birding-aus

birding-aus Fw: [Oz-Envirolink] Press release - Endangered Daintree Cass

To: "birding-aus" <>
Subject: birding-aus Fw: [Oz-Envirolink] Press release - Endangered Daintree Cassowary population at risk through Wet Tropics Management Authority mismanagement.
From: "Bob & Sadhana Cook" <>
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:13:47 +1000

----------
> From: Hugh Spencer - AUSTROP <>
> To: 
> Subject: [Oz-Envirolink] Press release - Endangered Daintree Cassowary
population at risk through Wet Tropics Management Authority mismanagement.
> Date: Sunday, 10 October 1999 19:27
> 
> Background information available from 
> 
> 
> Attention  Environmental Reporter
> 
> 
>                        Australian Tropical Research Foundation
>                      Cape Tribulation Tropical Research Station.
> PMB 5 Cape Tribulation via Mossman                   Phone/Fax  (61)  07
> 4098 0063
> Queensland 4873                                      ACN 059 585 107
> Australia                                            e-mail -
> 
> 
> 10 Oct 1999
> 
>                                 Press Release
> 
> 
>      Endangered Daintree Cassowary population at risk through Wet Tropics
> Management Authority mismanagement.
> 
> 
> Unnecessary and extensive upgrade and construction of the Cape
Tribulation
> road by
> the Douglas Shire Council in the critical Cassowary and refugial habitat
> area of
> Noah Creek, in the Daintree World Heritage listed rainforest, has been
> given what
> amounts to rubber stamp approval, by the Wet Tropics Management
Authority, the
> Federal body ostensibly responsible for ensuring World Heritage values
are
> maintained
> in the region.
> 
> This is despite the fact that the area is home to at least 3 resident
> cassowaries,
> and is regularly crossed by female cassowaries visiting the males. It is
> also home
> to a wide variety of other animals, including bats, which are regularly
> killed in
> that area by speeding vehicles.  Local National Parks  officers  have
given
> up the
> depressing task of documenting road kills in the road. The death a week
ago
> on the
> road of a rare flute-nosed insectivorous  bat (Murina), highlighted the
> problems.
> 
> The road passes through an area which is considered to be one of the
> critical habitats
> in the Daintree, and the land on either side is World Heritage listed,
and
> was the
> subject of one of the biggest buy-back purchases of the State and
Federally
> funded
> Daintree Rescue program.  It passes through one of the last remaining
> stands of coastal
> rainforest, and enters the Noah Valley, home to at least 3 ancient tree
species
> restricted to its valley floor, and 25  known species of rare and
> threatened plants in
> the vicinity of the road..
> 
> It is a 2.4 km long 7 meter-wide bitumen road on a 14 meter bed, with one
> long straight
> section and a sweeping curve, which would not look out of place on the
> coastal highway
> between Mossman and Townsville.  It is one more link in the continuing
> efforts by the
> Douglas Shire Council to create a highway between Cairns and Cooktown, an
> effort born
> in the 1950's with the original bulldozing of a track between Cape
> Tribulation and
> Bloomfield by the then Councillor George Quaid (of the 1984 blockade
fame).
> 
> Such a road encourages speeding. Despite the nominal 40km/hr  speed limit
> imposed, vehicles
> have been seen driving at over 100 km/hr on the same stretch, 3 abreast.
> The width of the
> road prevents canopy closure in the future, and the drainage appears
> specifically designed
> to dump high volumes of road wash directly into the  Noah Creek.
> 
> Ironically, the roads either side of this new section are only 6 meters
> wide, and represent
> some of the best examples of appropriate road design in the Wet Tropics.
> 
> The  threat level to the Cassowaries has been increased by 20% to the
> maximum value by this
> road construction, according to a report issued by cassowary expert Dr.
Les
> Moore.
> 
> We suggest that the WTMA trial a 2-lane road design divided by a 2 meter
> canopy tree-filled
> median section, which will provide a slowing of traffic and an
improvement
> in animal safety.
> 
> The Daintree is an international iconic area, and this icon status
derives
> partly from the
> fact that  it has the last intact examples of lowland rainforest
> communities that once were
> common between Mission Beach and the Daintree River, and which are now
> canefields or urban
> development.  The threats from uncontrolled development are looming fast,
> and its
> destruction would impact on us all.
> 
> (Dr.) Hugh Spencer
> Director.
> 
> 
> 
>
............................................................................

