Local Member for Oxley Milton Dick MP last night joined the Australian Conservation Foundation to hold a local community forum on protecting our endangered species.
Mr Dick was joined on the panel by;
- Dr Martin Taylor, Protected Areas and Conservation Science Manager for WWF Australia.
- Jo Bragg, CEO of Environmental Defenders Office Queensland
- Jess Abrahams, Nature Campaigner for ACF
The event was well attended by locals who engaged the panel in a discussion of policy and strategies to protect our threatened species.
Mr Dick said it was great to hear from a range of local residents and their ideas for how we can do more to protect our local fauna and flora.
“Our community is lucky to have many water areas and bushlands where native species thrive.
“One such area is the Springfield Environment Corridor which is home to two species of platypus alongside koala’s, birds and native frogs”.
This land is currently owned by the Defence Department and sits adjacent to Woodcrest State College beside the Centenary Motorway. It is equal in size to 10 Suncorp Stadium precincts.
“With housing and Woodcrest State College both close by, the Defence Department has very limited use of the land and should do the right thing by handing it over to the local community” said Mr Dick.
Such handovers of land are not without precedent after the rezoning of the Wacol ‘Pooh Corner’ bushland site in 2005.
Almost identical in size to the Springfield Environment Corridor, Pooh corner had been identified for development, but was transferred to the Brisbane City Council for $1 to be managed as a nature conservation reserve after a grass roots community campaign.
The Springfield community has been loud and clear that this land should also be handed over to the local community.
“There is a real risk that under the current arragenment this land could be sold off and bulldozed” said Mr Dick.
“That is why I have written to the Minister for Defence requesting this land be placed in community hands to ensure native species are protected.
Residents wishing to show their support for the Springfield Environment Corridor can do so at https://miltondick.com.au/have-your-say/springfield-environment-corridor/
