Sci. Technol., 2005, 39 (12), pp 4421–4430  Bioaccumulation of Organochlorines in Crows from an Indian Open Waste Dumping Site:  Evidence for Direct Transfer of Dioxin-Like Congeners from the Contaminated Soil

National Toxics Network:

http://www.ephc.gov.au/ : COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water – PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP :- including Australian Packaging Covenant, Beverage Containers, Televisions and Computers, Packaging Impacts and Plastic Bags. You will also find information on Industrial Residues, Movement of Controlled Waste, National Waste Policy.

• 2010 National Waste Report for Australia (http://www.ephc.gov.au/taxonomy/term/89).
• Guidelines for the Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sites :- more information about these guidelines for the  assessment, management and containment can be found at http://www.ephc.gov.au/taxonomy/term/43

Australia’s National Waste Policy at the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts . The Draft National Waste Policy Framework – opened for comment on 8 July 2009 & closed on 31 July 2009 with the Department receiving over 60 comments.

The Environment Protection & Heritage Council : The EPHC  addresses “broad national policy issues relating to environmental protection, particularly in regard to air, water, and waste matters“, as well as  natural, Indigenous and historic heritage issues.

National Environment Protection Council : a National outcome of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment (May 1st, 1992) made between the Australian Local Government Association, the Commonwealth of Australia, the six State Governments, the Northern and Australian Capital Territories. The NEPC was incorporated into the above EPHC in 2001.

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

Riki Ott’s website : author of “Not one Drop”, Riki Ott  is a community activist, a former commercial salmon “fisherm’am,” and has a degree in marine toxicology with a specialty in oil pollution. She understands (first hand) the Exxon Valdez oil spill and has some valuable resources on her website, especially relating to oil spills and the issues of  “Corporate Personhood,” which can be defined simply as “the illegitimate notion that a corporation can claim political and civil rights to overturn democratically enacted laws”

Boomerang Alliance :

Michael Reynolds and Earthship Biotecture Green Buildings and Garbage Warrior , a film by Oliver Hodge

Gyrating Crow at phansythat.blogspot

Crows : info and photos about the Torresian Crow – an Australian native bird.

There is  plenty of info, on the internet for and about CROWS.

If you want to find out more about my friend, BENOIT, have a look at my “Wisdom in the Land” Bluecray blogspot .

I have known Benoit for over nine months now. He is a wild Crow, and his parents and siblings are also all wild.   He chose come to visit me, when he first flew from his nest, in the Crow’s Ash Tree beside my home.  Gradually, over time, he and I have become “friends” and he will now fly onto my arm, and talk with me. He also likes to sit on my head and yell very loudly!!! He is extremely bright, and his parents have their work cut out for them, in raising him, with his two other siblings, Baba (the elder, very brave crow) and Lucy (the youngest, who everyone loves.!)

*********************************

Benoit and his father, with some Spangled Drongos (migratory species) and little Litoria sp. frog : some of the Australian Native Wildlife affected by clearfelling of Habitat for Green Fuel on the east coast of Australia.

I have added the above environmental advocacy collage of Benoit(photo taken just before he left the nursery) and his Father (taken in October 2010).

Benoit has been gone from the crow “nursery” for over a year now. His father and mother have since raised two more youngsters (fledged 2009), who have also left, after spending ten months in the nursery. These two young crows can sometimes be seen flying overhead, at a respectful distance from the nursery, occassionally with Benoit.

There are now more young crow babies in the nest(August 2010), and they shall probably leave the nest and take their first flight in a matter of days from now. Unfortunately, the BIOFUEL industry has clear felled much of their nursery area for “green fuel”, leaving much bare and degraded land. However, the parents and 3rd lot of youngsters appear to be OK. I have been helping them out with some extra food and daily clean water, which they very much appreciate. Many of the local birds and other wildlife, however, including at least two endangered Rufous Bettongs have lost their homes and habitats, to this most dishonourable clear felling.

February 2011. Only one baby crow survived the nesting period in 2010. The goannas, many of them, came through the Crow nursery during early spring. The mother and father CROWS spent three weeks, fighting off the goannas, but eventually, a goanna took three babies from the nest, and left only one survivor, a little crow baby who I named  Neo Jack.

Neo Jack’s photo is below:-

Neo two weeks fledged, and some local clearing for biofuel near Burringbar, NE NSW, Australia.

