Dear Supporters
Thank you so much for your signatures and standing up for our wonderful wetlands. I hope your 2021 has started well.
Together our actions and community are making a difference!
Last year’s good news included Senate refusal to rush through laws the would weaken national environmental protection laws and several rulings by Federal Environment Susan Ley rejecting environmentally catastrophic developments.
These include stopping a development application to build a retirement village and related infrastructure near Hervey Bay due to its adverse impact on the Eastern Curlew and the Great Sandy Straits Ramsar site and almost 2,000 ha of land-clearing on Kingvale station in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
https://www.acf.org.au/two_nature_wins_to_start_your_week
https://minister.awe.gov.au/ley/media-releases/epbc-refusal-protects-migratory-birds
There was good news too with funding announced to restore Bowling Green Bay and international recognition for the 7080 ha Wernadinga Coast wetland site in the Gulf by the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership.
https://minister.awe.gov.au/ley/media-releases/2m-restore-queenslands-bowling-green-bay-ramsar-wetland
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-18/gulf-land-nominated-vital-shorebird-flyway/12992596
Politically, Toondah stayed well and truly on the radar gaining an ever greater profile, even in a year dominated by Covid-19 and security.
As the only political party to oppose the Toondah Harbour development, the Greens had a new member elected in the seat of South Brisbane and sitting member, Michael Berkman achieved a 13.5% increase in his first preference vote for the seat of Maiwar.
in a positive move by the new state Environment Minister, Meaghan Scanlon told Mr Berkman in estimates there would be no change to the Moreton Bay Ramsar wetland boundary to facilitate this development.
https://www.michaelberkman.com.au/estimates_hearings_wetland_boundary_20201210
If you live in Qld, you can still sign an e-petition (approaching 4000 signatures) from BirdLife Southern Qld’s Judith Hoyle requesting no boundary change - https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=3432
In the Redlands, Independent, Claire Richardson came incredibly close to removing co-signer of an agreement with Walker as preferred developer of 3600 units at Toondah Harbour, Mayor, Karen Williams. Claire also secured 21.5% of the primary vote in the state seat of Oodgeroo, a huge achievement for an independent.
Huge congratulations to Save Toondah allies, re-elected Div 1 Councillor, Wendy Boglary who received almost 72% of the vote and newly-elected Div 9 Councillor Adelia Berridge.
Thank you for all your support for petitions, so far we reached over 22,000 signatures for our Toondah change.org petition �� �
Great work too from Redlands 2030’s Steve MacDonald whose state e-petition calling for a Commission of Inquiry received 6063 signatures.
One of the best ways to end 2020 was the ecstatic news via the Queensland Wader Study Group’s satellite tracking that AAJ (pictured - thank you Robert Bush for the photo) the female Curlew who grew up in Toondah Harbour and made her first migration this year recovered from being blown off course and landing made it home to Toondah just in time for Christmas.
In 2021 let’s resolve to keep helping each other help nature and help governments to change their minds about destroying an internationally recognised wetland that is home to critically endangered species.
Stay safe, happy and well :))