> ...............
> CONTACTS -  Alan Sheather - Daintree Rainforest Taskforce  07 40 989 036
H,
> 40989 171 Wk
>             Alan Curtis  - Daintree Cassowary Care Group  07 40 989 171
(24 hr)
>             Cr. Mike Berwick  DSC 40 999 403 dir, Mob. 0419 022 629, 40
986
> 148 H.
>             Hugh Spencer  CTTRS  40 98 00 63 (24 hr), Dixie Phillpott 
CILG
> 4090741 (24H)
>             Andrew Small (Botanist) 40 332 585 (AH)
>
............................................................................

> ................
> Backgrounder
> 
> The Douglas Shire Council has proven to be a tenacious opponent to the
> maintenance of
> World Heritage values, and over the years the Wet Tropics Management
Authority
> bureaucrats have become highly allergic to entanglements with this
Council,
> despite
> the high profile of its democratically elected mayor, Mike Berwick, whose
> pro-environment
> voice is a minority in a sugar-cane growing dominated community.
> 
> Because of this the Wet Tropics Management Authority has badly fumbled
the
> ball on a
> number of occasions with respect to the Daintree area, in particular by
> permitting
> major road upgrades on the adjacent Cooper Creek flats, another high
> profile region of
> World Heritage listed lowland rainforest, as well as  on the Bloomfield
Track.
> 
> Curiously, because of severe dust problems, the same Douglas Shire
Council
> agreed about 6
> years ago to the bitumening of the Daintree Ferry to Cape Tribulation
Road,
> but with
> substantial design restrictions on the road - it was to be narrow (6m),
> winding and
> have a closed canopy and a 40km/hr speed limit. To achieve this, they had
> to wrest
> control of the road from the Queensland Mains Road Dept. who would only
> allow a arterial
> road to be built, and so the road was "de-mained", and passed into
Douglas
> Shire Council
> control.  Now, the same Council  has total control of the road, and
intends
> to force
> the  construction of  the coastal highway through a program of "a
thousand
> cuts".
> 
> Continual upgrades are carried out under Council's "maintenance works
> programs" and
> miss the checks and balances of external  scrutiny.  The controversial
> Bloomfield Track
> is being subjected to the same fate, despite the promise of an
> environmental assessment
> review of the road in the next 12 months by the Wet Tropics Management
> Authority as to
> the "Track's" future;  it is evident that the Council wants to subvert
the
> outcome by
> irreversibly altering the road's character and use pattern.
> 
> Increasing road widening, encouraging high speed local and tourist
traffic
> flows, are all contributing to the steady uptake of the infamous 1000
> subdivisional blocks set up by George
> Quaid. Ironically otherwise environmentally sensitive actions by the
> Queensland Government,
> such as the provision of a Daintree Remote Area power subsidy for
> householders to obtain
> grants towards renewable power systems, is hastening the demise of this
> area, as it further encourages settlement.
> 
> We are seeing the Bribie island scenario re-enacting itself here; unless
> some leadership
> comes from the Queensland and Federal  Governments, particularly the
> buy-back of the
> subdivisional blocks and their incorporation into  crown land reserves or
> National Parks.
> This is probably the only strategy generally accepted by the local
> community and would
> save this and future Governments massive amounts of money, and boost
> Australia's sagging
> image as an environmentally aware society.
> 
> We are also seeing the setting up of the Mission Beach situation where
> widened roads and high velocity traffic, have been responsible for the
> deaths of over 40 cassowaries, and it is now considered likely that
> cassowaries will become extinct in that area from traffic mortality.
> 
>
............................................................................

