birding-aus

Coal loader extensions on Ash Is, Newcastle; and end to Wagtail Way bird

To: Carl Clifford <>, Birding-Aus Aus <>
Subject: Coal loader extensions on Ash Is, Newcastle; and end to Wagtail Way birding
From: Mick Roderick <>
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 21:20:34 -0700 (PDT)
Hi Carl,
 
It is a bit alarming, but I don't think Swan (or Wader) Pond will be "buried" 
as such. Certainly they will be severely impacted (and parts of Swan Pond might 
be buried!). The future of these ponds, including the famous "Wagtail Way" is 
of major concern to Hunter birders (amongst others).
 
Info (from both sides) on "T4" can be seen at Port Waratah Coal Service's 
website and the Climate Action Newcastle's website. If you dare, you can read 
the (voluminous) Environmental Assessment on the Dept of Planning and 
Infrastructure's website (though it may be offline now, as the time for public 
submissions has past). 
 
Hundreds of submissions were made and I think this is keeping a lot of people 
very busy as we speak (type!).
 
The Hunter Bird Observer's Club put together a detailed submission on T4, which 
along with some individual members' submissions can be seen at 
http://www.hboc.org.au/index.cfm?menukey=35 ;
 
The proposal will see the effective loss of 'Deep Pond' as a functioning 
wetland. This wetland is on the eastern side of the existing railway track and 
is extremely important as it is the only large freshwater wetland in the Hunter 
Estuary. I don't have to explain to birders how important a large (26ha) 
freshwater wetland is within a mosaic of Ramsar-listed tidal mudflats, 
saltmarsh, roost-sites etc. But it is very important, not just for the 
shorebirds that prefer to use freshwater wetlands, but also as an important 
piece of habitat for significant numbers of waterfowl; in particular Chestnut 
Teal. It is also a major drought refuge and there are several records 
of Pink-eared Ducks (200+), Freckled Ducks, Blue-billed Ducks, Native Hens etc 
etc, as examples. 
 
The other issue is the potential impacts on Swan and Wader Ponds as you point 
out Carl. Incidentally, 'Kooragang Nature Reserve' is now 'Hunter Wetlands 
National Park' and Swan and Wader Ponds fall inside it. As far as I am aware, 
there was a section of the National Park that "should not have been gazetted" 
to make way for infrastructure development such as T4. I think it got through 
as an 'administrative error'. So now, parts of the NP will be excised to 
provide this infrastructure corridor, which is to a distance of about 200m 
'swampwards' of the railway tracks. 
 
The whole story is extremely complex and I'm not going to discuss politics. It 
is complicated by a history of planning errors, unfulfilled promised offsets 
for internationally significant wetlands already lost and now promises of other 
offsets for these future losses. 
 
I suggest if anyone is interested, reading HBOC's submission at the link above 
would be a good start.
 
Cheers
Mick 
 

________________________________
From: Carl Clifford <>
To: Birding-Aus Aus <> 
Sent: Tuesday, 3 July 2012 7:02 PM
Subject: Coal loader extensions on Ash Is, Newcastle; and end to Wagtail Way 
birding
  
Dear All,

This sounds a bit alarming 
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/coal-terminal-may-destroy-bird-habitat/2609238.aspx ;
  Swan Pond and Wader Pond straddle Wagtail Way. It is true that the Kooragang 
Nature Reserve probably will not be adversely affected by the coal loader, but 
Wagtail Way and the adjoining ponds are, unfortunately, not included. Railway 
works for the new coal loader would probably mean Swan and possibly Wader ponds 
are likely to be buried.

What can be done to stop the new loader. Newcastle will be at capacity as a 
coal port by the time the new loader No. 4) comes on line. The increased demand 
for loader capacity from the new mines planned for the Bylong and Liverpool 
Plains-Gunnedah areas come on-stream, Newcastle's coal capacity will again be 
inadequate, and so, more loaders will be required. And where will the new 
loaders be placed? Well it won't be along Newie's harbour front. I have often 
wondered why the arch of the arch of the Stockton Bridge was so high. With a 
mean clearance at high water of 30m, you can fit more than a tinny under it.

If any Newcastle birders have any further information on these plans, perhaps 
they can share.

Carl Clifford
===============================

To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: 

http://birding-aus.org/
===============================
===============================

To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: 

http://birding-aus.org
===============================

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
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