Meeting With Cairns Regional Council

The following is a copy of some of the conversations I had with Cairns City Council yesterday 12/4/11. The meeting was called by Michael McFadden of CRC in response to my complaints concerning the further clearing of mangrove habitat in Saltwater Creek similar to that done in the Lakes section in 2009. While I feel some progress has been made I also feel very strongly that habitat loss is something we never stop protesting about. Please read the following and make your thoughts on habitat loss known to Cairns City Council.

"Meeting with Cairns Regional Council. Saltwater Creek at Collins Ave. bridge 14:15 – 12/4/11

The Meeting was to discuss the Council's forthcoming work in removing mangrove habitat from Saltwater Creek.

Present at the meeting were Michael McFadden(CRC), Tim Smith (Hydrologist), Russell Wild (CRC), Kevin Colligan (CRC) and myself, Brian Venables.

I started things by asking what guarantee the Council could provide flood victims when this work was complete.

Tim Smith (hydrologist) addressed us saying that this work was inevitable from the time a large portion of the natural ponding sump for the Saltwater Creek catchment was given over to housing development from hitherto farmland. This new work (and that of 2009) he said is to create an artificial sump in the tidal section of Saltwater Creek to replace that lost by this housing development which is above the high tide. He then said it would give flood victims a 30% better chance of avoiding inundation provided luck was on our side with the tides. He further said this is his estimation as a Hydrologist and could see no benefit to flood victims in clearing mangroves downstream of the Cook Hwy. (It is very unfortunate then that the Cairns Airport is about to clear more mangrove habitat in this very section of Saltwater Creek.)

I pointed out that my concern relates to a persistent lack of understanding of the importance of mangroves as habitat and nursery, for a host of land based fauna and Barrier Reef and commercial fish species. This lack of understanding has resulted in a litany of monumental blunders such as East Trinity, Riflerange/Chinaman Creek and Cairns Airport reclamations. This is just to mention three instances and is part of the "death by a thousand cuts"of this most precious habitat. (Everyone at the meeting sympathised with me but all were helpless.)

I mentioned the fact I was aware that Council had conducted a fauna and flora survey in the area to be cleared. This was a promise (which I applauded)  made by Mayor Val Schier in 2009 when Council destroyed large swathes of forest in Saltwater Creek upstream from the Collins Ave. bridge. While I found this survey work encouraging my euphoria was shattered when I realised that the survey was done just four days prior to commencement of the work leaving no time to consider the data.

I also pointed out to the meeting that the fragmentation of habitat has a significant impact . It would be better to leave an in tact corridor instead of alternating from bank to bank. Council agreed as did Qld Fisheries, but alas it is the large forests which occur on an alternating basis, as the river bends, which have to be removed.

Another topic of discussion was on going monitoring to gauge the impact of works such as this. Russell Wild of CRC came in and said Council was looking to JCU in the hope they could see merit in a study project for biology students for this purpose. (Let us keep up pressure for this to happen.)

Finally I asked if certain older trees of the various species that grow on the bank (and never in the creek itself) could be preserved,as happened to a limited extent in 2009. Kevin Colligan of CRC who supervises the work said he would endeavour to flag and preserve such individual trees. This might reduce the impact of fragmentation. (Lets hope he able to do this.)

It was a much better meeting than the one we had prior to the 2009 round of habitat loss. This is notwithstanding the fact that we were once again unsuccessful in preserving these wonderful forests. As Michael McFadden (CRC) recognises, they are as much a part of the attraction of Cairns as a tourist destination as are some of our more well known attractions.

(I would urge all concerned fellows to write to Mayor Val Schier and express our on going desire for environmental protection.) "

Brian L Venables
527 McCormack St.,
Cairns.4870.
Mob.0427607197

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Brian L Venables
527 McCormack St.,
Cairns.4870.
Mob.0427607197