> ........
> 
>  Letter to Wet Tropics Management Authority
> 
> 8 Oct 1999
> 
> Russell Watkinson
> Executive Director
> Wet Tropics Management Agency
> National Mutual Tower
> Lake Street
> Cairns
> 
> 
> Dear Russell,
> 
> We are very concerned about the developments on the Cape Tribulation
road, in
> particular the proposal for bitumening the Noah Creek approach on the
southern
> side of Noah Creek, and the evident inability of the Wet Tropics
Management
> Authority to control the road building proclivities of the Douglas Shire
> Council,
> where they manifestly reduce the World Heritage values of the area.
> 
> These concerns are not restricted to the Noah Creek, but also extend to
the
> Cooper
> flats section and to the Bloomfield track where Council is manifestly
> endeavouring
> to pre-empt EIAS and other considerations, from restricting their vision
of the
> extension of the Cook highway to Cooktown.
> 
> We the undersigned feel that it is in the interests of the Wet Tropics
> Management
> Authority to be seen to be the effective primary responsible landmanagers
> in the area,
> and that we have international treaty obligations to ensure this state of
> affairs.
> 
> The cassowary, which besides being an endangered species, is also the
> iconic species
> for the Wet Tropics World Heritage area, and it would be a tragedy of the
> first order
> if the responsible agency, through lack of attention to its
> responsibilities, were to
> allow the death of even one, in the equally iconic Daintree lowlands.
> 
> We trust you will take our comments on board, and act to permanently
> prevent further
> degradation of this  internationally valued area.
> 
> Sincerely yours
> 
> 
> Hugh Spencer                                                          
Alan
> Curtis
> Australian Tropical Research Foundation                       Daintree
> Cassowary Care Group
> 
> 
> cc  Mike Berwick
> cc  Dr. Clive Cook
> 
> 
>
............................................................................

