The current NSW Liberal National Party government have radically changed the policies and practices of land management in NSW with the introduction of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Local Land Services Amendment Act 2016.
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These Acts are now more often referred to as the “land clearing laws”, which reflect more accurately their true purpose.
These laws take us back 50 years to a time before there were any real or effective controls on tree clearing and protection for vegetation and threatened species outside National Parks and Reserves.
It is clear the current NSW government has no interest in preserving Koalas listed as “Vulnerable to extinction” given their wholehearted support for stripping away important regulations and protections for vegetation and habitat.
The new Acts are touted as “taking advantage of the best available science”. In reality they are anti science.
The LNP Coalition have vigorously opposed expansion of national parks and reserves in our area over past decades and now want to roll back protection for native vegetation on private lands.
They serve their own narrow political interests rather than science.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has taken full advantage of the roll back of the laws protecting our koalas on land proposed for expansion of the Port Macquarie Airport.
At the last meeting of the old council in great haste, a motion was passed giving the green light to future clearing of significant koala habitat using the current flawed planning provisions.
PMHC are using the current biocertification process and seeking Office of Environment and Heritage and Minister’s approval.
Present surveys show a serious decline in koala numbers and if we follow current trends they will be extinct in 2050.
The current koalas in our locale are not producing enough young to sustain the population – more koalas are dying than are replaced by birth.
The findings of the report prepared by the consultants for council are more in the realm of opinion rather than the findings of evidence based science.
There are few expert scientists specialising in koalas. They have not been consulted.
The science reported by these experts in relation to koalas habitat requirements and management indicates the areas adjoining the airport are prime koala habitat, part of an “engine room” for our koalas and should not be cleared.
The proposed offsets amount to ‘fake” science.
Any loss of prime habitat leads to disruption to home ranges leading inevitably to the death of koalas, especially in close proximity to urban areas.
We need development but not at any cost.
We need a zero tolerance policy to koala deaths.
Destruction of habitat is death by a thousand cuts – in this case the trees needed to sustain koalas.
Wake up Port Macquarie and demand protection of our koalas – they are too precious to destroy.
Frank Dennis
Port Macquarie
