Developer/environmentalist collaboration, SEQld

[Jill Dening <>]

Hello everyone,

For some time now I have been considering posting on this subject, which is dear to my heart. My objective is to bring a new idea to some of you, to reinforce a positive note for others, and to give hope and enthusiasm to those in despair.

I have been in communication with a local developer (a development with a value of half a billion dollars when it is completed) for about 18 months now, and with the backing, both physical and intellectual, of the Queensland Wader Study Group, have made considerable progress towards our goal of building artificial wader high tide roosts in the Pumicestone Passage, just to the north of Brisbane. I would like to think that after reading the paper below, people might think about how they also can contribute to better environmental outcomes in their own areas.

It isn't an easy road, but it's very interesting, as I learn more every day. In 1985 I barely knew the name of a sparrow. Now I am moving in a fascinating, muddy, mangrove world of waders and their intricate needs.

Below is an abstract of a paper given at a recent Brisbane conference called PASSCON, which brought together all the environmental work, both of a scientific nature and community-based, currently being done in the Pumicestone Passage:

"DEVELOPING WADERBIRD HIGH TIDE ROOSTS IN SOUTHERN PUMICESTONE PASSAGE - A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

by
Peter Scott (Principal Scientist HLA Envirosciences Pty Limited), Warren Russell (Site Project Manager Hegira Limited) and Jill Dening (Queensland Wader Study Group).

Hegira Limited are developing a canal and residential estate at Dux creek on the south-western side of Bribie Island.  The site was formerly the estuary to the tidal Dux Creek and prior to clearing was below 0.8 metres AHD in elevation and was forested with mangrove species.

 
An EIS was completed on the site in the mid 1980s, the site was largely cleared of existing vegetation, and approvals to develop residential allotments, canals and marina were granted.  In 1990 the placement of the dredge spoil reclaimed from construction of access canal to the nearby Solander Lakes (now Pacific Harbour) Estate raised the site above mean high spring tide level.  The created moist area was attractive as a roosting site for wader birds during high tide conditions that prevailed in the Passage.
In 1991 the Development Company associated with the site went into receivership.  Between 1991 and 1994 no development activity took place on the site and the placed dredge spoil soon dried out and created a serious dust problem for nearby residents in Bellara and Banksia Beach.  In 1994 QM Properties Pty Limited acquired all development rights, approvals and consents to the Dux Creek development through a joint venture with the National Australia Bank operating as Hegira Limited.    In 1994 Hegira Limited at the request of a Councillor from Caboolture Shire Council (CSC) constructed a channel to siphon tidal water off the main Dux Creek diversion channel into the area of dried dredge spoil during high tide period with the objective of reducing the dust problem.  The periodic flooding under high tide conditions again made the site attractive to waders.  Since then this portion of the Dux Creek Construction Site has been partially inundated during very high tide conditions making the area more suitable as a high tide roost for waders.  The area in question developed into a significant high tide roost for waders, particularly at king tide periods and certain weather conditions.

Hegira undertook further environmental studies for the residential canal estate and marina in 1996-97.  These included an assessment of the impacts on wader birds using the site.  This assessment while not exhaustive did suggest that the birds displaced from the site could be accommodated within the remainder of the Pumicestone Passage.  Independent observations undertaken by various groups including the Queensland Wader Study Group (QWSG), the recognised authorities on wader birds, questioned the findings of the environmental studies with respect to the birds and an impasse ensued.  General objections against the development were also raised by other parties, with the major issue centring on the fate of the birds and the removal of the roost site.  While the QWSG accepted that the Dux Creek site would be developed they were concerned about the capacity of the remaining high tide roosts within the Passage to accommodate the displaced birds.  The EPA brokered a meeting between the Developers, the QWSG and Caboolture Shire Council to resolve the issue.  It was decided that a workshop should be held between Government (local and state), the QWSG and the Hegira.  Wader roost sites are largely neglected or poorly managed despite the area being recognised by International Agreements (Ramsar, JAMBA and CAMBA).  Hegira pledged a bond of $100,000 to develop a Management Plan (MP) for wader roost sites within the Passage and the workshop established the protocols for the MP. 

The Management Plan, compiled by HLA Envirosciences Pty, was done with contributions from the QWSG, Hegira and the State Government and Council representatives that attended the Workshop.  The MP identified a number of alternative roost sites that could be built as well as management procedures that could be adopted to upgrade and improve existing roost sites.  A prototype roost immediately east of the Dux Creek site was built by Hegira to develop skills for constructing roost sites (i.e. "what works and what doesn't work").   Plans have been drawn up for a roost site on North Headland and Toorbul (an existing roost site).  Community consultation was undertaken to explain the management plan and options being implemented by Hegira to address the displacement of the birds from the Dux Creek site. 

The process of developing the management plan, design of alternative roosts to supplement existing roosts and defining management options for existing roosts was done in close collaboration with the QWSG and local community groups and individuals residents of Bribie Island.  The adoption and support of a collaborative and cooperative approach by QWSG and BIEPA has led to Hegira agreeing to stage the development of Dux Creek over several years to ensure alternative roosts are established and important scientific data relating to the waders and their roosting requirements is collected.  Such an approach may not have been considered under different circumstances in the past.  The process adopted clearly demonstrated that an alternative approach to the traditional court-based approach exists to resolving differences between developers, community groups and government.  More importantly it identified a deficiency in management of the coastal environment.  No longer can the natural environment in southeast Queensland be expected to manage its sustainability.  It requires assistance from Government (State and Local), NGOs such as the QWSG, community groups such as BIEPA, local residents and importantly from Developers such as Hegira."

There is far more to the story than this outline, and I would be happy to discuss it further, either privately of on the list.

Optimistically yours,

Jill

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Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Qld
26º 51'        152º 56'

Ph (07) 5494 0994