Hi all,
Thanks to all who have supported our appeal to have the high level
connector road proposals axed. Last night Chanel 7 News did a segment on
the sighting of the Little Kingfisher in Barnes Creek and outlined some
of the concernes held for it's habitat if the proposal goes ahead.
Two months ago the Minister for Transport put the whole project on
"hold" citing "environmental concerns" so we need to keep up the
pressure to protect this habitat.To register your concern please contact
Mackay City Council:
Sir Albert Abbot Administrative Building
Gordon St. Mackay 4740
Australia
Fax (07)4951 4489)
Minister for Transport and Main Roads:
The Hon Steve Bredhauer MLA
PO Box 1549
Brisbane Qld 4000
Fax (07) 3224 4242
E-mail:
Minister for Enviroment and Heritage:
The Hon Rod Welford MLA
P.O. Box 456
Brisbane Qld 4002
Fax no. (07) 3210 6214
E-mail: Environment&
Below is a copy of Maureen Cooper's letter outlining the situation
Thank you for your support.
Les Thyer
> Hello everyone,
> I am appealing to Birding Aus-ers to contact the authorities
> listed on
> the bottom of this page to stop the destruction of yet another mangrove
> habitat. Over the last two years controversy has surrounded the proposed
> connection road (High level Connector) between two main arterial roads
> in Mackay. This would at least involve the destruction of 12.3 ha. of
> mangrove habitat along Barnes Creek, which is probably the southern
> extent of the range of the Little Kingfisher (Alcedo pusilla). Dozens
> of Wetland species can be found in this habitat. Most important was a
> recent confirmed sighting of the Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana).
> This is not a large area of mangroves, but it is a significant habitat
> for many creatures worth protecting. Conservation and business groups
> have opposed this route and at a meeting on the 14-4-99 whereat the
> Department of Main Roads representatives were conspicuous by their
> absence, an alternate route - called the Low Level Connector was
> proposed. This connector follows an existing road called Riverside
> Drive. What is more interesting is that this Low Level Connector was
> described in previous Main Roads technical reports to quote "it would
> achieve the major objectives. It requires the least expenditure, (some
> $5 million less I believe) has the highest benefit and the least
> environment concerns" when comparing it to the High Level Connector or
> the Multi Modal Corridor. Here?s what the Queensland Government?s own
> body,The Enviromental Protection Agency says in its letter to Queensland
> Department of Main Roads dated 30 April 1999, concerning the proposed
> High Level Connector Road:
> " EPA advice on this project, pursuant to the State Development and
> Public Works Organisation Act, is that the project should not proceed on
> enviromental grounds. The basic position is enunciated in government
> policy on coastal wetlands. That is there should be no loss of coastal
> wetlands unless there is a significant, compensating social benefit. The
> EPA considers that Main Roads have neglected past advice on these
> wetlands and so considerably undervalued the resource leading to
> inadequate planning of this project and an enviromentally damaging
> outcome.
> Specifically, the EPA does not consider that sufficient weight has been
> given to the destruction of 12.3 hectares of coastal wetland in
> comparison to other considerations in the formulation and adoption of
> alternatives." However despite this good advice by E.P.A. and others
> the Main Roads Department will be calling Tenders within the next few
> days for the High Level Connector Road through the mangroves and the
> Mackay City Council is still "sitting on the fence" on the issue.
> In the interests of this country and its fragile fauna and flora I feel
> this area should be made into a habitat reserve. This is a last ditch
> plea for sanity and I would like all concerned citizens to write, fax
> and email their objections to
>
> Mackay City Council:
> Sir Albert Abbot Administrative Building
> Gordon St. Mackay 4740
> Australia
> Fax (07)4951 4489)
>
> Minister for Transport and Main Roads:
> The Hon Steve Bredhauer MLA
> PO Box 1549
> Brisbane Qld 4000
> Fax (07) 3224 4242
> E-mail:
>
> Minister for Enviroment and Heritage:
> The Hon Rod Welford MLA
> P.O. Box 456
> Brisbane Qld 4002
> Fax no. (07) 3210 6214
> E-mail: Environment&
>
> Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
> Maureen Cooper
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