> .........
> 
> 
> 
> 8 Oct 1999
> 
> Draft
> 
> Comments on  Permit Application number WTMA 99 04 2 by Douglas Shire
Council
> 
> For:           Maintaining roads in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
> 
> Comment - the desired works are in fact a major upgrade of an existing
> section of the Daintree to Cape Tribulation road, (23.9 to 26 km from 
the
> Daintree Ferry); that is the re-alignment and bitumening of the road. It
> should not classify as maintenance.
> 
> A second section of the permit, refers to the as yet  "unimproved"
section
> of road through  the Noah Range (28.8 to 31 km).
> 
> Comments in order. Refer the  paragraph reference numbers in the left
> margin of the attached document. (i.e.  <1>  refers  to comments relevant
> to Condition 1, below.)
> 
> Conditions
> 
> 1  All works should be undertaken in conformity with the Best Practice
> Guidelines contained in the Road Maintenance Code of Practice - (Roads in
> the Wet Tropics Best Practice Manual, Queensland Main Roads Dept. 1998).
> 
> 
> *It is fairly obvious that the Best Practice Code has not been adhered to
> in essential and critical matters  regarding  this road.
> 
> 2. Maintenance work shall  only take place within the  existing road
> formation footprint. Any other works beyond the existing road formation
> footprint, require further approval by the Authority.
> 
> *Can't comment as the road has had a history of continual widening and
> re-alignment  prior to this application, by the DSC.
> 
> 3 The bitumen seal width must be no more (our emphasis) than 7 meters
wide
> 
> *Given that the approach roads (Thornton Beach) and immediately north of
> Noah Ck Bridge (itself less than 6m wide)  are 6 meter bitumen with
minimal
> table drains, the rationale for the decision on a  7 meter seal is highly
> questionable, let alone the 8-9meter wide road foundation.  These
sections
> of road have proven to be without major safety issues, and  high level of
> visual amenity.
> 
> Best Practice Guidelines  page D-8  ......
> 
> *Average width of corridors should be restricted to the minimum that will
> permit a properly constructed and maintained road on which traffic can
> travel efficiently and safely.
> 
> 4.In recognition of the status of the area as critical cassowary habitat,
> the road design speed will be set at 40 km per hour to minimise  risks to
> the resident cassowary population from road kills. Appropriate additional
> signage at either end of the section will be installed to notify
motorists.
> 
> Rare and Endangered Species  (page D-8
> 
> * Where rare and endangered species exist in a proposed road corridor
> developmement area, particular action to avoid risk to these species
should
> be given priority over all other management policies..... - i.e. the
policy
> of the 7 meter seal.
> 
> Les Moore - Regional Cassowary Management Plan  Daintree.  1998
> 
> P 16  Fig 4  Suggested Cassowary conservation zones,  - the map indicates
> that the habitat that this section of road passes through is classified
as
> Critical Cassowary Habitat Zone.
> 
> 
> P  146 This report quotes the following passage from S.Goosem 1992 (Dr.
> Goosems is the WTMA's Chief Botanist)..
> 
> "Areas encompassed in this zone  (Noah Creek) were determined as those
> areas with high densities of cassowaries with a high representation of
all;
> age classes,  based on numbers of identifiable individual per unit area.
> Cassowaries in such areas have relatively small home range requirements.
In
> addition, these areas are also kown from research data, to be the main
> cassowary nesting and breeding area. The ecological function of these
areas
> is considered critical for the cassowary's long term survioval in the
> district. The importance and significance of these areas extends beyond
> their boundaries. These areas largely dictate the long term sustainable
> cassowary population carrying capacity of the district.
> 
> The repercussions of loss of any of these  areas will be manifested over
> the district as a whole. The complexity of these areas provide refuge
after
> natural catastrophes such as severe cyclones and provide adequate food
> supplies in lean times of the year or in lean years."
> 
> P 120   In relation to birds 55, 56, 57 (Noah Creek area), Les Moore
states
> " Traffic management strategies will have to be developed if these birds
> are to continue to cross Cape Tribulation Road safely"
> 
> P 19  4.5  Road Crossings. " The major cause of Cassowary mortality
defined
> in the wet tropics region is collision with motor vehicles. With
increases
> in vehicle numbers and/or speed, the risk of injury or death to
cassowaries
> increases dramatically. Thus widening. Sealing or other road upgrade
> activities have the potential to significantly increase cassowary
> mortality."
> 
> * For cassowary, also read any non-volant (non-flying) animal and many
> small bats. The recent death of a Murina florium  (flute nosed
> insectivorous bat) is a case in point.
> 
> "The development of a road management plan for the area  that focusses on
> providing increased safety for cassowaries crossing the roads is,
> therefore, crucial for the continued survival of cassowaries in the
> Daintree lowlands."
> 
> 
> 5. The road design must include the retention of existing spoon drains
> accross the road surface together with other appropriate traffic calming
> devices either side of these, such a grouted rockwork, as set out in the
> attached specification (51/03)  to discourage excessive speed.
> 
> * Comment   (According to the conditions of approval, then,  there will
be
> effectively 20 speed bumps - one on either side of spoon drains (which 
are
> hardly spoon drains - culverts actually) + 4) - this is patently
> ridiculous.
> 
> * Observation (8/Oct) in presence of  Bruce Jennison (WTMA) vehicles were
> speeding on that section
> of road and appearred oblivious of the spoon drains.
> 
> * We are trying to  prevent excessive speeding by appropriate road
design,
> not merely to discourage it.
> 
> * Spoon drains and road bumps on an over-wide pavement are no substitute
> for appropriately
> designed road structure (and can be readily altered, as part of DSC
> on-going maintenance,
> without the need for permitting by WTMA).
> 
> 6. Unconstructed (?) road verges are to be replanted with endemic
> vegetation to encourage and eventually restore canopy closure (DSC's
> continual widening of road) -
> 
> * Comment - exactly what is meant by an unconstructed road verge?  The
> existing  road margins are part of a over-large table drain,  which
expand
> the effective road width  to  range from 12-16 meters, which cannot
permit
> canopy closure.
> 
> 
> 7. Road spoil shall be disposed of in a suitable disposal area outside of
> the WH area. Road spoil is
> not to be pushed into or over the road verge, this condition does not
> preclude the use of road spoil for use in fill sections of the road or
for
> re-surfacing of the road.
> 
> No comment (spoil held at Mason's,  Cape Tribulation)
> 
> 8 Material for road maintenance must not be sourced in the World Heritage
> Area without prior
> approval from the Authority.
> 
> No comment
> 
> * General comments - It appears that the application by the Douglas Shire
> Council has effectively
> been   rubber stamped by the Authority, without adequate attention to the
> specifics  of the area.
> This is more than disappointing , because the Authority is well aware of
> the high importance of the
> area under  consideration.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OZ-ENVIROLINK Home Page (null)
> 
> View Msg HEADERS for HELP and OPTIONS available from the ListServer.
> 
> Tell all your friends about the Australian Greens petition to 
> establish an International Criminal Tribunal for East Timor here:
> http://www.altnews.com.au/greens/timorpetition/
> 
To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to

Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without the
quotes)

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
  • birding-aus Fw: [Oz-Envirolink] Press release - Endangered Daintree Cassowary population at risk through Wet Tropics Management Authority mismanagement., Bob & Sadhana Cook <=
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU