Jan Feb 2022

January and February 2022 Campaigns Report by Lois Levy

Volunteers are wanted to help with all these campaign actions.
Submissions due – nil
Mail Out
20211206_Objection_Water Mine_Numinbah Valley
20220114_Sub_QREZ
20110110_Discussion_DES_Animal Relocation Discussion Paper
20220128-LTR_Ministers for TMR/Environment
20220126_ltr_MinisterWater_Moratorium
20220127_Sub_Federal Treasury_Budget
20220201_ltr_Central CofC_BeachBars
20220206_Submission_DES_EPA
Mail In:
20211123_Reply from_GCCC_Fauna-Bridges

Gecko Campaigns groups the matters that arise under four broad headings of climate change; biodiversity; protection of public open space; liveability and planning sustainability.

An EPA: Gecko joined with many other conservation groups in making a submission on the urgent need for an independent Environment Protection Agency in Queensland.

Climate Change:
Strategy:- Goals – to increase public awareness; maintain research of Climate Council and Skeptical Science websites; investigate involvement in the GC student strike movement ; to develop a strategy to request a council/community climate action strategy.
GCCAN- Gecko continues to work with other groups in the Gold Coast Climate Action Network and attended a Zoom meeting with 19 other groups all engaged in some form of work relating to sustainability or climate change advocacy. The next steps for this are under discussion.
REZ – Renewable Energy Zones: Gecko made a submission generally supporting the Government’s plans for a Renewable Energy Zone Technical Paper, but raising issues of low targets, the lack of discussion of the impact of such projects on the natural environment, the lack of a transition plan away from fossil fuels , failure to address potential conflict issues between farmers and renewable energy project, and the lack of whole of life planning or circular economy requirements.
Council: Gecko is still waiting for a response to three letters sent on this matter and will now put in a formal complaint.
Beacon project – Griffith Uni Beacon Team have asked that Gecko partner with them to host a webinar in March on the update to the IPPC Report specifically to our region.
Climate Action NOW signs – These are available at Gecko House now for people to put up in legal prominent places. A register must be signed when taking the signs so they can be tracked.

Biodiversity

Federal Govt. Budget Submission: Gecko sent a submission to Treasury asking them to consider a range of environmental issues which need funding including the Threatened Species Recovery Hub as this has finished its funding in December 2021.
Translocation of Animals Paper; Concerns have been raised about the lack of proper process in management of wildlife made homeless by the clearing of bushland or other habitat. Gecko and other conservation groups are pursuing the issue of compensation for wild care volunteers who have considerable expenses caring for wildlife left homeless from development and infrastructure clearing of their habitat.
National Parks:
A new national park known as The Lakes has been declared in an area of high biodiversity north of Hughenden. The Department of Environment partnered with The Nature Conservancy and the Wyss Foundation to purchase this important property. This an another small addition to the protected estate on the road to achieving 17% of land area by 2030.
Ecotourism in national parks: Gecko is beginning a campaign to reign in the Government’s desire to exploit national parks for the benefit of tourism operators and recreational users. With only 8.3% of land as protected area, when the international standard in 17%, too much is going to commercial enterprise and unsuitable recreation such as mountain bikers.
Nerang National Park: The MTB riders continue to build new illegal trails and QPWS is having great difficulty stopping them. Clinton Brewer has joined the Stakeholder group as the Indigenous representative for the Kombumerri with Ted Williams for the Dangan Ballum native title group. The next Stakeholder meeting has been postponed to a date to be advised. Gecko understands that some of the illegal trails have been closed.
Tree Canopy Report: A speaker from Council will present progress on this Report at Gecko talks in early 2022. Gecko is still waiting for an answer from Council asking about the status of implementation of this report. There are some good recommendations about changes to the planning system to protect trees. https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/urban-tree-canopy-study.pdf
Council Review of Our Natural City Strategy. Grounded Consultants will get this consultation out to the general public in 2022.

We are also waiting on the Threatened Species Plan.

Water Mining Moratorium for Springbrook and Mt Tambourine: Gecko has written to the Minister for Water to ask for the moratorium to the extended past March 6th as the scientific studies on the impact of water mining are not yet available.
Ground Water Extraction application for Numinbah Valley Gecko has made a submission and it is waiting on a Council decision
Ground Water Extraction at Springbrook (GWE). The court case will be held over 2 weeks from 14th February 2022. Research on another issue found that “impacts to groundwater resources are not addressed directly in the Gold Coast City Plan. The Gold Coast City Plan addresses groundwater impacts indirectly by limiting project activities that have the potential to negatively impact the environmental values outlined in the overlays and supporting regulations. Groundwater is deemed to be an aquatic ecosystem of high ecological value”

Transport impact on biodiversity
Coomera Connector Stage 1. The next Stakeholder meeting is due on 23rd February. Koala tracking is taking place for Stage 1 and 2 and construction of the first bridge is underway. Issues of suitable habitat for translocation of koalas are being discussed. Gecko also raised the issue of translocation of other wildlife make homeless by this road.
Coomera Connector Stage 2 – the initial consultation has been completed and the the TMR route was found to be the best route.