The Mt Warning Region, on the east coast of Australia has vegetation remnants that suggest the region has good resilience to drought continental conditions over time.

Three other important regions that can withstand drier trans-continental periods are the Temperate Rainforests of Victoria, the Dorrigo Plateau Region, Eastern NSW  and Far North Queensland Rainforests.

• bluecray Regional Environmental News – Mt Warning Caldera : WATER
• Water Links SE QLD and NE NSW
• What is an ecological community? and more at  NSW Government Threatened Species
• SE QLD Hazards & Risks at Geoscience Australia –  This is a Group of PDF files that can be downloaded separately so, have a look:- includes chapters on flood, east coast risks, cyclones, multi hazard risk assessment

Australian Government National Water Commission

Weather – Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

To understand our use of, and impact on the basaltic aquifers of the Mt Warning Caldera Region, monitoring is urgently needed. WHY? Because human populations and settlements are increasing steadily in this Region of NE NSW and SE QLD, Australia.

Kremen Lab Group : “In California, our recent findings show that a diverse community of native bee pollinators can provide sufficient pollination services for crops without the addition of managed colonies of honey bees (Kremen et al. 2002), but that this service critically depends on the availability of natural habitat in proximity to the farm site (Kremen et al. 2004). Farm management (organic versus conventional) may also influence the diversity and abundance of native bees found on farms.”  taken from Current Projects at Dr. Kremen’s (University of California, Berkeley, USA) research website

**FOR People wishing to find useful community submission information please see this article: – January 2012 SUBMISSIONS for Kings Forest INFORMATION**

Acid Sulfate Soils Background Information

• ACID SULFATE SOILS are a component of the Kings Forest Project Development, Kingscliff. I have recently added some ACID SULFATE SOIL (ASS) links in bluecray’s  Ecosystems Links PAGE . 

I have recently (Dec. 2011 – Jan 2012) updated some of this article, to include more specific points regarding this highly environmentally degrading development that should have never, in the first place been allowed, in its current form,  by the Australian Government, NSW LABOUR Government and the Tweed Shire Council.

Kings Forest Proposal and Submission Information

• The Proposal Information and ongoing submission stages of this State Significant Site can be found at:- http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au.
• The Caldera Environment Centre has valuable information for any person wishing to make submissions on this ecologically degrading and shameful Part 3A development that is occurring in the Wetland Catchment Area of the Tweed Coast. (December 2011)
• Kings Forest Submissions 2012 – article at bluecray.org – helpful community submission information
• Australian Government’s Ecologically Sustainable Development website and information about Ecologically Sustainable Development

below are some  other bluecray articles regarding this Kings Forest Development and the surrounding / adjacent areas:-

• Kings Forest Investment Property – Wetland Habitat Destruction on the Tweed Coast (bluecray’s article on Kings Forest (25th Dec. 2011)
• Illegal Clearing Cudgen Nature Reserve – a balance of faeries revisited (17th Nov. 2011)
• Kings forest development threatens 21 threatened species of fauna (28th Feb. 2009) - this article gives a list of some of the Threatened Species at risk from this non ecologically sustainable, intense development. Bluecray recommends that this Kings forest development should have detailed species (for flora and fauna and ecological communities) “management” plans, for each and every species and community that is under threat from this development. Bluecray also recommends that on site monitoring and ongoing evaluations by local wildlife and vegetation / ecological “experts” should be included in every stage of this development. this should be done at the cost to Leda (the developers).
• Endangered Ecological Community and Kings Forest Development, Tweed Coast, NE NSW. (7th Oct. 2009)  (this is one of the ecological communities of the Tweed area that is NOT considered in any of the plans – due to timing of its listing)

** A NOTE to the thousands of readers who have visited or are currently visiting bluecray’s articles on KINGS FOREST, Kingscliff, Tweed Shire. ( 12th December 2011) , cheers, Alison Polistchuk 

• **Due to the ongoing ignorant and at times ruthless battle that is stirring concerning the Kings FOREST KOALAS and other  Endangered (threatened species), the CONTINUED degradation of Australia’s disappearing wetlands,  and lack of care by individuals & corporate entities towards the people of  NE NSW and SE QLD:-  bluecray has decided to tag, point out and consolidate historical investigations, documents, and evidence. (oh, and by the way, I suggest to any that may be involved in considering threat /nuisance toward both bluecray and the author, that there are, as I write, higher entities concerned, who are watching.) Please, to ALL involved…. why not stay in the light, work with creative love and integrity! When under pressure, creative loving educational solutions are much stronger, than brute force, ignorance, back room agendas and subversive threats and bullying tactics.  

If you are searching for information that may be helpful in EDUCATING  Tweed Shire Councillors , individual men and women running and employed by (either directly or indirectly) the Leda (property development group) and the NSW Government, try searching for “ESD Strategies at the Local Government Level”  (environment 21) . This will lead you to a  a Case Study of the City of Newcastle by Darren McKay and Ray Rauscher from the University of Newcastle. This document is a good recent historical educational study on ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT as conducted via international agreements, Federal / State law and policy procedures and the Role of Local Government. It will bring you up to speed on the background surrounding Ecologically Sustainable Development in Australia. Some of the document’s references to policy and law have changed, (eg. the Federal Labour Government ratified the Kyoto Protocol in late 2007) since it was published, but, it gives a concise historical perspective on many of the issues facing local councils in implementing Ecologically Sustainable Development.

Some general info about KINGS FOREST

• Kings Forest Development includes areas of cleared land that could be (and could have been) regenerated to enhance the wetland  habitats and nearby ecological units. This “State Significant Site”  has a long history of community, technical and scientific concern about it’s future. In the hands of developers – currently  the Leda Group, it is being scrutinised by the Tweed Shire Council and the NSW Department of Planning.  Kings Forest requires as much public input as possible to ensure that its habitats and the vital “corridor” role that it plays for vulnerable species such as Koalas and other native flora and fauna in the Mt Warning Caldera Region are protected and enhanced.
• The areas about the Kings Forest site  are already under much development pressure, as is much of the Tweed Shire Region, which is contained completely within the Mt Warning Caldera Region of NE NSW, Australia. These development pressures already include INFRASTRUCTURE and  AIRCRAFT noise components. The  Gold Coast Airport’s Key Flight Tracks detail flight tracks for aircraft both arriving and departing. Information clearly shows many regular nearby & overhead daily flights of large aircraft. The Aircraft Noise Maps for the Tweed Coast can be found here.
• Sensitive nature and wetland areas are adjacent to Kings Forest. Wetlands have been cleared and almost totally destroyed along the entire Tweed Shire and adjoining Gold Coast Coastlines. Kings Forest is no exception. It deserves much scrutiny and attention by planners and other government authorities and agencies. Wildlife that is still currently surviving by running before the bulldozers, will go into surrounding bushland, where further stresses on Native Wildlife Habitat will occur. Drainage and CATCHMENT ALTERATION will also create stress for Migratory  and other wildlife relying on current water table and wetland habitats, as they try to adapt to a rapidly changing and degenerating ecosystem. This development is full of “Motherhood Statements” and disgraceful “Smoke and  Mirrors” and Machiavellian Scenarios.  The KINGS FOREST Development, Kingscliff  holds many stories. Some are still unfolding. The documents attached to this development are expansive. Take the time to research, as there is much more to this development than meets the eye.

• Koala Corridors and Buffers Zones should be part of the WHOLE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. The area being developed for human settlement and infrastructure SHOULD include a whole plan approach, whereby the KOALA and ITS HABITAT is integral and 100% incorporated into the whole design. This should be so for ALL the native wildlife species that rely in part, or totally on the Kings Forest area for SURVIVAL. To do this, the number of houses/ size of urban stages must be dramatically decreased and designed in a way that more open natural space and connectivity is promoted. 

