Eastern grey kangaroo The more bush we lose to industry and development the more likely it is that wildlife will suffer, said Wildlife Queensland today. The controversy over the future of kangaroo populations in south-west Brisbane demonstrates how vital it is to conserve our remaining bushland.
‘The enormous public interest and vocal outcry over the alleged situation at the Wacol site indicates that the people of south-east Queensland place a very high value on remaining bushland areas being preserved and properly managed for the natural values they contain,’ said Alan Barton, President of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (Wildlife Queensland).
Since launching the ‘Protecting our Bushland Campaign’ in 2005, Wildlife Queensland has actively flagged the importance of properly managing bushland in south-east Queensland.
The campaign has been acknowledged as important by many Queenlsnad politicians. Wildlife Queensland has continued to urge the Queensland Government to seriously address the issues raised in the campaign.
In 2005, Wildlife Queensland started its ‘Protecting Our Bushland’ Campaign to encourage the Queensland Government to amend the Integrated Planning Act 1997 and the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026 to allow the Vegetation Management Act 1999 to apply to all of Queensland without exception.
Eastern grey kangaroo populations in bushland at Wacol have been the subject of recent controversy because of allegations that the animals are starving, stressed and causing a traffic hazard by wandering onto highways.
‘The Wacol kangaroo management problems are the tip of the iceberg,’ said Des Boyland, Policies and Campaigns Manager, Wildlife Queensland.
‘The Wacol site is only one of numerous bushland areas in Brisbane and across south-east Queensland where wildlife faces extreme pressures. We’ve got kangaroos in Wacol, squirrel gliders in Minnippi, koalas in Redland Bay. Now the kangaroos are coming home to roost.‘
Wildlife Queensland has insisted in meetings with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that priority be given to the allocation of adequate resources for the development and implementation of long-term Bushland Management Plans for the Wacol site and for all other significant remnant bushland areas in south-east Queensland, whether these areas be Crown or local government land.
These Bushland Management Plans must address a range of management issues including native wildlife, fire, weeds, pest animals, recreational activities and the restoration of degraded ecosystems. Resources must be provided to implement and achieve the objectives of the plans.
For more information about the poultry shed grant scheme and other activities, contact Wildlife Queensland by email or call +61 7 3221 0194. |