There is great concern of the impact on koalas and birds in the Eagleby wetlands. Location and tagging of koalas is occurring in the Stage 2 area.

M1 Extensions – Varsity to Tugun (VL2T).

No new information
Light Rail – Stage 3 is stalled as the contract with John Holland Company has not been signed.
Stage 4 – TMR are surveying the route. Gecko continues to lobby for the construction of fauna overpasses at Burleigh Heads and Currumbin prior to the light rail stage 4 beginning. Gecko has asked for a joint meeting between Minister Bailey, TMR and Minister Scanlon, Environment.

Public Open Space

Currumbin Eco-Park – The initial consultation via a survey has closed and those interested in face to face consultation will have registered. Gecko has raised concerns that the Economic Department which is in charge of the “ development’ of this parkland has put out a plan before consulting with the public, so pre-empting discussion. Gecko is also calling for ecological studies to be updated prior to any further consultation so that we know what is there which needs to be protected.
Rock View Park, Palm Beach – Gecko is urgently seeking a meeting with Council officers about this small Oceanside park as information has come to hand that they are considering removing bushland planted by volunteers along the spit area to make a picnic area for dog area owners!.
The Spit Master Plan – The consultation regarding Federation Walk Coastal Reserve appears to have been taken over by Council officers, with minimal contact with Lyn Wright of Friends of Federation Walk. Gecko is opposed to the suggestions of car parks, picnic areas and concrete paths in the Coastal reserve. The company 8LA will be responsible for bringing forth ideas for further discussion in February. Council was not fully engaged in The Spit Master Plan process and appears determined to override it.
Beach Bar trial for Kurrawa Beach will continue until mid-March as the first 6 weeks were so wet that Council said reliable statistics could not be obtained. Gecko remains opposed to this beach bar, because of the precedent issue and because it is contrary to Local Law 10 and the Coastal management Policy. Gecko has written to the Central Chamber of Commerce asking for their views since the beach bar is unfair competition with some of their members offering the same services.

Council does not have State Government permission for this beach bar and is pretending that it is an event on the beach to get around this.

Curlew Island; No response yet to the letter Gecko has written to the Minister for Planning and cc Minister for Environment re the urgent need for a Trustee for Curlew Island. The Island now has Environment Reserve status, but no trustee so there is no management of the island and the number of boaties with dogs arriving is increasing.

Liveability and a Green City Planning.

Amendments 2 &3 to the City Plan have been sent to State Government for endorsement. It appears that State Government officers are opposed to many of the small improvements the community has asked for. Gecko is working with the Community Alliance to get discussion happening with amendments 4 and 5 which apparently will now go out in small “ bites” to make it easier for the public to understand. No-one in Council appears to be championing sustainability in development.
Oxenford Quarry –. The company has lodged an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court and in the meantime Council has agreed to the quarry continuing to operate with stricter conditions for the next 2 years during the likely time period for the appeal. 24 Residents Against the Quarry Expansion are co-respondents and have sought legal advice about the extension of time.

Developer use of public parklands – Gecko is following up on the renting out of public parks for developers and their equipment. Other groups are also advocating for this practice to stop.

The Community Alliance: A meeting was held for the formation of a Palm beach-Elanora Community group and was attended by about 25 people. A small steering committee has been set up to progress this initiative further. The Community Alliance will endeavour to set up more community groups throughout the city in the next two years.
The CA members are developing a strategy for reform of planning legislation and this will be the subject of the next meeting. This is also supported by the SEQ Community Alliance which is considering a series of planning forums beginning in March 2022.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Strategic Planning for the Campaign Team: Strategies for each of the goals are being developed and the update to the website for each area of endeavour is nearly complete.

We value that:-
 All life on Earth has a right to exist in reasonable conditions and humans should not have the right to exploit other species or destroy their habitat.
 Our work should be based on known science, respect for life and respectful communication with others
 The work of other conservation and community groups and the opportunities for mutual support are recognised and appreciated.
 Proactive work is preferable to reactive work
Goals: The Team’s goals for the four main areas of endeavor of Climate change; Biodiversity; public open space; planning.

Climate Change – to advocate, for effective action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to all levels of government and within all sectors of the community for the benefit of all living species.
Biodiversity – to advocate for the protection of all native species through increases in the extent of protected areas, such as land and marine national parks and conservation reserves, and improved funding for effective management. Better legislation is also needed for all areas of development.
Public Open Space – to advocate for the protection and increase of public open space and its vegetation for the health and well-being of the growing population.

Further to advocate for the implementation of an urban forest policy and register of the city’s significant trees.

Livability and a Green City – to advocate for the adoption of sustainability objectives in city planning, infrastructure provision and development to ensure a livable and attractive city for residents and visitors.

New Portfolios Queensland State Cabinet: https://cabinet.qld.gov.au/ministers.aspx
Minister for Environment, Great Barrier Reef and Science, Megan Scanlan; Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey; Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport, Stirling Hinchliffe; Minister for Resources, Scott Stewart; Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Michael de Brenni; Deputy Premier; Minister for State Development , Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Stephen Miles.