• This is the same for ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES :-  water storage for each house; SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT and WASTE MINIMISATION – throughout both the construction and urbanisation phases; improved and enhanced wetland and INTEGRATED CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT & integrated native wildlife  habitat  enhancement throughout the entire development; sensible covenants on fencing, dogs, cats, rabbits, vegetation; energy efficient materials/design and development procedures & processes; local and regional environmentally sustainable employment opportunities; local food & local sustainable industry creation or mentorship (not just tokenism); fire, flood, noise, environmental and noxious weeds awareness. Town Planners know these lists more comprehensively. Tsunami and FLOOD evacuation procedures should also be incorporated fully into the design, as well as fire evacuation. This is particularly so for children/youth community and aged facilities.
• SOCIAL INCLUSION and COMMUNITY RESOURCE areas – especially for young families, youth, disadvantaged and the aged. Comprehensive Educational information for all prospective and existing settlers to the REGION can be of great value also – particularly for ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, and SOCIAL WELLBEING. TRANSPORT should be state of the art Environmentally Sustainably Networked and Implemented, by both the developer (who profits and thus should care where and how his/her profit arises) and the Governments (who should CARE and show diligent leadership).
• SHADE:- in a time of increasing Sun Cancers, the level of integrated shaded pathways, roadways, parkways, parking areas and recreational areas is important. Energy efficient Shading comes in the form of landscape/Habitat Trees. Eucalypts are not good nor safe landscape trees for this use, due to limbs constantly dropping.
•  Concerning the road linkages (that are proposed to go through the KINGS FOREST DEVELOPMENT) from the Pacific Highway through to the Tweed Coast Road and other coastal roadways servicing the urban developments on the nearby coastline (Kingscliff through to Wooyung), the question is:-  will this Major Linkage Collector Road have to cater for even more traffic than local residents?  YES, it will. The Kings Forest Stage 1 Project Application “Traffic engineering assessment” (prepared for Project 28 Pty Ltd 2nd March 2011) and the Tweed Shire Council predicts a tripling in traffic along the Tweed Coast Road eventually. Thus FOUR LANE Major Roads and COLLECTOR ROADS will carve up and destroy much more of the fragile remaining ecosystems,  creating Noise and stress  for all residents (non, 2 ,4, 6 and 8 legged).
• I would rate the  ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY of this project – on a scale from 1 to 10 as about a MINUS 5.
• Healthy minds, educated people, these days, try to do the right thing by our beautiful endangered species and their homes. However, money and power in the hands of ignorant and unwise people has time and time again created more and more destruction. The Tweed Coast attests to this. This is called “living a lie”, and it makes people sick and delusional  until they wake up and create a change for the better – both for themselves, and for others.
• The buffer zones indicated in the planning documents are highly inadequate. again, a whole development approach is required.  I recommend that Mr Ell and his team need to go back to school – primary school, and receive some education – where many small children can tell them how to make the world better, rather than making it horrible. It is never too late to change.
• There are many, many good people in Government and Industry who want to make the world a better place…. whilst compromise is  an essential part of  negotiation, things such as rapidly disappearing wetlands, native wildlife, socio-economic well being, environmentally sustainable practices dictate that a whole new game be presented to this uneven playing field. A playing field called  - Leda and the Kings Forest series of ridiculously stupid mistakes.

And now, back to the original article……………(

(This posting was originally commenced in 2009)

The extended public submissions for the Kings Forest Project in Tweed Shire, near Kingscliff, were  accepted until 2nd March 2009.

Proposed and gazetted State Significant Sites : NSW Department of Planning (I updated this above link on 26th October 2009)

The Proposal Information can be found at:- http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au.

and more information can be found in the links below.

• **Kings Forest, Kingscliffe, Tweed : 06_0318 Residential Community – Preparing Response. This is the page you can view to find out the specific details for your submission/response to the Kings Forest (coastal area subdivision) Development by Leda, on the NE Coast of NSW, near Kingscliffe.   “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.” (Project application description at NSW Department of Planning)
• According to the Tweed Border Mail, the **Tweed Shire Council has raised concerns about threats to wildlife, and stormwater, sewerage and roads provisions proposed for the almost 10,000 homes that will be included in this, the Kings Forest Project, and the nearby Cobaki Lakes development, that is also being proposed by the developers.

• The development is by Bob Ells’ Leda group.
• Sydney Morning Herald Feb 8th 2003 ”The Trick in the Tweed : take a good look at the Lie of the land” – some interesting history about the Kings Forest site 1970′s-2003
• Gold Coast City Council – 9th Nov 2007 “ Leda ordered to remediate illegally cleared land” - “Gold Coast City Council yesterday secured orders in the Planning and Environment Court compelling companies owned by Gold Coast billionaire developer Bob Ell to revegetate land that had been illegally cleared in November and December last year.City Planning Chair, Cr Ted Shepherd, said the Court had judged that Leda Developments Pty Ltd and Leda Developments No. 2 had cleared major portions of a holding of about 100 hectares at Pimpama without the relevant development permits from the Council.” view article to read more

