Local tree news

Baby Magpies are in every park

1.   A current, but 15-year-old development application is having a terrible impact on a local koala population in North Bellingen NSW.  After clearing the land 15 years ago, the project was stopped & over the years the cleared area reestablished. Three weeks ago the developers restarted the project & chopped down trees that had re-grown. “Bewildered koalas continue to return to the place in North Bellingen where three weeks ago there was a tree.  One Bellingen local, … said she had watched one koala return repeatedly to what is now a septic tank.”  Oh, the irony!  The Environmental Protection Authority says it can do nothing because the DA is current. Koalas are losing critical habitat at an alarming rate & are thought to be at the edge of real risk of extinction in the wild. See Australian Koala Foundation – https://www.savethekoala.com/koalasendangered.html & http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/story/2011/12/16/displaced-koalas-search-feed-trees/#comments

2.   The WA Forest Alliance says mining companies are selling ancient Jarrah trees up to 430-years-old for just $9 a tonne.  A specialist carbon dating laboratory determined the age of the wood for the Alliance.  “The vast majority of the timber is being used for these extremely low value products fence posts, fire wood, railway sleepers, charcoal & woodchips from the karri forests….”   http://bit.ly/th1IRB

3.   In 2002, Western Australian conservation group Bush Heritage Australia purchased Chereninup Creek Reserve, 430km southeast of Perth, planting more than 50,000 native seedlings over 60ha the following year.  Bush Heritage Australia also purchased 4 other parcels of land to re-vegetate in response to the clearing of bushland over two-thirds of South-Western Australia.  This is Australian’s biggest re-vegetation project – Gondwana Link – & it’s working.  40 species of native & endangered birds as well as dozens of mammals have been found living in Chereninup Creek Reserve. “We have found hundreds, if not thousands, of birds & animals & reptiles reoccupying a piece of landscape at Chereninup that had become absent through the clearing of habitat for practices such as farming….”  One animal found was the Honey Possum, famous for having the largest testicles of any mammal  relative to its weight!  http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/special-features/barren-south-west-plot-brought-back-to-life/story-e6frg19l-1226167990273

4.   Something that I wish was done for the birds & fish of the Cooks River… the Roads & Maritime Services will put almost 1,000 logs from the trees being cut down as part of construction of the Hunter Expressway into the Hunter River.  “We make structures in the river called engineered log jams…  They’re basically big piles of logs put together in an engineered way to be able to withstand floods.  They protect the river banks from erosion, but at the same time they provide fantastic fish habitat because a lot of this habitat has been removed from the river over the past decades.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-10/felled-trees-to-restore-river/3656606/?site=newcastle

5.   Residents in Warren Parade Punchbowl were left with butchered street trees after pruning by Energy Australia. A residents said, “The trees have been absolutely ruined… They’ve just hacked them down.”  The photos along with this article show that the resident was not exaggerating.  Energy Australia said, “The idea is that the complaints system serves as a learning tool…. so those people responsible will be able to recognise where they went wrong & know not to do it again.”  http://express.whereilive.com.au/news/story/chainsaw-massacre-part-two/

6.  I highly recommend this article on the changing landscape, bush fires, new clearing rules & the impact on Australian birds. “A serious consideration here is ”extinction debt” – where local & regional loss of birds can occur several decades after the original clearing. Bird types are already disappearing from some districts that have only 30 per cent of vegetation cover left. When the bush is reduced to fragments, bird & animal populations are extremely vulnerable to drought or other natural disasters. Even in undisturbed areas, according to a new study by Bush Heritage, lorikeet, pardalote, thornbill, honeyeater, red wattlebird, striated pardalote, grey shrikethrush & kookaburra populations are crashing across northern & central Victoria as a result of climate change.”  Many bird species are coming to the cities just as the Ibis did. They are being called the first wave of climate change refugees & they are coming in search of food & habitat. The question is, do we have enough food available for wildlife?  I don’t think so. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/time-to-take-in-hand-the-birds-in-the-bush-20091104-hxuf.html

Some of the Tuckeroo trees are providing heaps of food at the moment

7.   On 14th December 2011 high school teacher & conservationist Miranda Gibson climbed what is known as The Observer Tree (old-growth Eucalyptus delegatensis) in Mt Mueller Tasmania & is now living on a platform 60mts above the ground. She has vowed to stay until logging of this old-growth forest is stopped. Miranda is blogging from her bird-eye view & intends to upload videos of what is happening with logging & with native wildlife below.  Miranda started this action in response to a failure of the state & federal governments to uphold their promises regarding the protection of old-growth forests in Tasmania. “Mount Mueller is a spectacular mountain located near the Styx Valley, Southwest Tasmania. The Weld, Styx & Florentine rivers all flow from this iconic mountain. While the mountain top is protected in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the pristine ancient forests at its base remain under threat from industrial scale logging. The Tree Top Watch Spot lies in the heart of these forests.”  I consider Miranda a brave & committed woman & I hope that she & her colleagues are successful in saving these precious forests. You can watch a short video about Miranda Gibson & the Observer Tree Project here & link to more information about the issue & Miranda’s blog.  – http://observertree.org/2011/12/15/new-observertree-video/

