In response to an email I have received I have written this, I think it deserves a wider viewing.
By any international standards Canberra has a great city nature reserve system. The amount of native wildlife we still have here is great and I celebrate that with my filming. Sometimes, say with birds like the Regent Honeyeater, Canberra is one small
piece in a much bigger jigsaw. We cannot 'win' that one here, even if we chose not to 'move on'. There is no bird species that is dependent on the ACT for all or even most of its range and what we do here needs to be put in context of a greater SE Australia
picture. That way we can focus our efforts better. It may be different with other animals such as reptiles or even insects.
Insects are mentioned, one that is listed here (and Federally) is the Golden Sun Moth - funny thing is, of the family it belongs to it is probably the most common and widely distributed species in Australia and yet as far as I can determine it is the
only one listed in endangered species lists, you do wonder about this process when it throws up results like that! Meanwhile, on the plains around Melbourne....... In Canberra, a few years ago I have seen our sun moth living on the median strip of Parkes
Way - hardly a pristine 'nature reserve' (have photos). At least it did until contractors parked heavy road fixing gear and dumped tarmac on top of them, don't know if they survived, not good for soil compaction. I understand though that in-between the runways
at the airport is also a good spot for our sun-moth.
Personally I don't see the Arboretum as a significant problem for wildlife given it is an ex pine forest, it is a city park for people to enjoy and as such is not an 'outdated concept'. It gets families out and having a walk, something I did this morning
round an equally 'exotic' locale, along with lots of other folk. If individuals are offended by exotic trees then they can choose to walk on Black Mountain. I suspect the visitor rates between these two locations will show which is more popular with the
general public. We are right to be concerned with funding for existing nature parks and we need to support the great people who look after them.
The arboretum was not an issue during several territory elections, that being the case the Government has a mandate and we should respect that decision. You may personally not like the concept of glades of exotic trees on a summers' day but many people
do. If it were not for exotic deciduous trees Canberra would be a much more unpleasant place to live in - they provide shade in summer and light in winter, something native trees don't. They save this city heaps in power usage and can be a lower fire risk
and safer re limb drop (e.g. oaks) than native alternatives. They are part of the 'functional architecture' of the place.
Don't forget that almost everything you and I eat, plant and animal, is produced from an exotic species. Most Australians would not be here if it was not for them. We would run out of 'roo meat, moths and yam daisies pretty quickly, no disrespect intended
to the first peoples of this 'country' who lived here within the means available to them.
We should celebrate the fact that the human-made environment in this city is now a significant wildlife habitat - you only have to look at the reed filled drains, silt traps and ponds etc. built in ex sheep paddocks, now new suburb. Could have all been
concrete as it was initially in the older suburbs. For this the Government should be congratulated, how much more of this can we do? Who would have thought you could have Lewin's Rail living less than 10m from someones front door step, but in Canberra it
has happened as I have seen first-hand!
As I said there is plenty of other flogged ex pine forest out there in need of TLC and properly bringing into the reserve system, the Arboretum site is taken. There are also areas near Angle Crossing that probably was grassy woodland before being cleared
for pines and cleared again, currently it looks a mess. Your comment about volunteering for a parkcare group is a valid one. I already do some voluntary work relating to the environment and I probably could do more. Such areas need a bit more than a parkcare
group, they need some 'heavy lifting' to start the remediation process off and a broad-scale plan. It would be a good idea for the various environment groups around town to work with the Government to achieve that. That is what I mean by 'moving on'. it
is a positive process.
In my working life I have for a while worked at the coalface of exotic organism incursions, you learn pretty quick that you win some battles and loose others, you learn from the losses but you have to move on. No point being the 'dog hanging onto the
meatless bone' as there are other 'bones' to be had. You also learn that if everyone hates you 'a bit' you have done well. I have had direct involvement in successfully keeping a number of major 'nasties' out of Australia under first-hand situations that
still give me sleepless nights had 'we got it wrong'. I know I can be proud of what I have done for the Australian environment and the wonderful work that my ex colleagues still do under difficult circumstances. I do wonder if those making a living or otherwise
out of writing 'submissions' to add something to a list are having a similar impact, I hope they are!
Sincerely
David