• **  If you follow the links below, you will get to the Planning Documents for Kings Forest (Residential Community Development 06 0318 ) :- START HERE : NSW Department of Planning Home » Development Assessments » Major Project Assessments »THEN click on Major Projects Part 3A then,  Coastal Areas » Subdivisions  . You should find the Kings Forest Documents by this time.  Good luck!!!! Failing that, just click HERE : **Kings Forest, Kingscliffe, Tweed
• Environmental Assessment Exhibition – Major Project – Kings Forest (MP06_0308) Residential Community Development – Council Submission – this link now gone or moved
• Kings Forest – on Google Maps –
• Kings Forest and Development –  North Coast, New South Wales, Australia aerial photos at airviewonline.com.au
  
• The   Caldera Environment Centre in NE NSW, Australia shows insights,  in their submission to the NSW Government and objection to the planned Kings Forest and Cobakai Lakes Development , summing up  the King’s Forest Project situation very clearly. You should have a read of this Submission HERE. Well, the submission and position statement of the Caldera Environment Centre WAS there, but now, well, it is gone or moved.
• Northern River Guardians
• Big Scrub Environment Centre – Kings Forest - (http://www.bigscrub.org.au/newsletters/e-journal4.html#kings) – link gone
• Total Environment Centre – Kings Forest
• Tweed Shire Echo - has some articles relating to the Kings Forest Development

• Bluecray SEARCH results : Regional Environmental News – Mt Warning Caldera Region – Kings Forest NSW Planning
• Kings Forest and the NSW State Government **State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005 – Kings Forest as viewed by the NSW Government currently, under planning policy
• **Koala Priority Actions : NSW Department of  Environment & Climate Change
• Koala fact sheet NSW Government
• Development project threatens second largest Koala Colony in Tweed Shire - candobetter.net ** this is a good article to help you understand this development, with contact details for the project and some great Koala info
• 6 Threatened Flora species and 21 threatened FAUNA species have been identified at the Kings Forest SITE. Summaries and conclusions from the Threatened Species Management Plan for Kings Forest conclude that these threatened species will continue to persist on the site following this future development. Read this document (to be found here)
• Kings Forest Development threatenes 21 Threatened Species of Fauna . This article includes a list of some of the Threatened species that are at risk from Bob Ell’s Leda development at Kings Forest, (including the Koala -Phascolarctos cinereus ), with links to find out more about some of them.

• Convention on Biological Diversity – Treaty signed and ratified by Australia for Convention on Biological Diversity :-
• **”Conservation of biological diversity is the subject of Chapter 15 of Agenda 21, which was adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in 1992, in Rio de Janeiro. At the same Conference, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which has subsequently entered into force, was opened for signature”   (United Nations – Division for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs)
• **Tweed Shire Council Flora and Fauna Management ( there appears to be a typo on this page – it says “flora and flora” management… but I guess they mean flora and fauna!!!!) There is plenty in here to show that Kings Forest is indeed both regionally important, and important to Australia and the world, given the pressures of development on and within the region.  Koalas are only one feature of this regional importance that Kings Forest holds…. there is much much more – have a good look!!!!
• Submission on the Proposed Biodiversity Banking Scheme February 2008 – Environmental Defender’s Office and Total Environment Centre submission:-“Our concerns regarding the variation process are outlined in a letter to DECC, which can be found at: www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/policy.php. In summary, our main concerns are:………………………………………………………..As a result of widespread development throughout the Tweed Coast in the last decade, many species have had their ranges significantly reduced. Kings Forest is a regional stronghold for many species such as the Long-nosed potaroo and the planigale. This area contains the only viable areas of native vegetation faunal communities across the Tweed Coast. Large parts of this area have been flagged for development in the Far North Coast Regional Strategy because of lobbying by the development industry.”

