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

Tree news – local

Feasting Lorikeets

1. The Newcastle community have taken the axing of the Laman Street Figs to the Land & Environment Court today.  In their favour is the Arborist’s Report prepared by Mark Hartley.  Mr Hartley assessed the trees as not dangerous & had serious concerns with several mistakes in previous Reports supplied by Newcastle Council.  I hope the community win. You can read about the decision & the Independent Arborist Report here – http://savingourtrees.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/independent-arborist-report-for-newcastles-laman-street-figs/

2. In a great move to support Wolli Creek being established as a national park, Canterbury Council have agreed to transfer part of the Wolli Creek bushland at Earlwood to the National Parks & Wildlife Service.  The land is between Bexley Rd & Waterworth Park.  http://express.whereilive.com.au/news/story/vote-brings-planned-park-a-step-closer/

3. Large amounts of Eucalypts are dying across Australia & it is thought to be caused by Bell Miner Associated Dieback. One little bird guarding the psyllid, a sap-sucking native insect that provides food for the Bell Miner is thought to be responsible in some areas.  In New South Wales alone, up to 2.5 million hectares of forest are wasting away. Another theory published in 1968 by ecologist William Jackson of the University of Tasmania & regaining favour is that the Australian bush needs regular bushfires to survive. Interesting reading. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727772.200-receding-gums-what-ails-australias-iconic-trees.html?full=true

4. Frightening results in a recent survey about climate change of local, state & federal Australian politicians conducted by the University of Queensland.  Of the 300 politicians surveyed, nearly 70% believed anthropogenic climate change was real, but “more than 40% thought a temperature rise of 4 degrees would be safe.” Scary stuff as these people are making decisions for all of us. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/12/2980671.htm

5.  2 Fig trees were to be removed in Kensington by the City of Perth Council without community consultation. The Council said the trees were damaging the footpath & could affect fibre-optic cables. Well roads can be fixed, so can footpaths & fear that a tree may damage underground cables is a pretty poor excuse to remove the Fig trees.  I wish Councils would use floating or permeable footpaths to allow them to keep trees. These trees would far outweigh any concrete or bitumen in value & benefits to the community. It’s that old way of thinking again, rip out a tree-it’s the easiest route. The City of Perth Council will now do community consultation about these trees. http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Threat-to-trees-angers-residents/7568257/

6. By contrast, Brisbane City Council ordered a redesign of the $10.2 million Perry Park upgrade to save a row of Fig trees.
A spokesman said council policy was to retain “mature, healthy trees” where possible. In QLD, trees & street landscaping is everywhere & is wonderful.
 It really looks like a different country. Loud applause from me.  http://city-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/fig-trees-slow-upgrade-start/

7. A row of 14 old, ‘ulgy’ & ‘past their use by date’ Nicolai gum trees along Chiefly Road Lithgow will likely have been chopped down by now.  Lithgow Council said “the trees had been inappropriately pruned in past years by electricity authorities.” I’ve no doubt that this approach to Lithgow looked old & ulgly. Shame it happened in the first place. I wonder when this cycle of tree management will end.  http://www.lithgowmercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/tree-removal-an-environmental-necessity/1936892.aspx

8. A report done by the WA Environment Protection Authority said “declining rainfall & rising temperatures were taking a heavy toll on parts of the 1.2 million hectare state forest area south of Perth.” Paul Vogel, the head of the Environment Protection Authority said there was “more biodiversity per square metre in some of these forests than there is in the Amazon.” The Conservation Council, WA Forest Alliance & Wilderness Society want clearing & logging stopped immediately in affected areas. 850,000 hectares of WA state forest is available for logging, however, the current management plan is deemed severely lacking. http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/environment-watchdog-warns-against-logging-in-west-australian-forest/story-e6frg13u-1225921967989

Grevillea flowers