We, the undersigned, draw to the attention of and call on the Scenic Rim Regional Council to remove their mass plantings of lomandra grass in public parks, picnic areas, playgrounds, carparks and lookouts across the Scenic Rim. There are numerous reasons why the removal of the Lomandra grass is essential. This thick tussock grass grows quickly from a small, ground cover to a tall, impenetrable clump, creating a barrier for all. These clumps quickly mature to produce seeds that spread and grow, reducing accessibility and the amount of open green space. It reduces visibility and safe areas for children to play. It reduces visibility in parking areas. It becomes a refuge for snakes and paralysis tick. It reduces the area where native wildlife can forage and graze in the open grassland. It has even been planted in public car parks to limit vehicle entry. Because of its impenetrable form, it collects and harbours unsightly rubbish, dead sticks and seed pods that remain as a fire hazard. Council’s previous response to concerns raised by constituents is that it is low maintenance and hardy, used as a green barrier to protect the root zone of trees. It reduces mowing and maintenance costs in council parks. The Scenic Rim Region is renowned for its natural beauty and has recently been identified as one of the World’s top ten regions to visit (by The Lonely Planet). Those Global travellers are going to go home disappointed if their access and visibility of the natural region is obscured by untidy and unruly lomandra grass. We are about to lose visibility from one most popular tourist point, Tamborine Mt Rotary Lookout, where people flock to sit and enjoy the fading sunset. This view will soon disappear while visitors will have to stand and peer through head-high lomandra grass. It has completely hidden a children’s playground from view of the picnic area in Lions Park, Tamborine Mt, putting them at risk of stranger danger. Lomandra is an Australian native and used in landscaping to retain landslip in inaccessible, rugged terrain. It has no place in fertile, subtropical zones. An authority who has spent fifty years coping with invasive species has stated that, “It is a very invasive species and should not be planted anywhere. In fact it should be declared a pest. It is invading creeks and is spreading across farmland on many farms that I do work on ...IT IS A PEST and will end up being worse than Lantana, which is so bad along the coastal farms and, like the cane toad, is spreading over the Divide and heading West. The once green velvet parklands where children could run free, kick a ball while the grown-ups could relax under a tree and enjoy the sunset will be no longer possible with the invasion of Scenic Rim Regional Council’s low-cost lomandra grass. Your petitioners therefore request the SRRC remove all lomandra grass and consider more appropriate alternatives. Virus-free. www.avast.com