• Tweed Development and Employment – with particular reference to the Leda Development at Kings Forest – ( Hansard Transcript – NSW Parliament 18th october 2006)
• Tweed Daily News – “Developer’s Plans Open to Public” – 16th December 2008   “ BILLIONAIRE property developer Bob Ell’s company, Leda, has lodged formal applications with the NSW Government for Tweed’s biggest yet residential developments — Cobaki Lakes on the Queensland border and Kings Forest inland of Casuarina Beach…….”  read rest of article
• Tweed Daily News 17th February 2009 “Developments Uncertain” by Peter Caton

• Biolink Ecological Consultants – they did   Kings Forest Koala  Plan of Management for Leda Devlopments
• Revised Koala Management Plan – by Ecoindig Resources – Frank Carrick superceding the above report – (Development Footprint and Native Vegetation Clearing Assessment google HTML DOC) – sorry, couldn’t find the actual report – this planning document retrieval is a nightmare!!!! but highly educational
• Landpartners – Threatened Species Management Plan Kings Forest couldn’t get their web page to work, but Google HTML doc about Landpartners is here
• Everick Heritage Consultants Pty Ltd – they did the Cultural Heritage Assessment for Kings Forest Development 2008
• Planning Workshop Australia – Kings Forest and some other State Significant Sites’ work for developers.
• Geolink Environmental Management and Design- Strategic Planning Project Planning – Kings Forest
• **jbaplanning.com.au – JBA Urban Planning Consultants : On Exhibition – Kings Forest Environmental Assessment
• Assessment of Off-Site Impacts Associated with Development inAccordance with theKings Forest Concept Plan – jbaplanning.com.au
• Threatened Species and Ecological Communities – Australian Government
• Biodiversity Assessment NE NSW – Mammals
• Bats – Australian Museum - what threatens them, photos and more
• Little Bentwing Bat (Miniopteris australis) – Little Bentwing Bat profile at NSW Threatened Species website
• The Importance of  Tree Hollows estimated 50-100 years for Hollows to occur in vegetation communities
• Little Bentwing-bat – Northern Rivers: Distribution and vegetation associations in the Northern Rivers – Threatened Species NSW
• The Little Bent-wing Bat Miniopteris australis roosting in a tree hollow -  ”location of M. australis in a tree hollow indicates that timber harvesting and land clearance may also affect roost sites at certain times of the year.“

• Phantom Koala and the Roadworks at  Bluecray Blog “A Balance of Faeries”
• A Balance of Faeries – a story about the effects of clearing vegetation in a stressed landscape bluecray.org

Little Bat finds NE NSW Coast Lifestyle, near Kings Forest to much to survive in

This little Bat in the above photo is a consequence of development – dead on the doorstep of a duplex in the housing development west of Pottsville. With 21 threatened fauna species threatened even more by Leda and the development proposed, what will be the costs, if all that stands between them, and survival, is documents written, verbal provisions made and “intentions”  outlined, when the bulldozers and engineering machinery move into Kings Forest and further develop this area?

NSW Native Vegetation Map .

“A preliminary investigation of the distribution of koalas and their potential habitat in the Tweed Shire, and implications for management”  by Judy Faulks .  I can no longer find this article/ reference to it on the internet, but you may have more luck by looking for it. I originally found it  at – 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)

• search for  Aboriginal  (Indigenous peoples) research literature for the North Coast of NSW at the Libraries Australia Search
• “A Balance of Faeries” – 1989 by al at bluecray.org : a story about Koala Habitat clearing and the consequences

The current system of education adopted by our state governments gives strong weighting to economic outcomes for our childrens’ learning. The ALP supports “Kevin Rudd’s plan for Australia’s Future”, educational directions that appear heavily weighted with economic outcomes for our childrens’ learning.

To be fair, the ALP National Platform and Constitution 2007 does include environmental educational outcomes. However, the emphasis and dominant principles appear to be weighted towards linking prosperity, productivity growth, and human capital investment, with the revolution needed to educate our coming generations. Will this education revolution really lead us into this sustainable future that the 2020 Summit will no doubt be talking about?

Perhaps the real revolution will come when the Australian Government heeds the call for giving equal priority to both economic and environmental educational outcomes.

On a Regional level, here in the Mt Warning Caldera, many environmental educational facilities, businesses and community projects are happening. The full integration of environmental understanding with economic capacity within an educational vision, relies on giving both environmental and economic values equal weighting within all levels of education. We have a ways to go yet, on this one. An example of educational institutions that have this vision may be the Steiner Schools . Possibly aboriginal communities also have the capacity to link environmental and economic education. It would appear they have a good history concerning this marriage of economy and environment, as when European settlers arrived within this region, it was abundant with biodiversity, and local tribes of indigenous people.

Let’s hope that the 2020 Summit includes the vision of a real revolution, one where environment and economy have equal weighting and merit within the education system, at all levels.