8.   To end on great news, a survey just done by the Australian Wetlands & Rivers Centre at the University of NSW has counted the third highest number of water birds seen in eastern & central Australia in 29-years.  All up 22 species of birds were seen, “including black swan, Pacific black duck, Australasian shoveler, chestnut & grey teal, hardhead, freckled duck, plumed whistling-duck & Australian shelduck.  The recent rain has resulted in widespread flooding across the Lake Eyre and Murray-Darling Basins & the birds are loving it – literally.  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/bird-numbers-take-off-as-wetlands-fill/story-e6freooo-1226225288284

Tree art opposite Petersham Park

Local tree news

1.      The community lost its fight to retain a children’s tree house in a very beautiful street tree on Narelle Avenue in North Bondi last week.  Waverley Council said the tree house was unsafe & they would “build a compliant play area in a nearby park.” The community is upset, especially the children who used to play in the tree house.  http://wentworth-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/north-bondi-treehouse-removed/

2.      Wahroonga Council planned a new park & playground at Water Street Reserve, Wahroonga. To do this they would need to remove 400 square metres of shrubs & grasses in an endangered Blue gum high forest. Council said no trees would need to be removed.  The community protested so the Councillors have asked for a report, including “funding & restoration options.”  http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/council-cant-see-good-for-the-trees-residents/

3.       Bardon Park Coogee is used by the Coogee Dolphins Rugby Club to practice, but the community say it is a small park that is meant for use by the residents & not the sporting clubs. Randwick Council had intended to returf the park.  http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/feud-over-park-continues/

4.      Lot 4711 Bambara Road, Kariong zoned Conservation & Scenic Protection (Conservation) was allegedly cleared without permission from Gosford Council.  The Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water is investigating.  http://express-advocate-gosford.whereilive.com.au/news/story/investigation-into-land-clearing-at-bambara-road/

5.      A vandal has damaged or destroyed new street trees on Walnut Street Carnegie on 6 occasions over the past 18 months.  The residents are upset & want the trees replaced.  Glen Eira Council said they probably wont replace the trees immediately – so the vandal gets exactly what they want despite living on a street where the residents do want new street trees.  http://caulfield-glen-eira-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/carnegie-tree-killer-strikes-six-times/

6.      In a fantastic move, Tweed Shire Council passed a new Tree Preservation Order that extends Koala habitat in the region. Another 1,870 hectares of land in the Tweed will now be protected.  This is great as we are seriously in danger of losing wild Koala populations due to habitat loss.  http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/17/3141055.htm?site=northcoast&section=news&date=(none)

7.       Elm beetles & cedar moth caterpillars have stripped the leaves of scores of Elm & Cedar trees in Wagga Wagga.  Wagga City Council say they have 500 Golden elms as street trees which they intend to progressively replace over the next 10-years though they don’t say why. They do however, say that the affected trees won’t die as a result of the insect damage & their leaves will grow back .  http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/wagga-trees-under-attack-from-insects/2079055.aspx

8.      Shepparton Council intends to remove 63 mature London Planes trees in Corio Street Shepparton.  The residents are campaigning to retain the trees.  The Greater Shepparton City Council said some of the trees were dangerous while others were dying.  The trees are 80-years old. http://www.sheppnews.com/members/login.aspx?noaccess=1&from=/article.aspx?id=1202303

9.       Conservationists protesting logging at Rats Head Road in the Bodalla State Forest Narooma successfully stopped work by suspending a platform 10 metres above

Norfolk Island Pines Tempe

the ground from a tree with the rope attached to logging equipment.  However, during last Tuesday night, an unknown person cut the ropes that supported the platform while a protester was up in the platform. “South East Forest Rescue (SEFR) representatives presented Forests NSW & the logging contractors with a ‘Statement of Guarantee.’  The statement set out terms & conditions requiring Forests NSW to guarantee there will be no impacts on the environment as a result of the logging & ‘to guarantee any logging Forests NSW & their authorised contractors undertake will not impact on the health & wellbeing of the citizens of New South Wales, being both present & future unborn generations.’ The logging contractor refused to sign the guarantee.” Later the tree that held the viewing platform was chopped down by an unknown person.  http://www.naroomanewsonline.com.au/news/local/news/general/night-attack-on-forest-treesitter-at-narooma/2078489.aspx

10.       Woolahra Council is attempting to cut down tree vandalism done for views by allowing residents to prune public trees for views & sunlight, including trees in public parks.  http://wentworth-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/draft-plan-to-manage-trees/

11.     Orange City Council plans to rezone & sell Fred Dobbin Park.  This park is only one of more than a dozen similar community parks that the Council plans to sell.  The residents are fighting the selloff saying they need their parks.  http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/we-will-fight-to-save-our-park/2075907.aspx

12.      Marrickville Mudcrabs reported that on Saturday 19th February 2011 a car was dumped into the Cooks River near Tempe Railway Station.  Marrickville Council was informed & sent a Ranger to assess the situation.  Apparently the car was leaking petrol & oil into the river.  I am unaware as to whether it has been removed yet.

This is very well done. It's in Stanmore