As Moreton Bay’s migratory shorebirds start flying thousands of kilometres to their northern summer wetland homes, we still don’t know if their southern summer home will be saved for their return.  

Four months since lodging our 25,000+ EIS submissions we’ve heard nothing. 

Thankfully our community has not been as silent as the Minister and Walker (where is Walker’s final EIS??) and we’re continuing our fight to stop their home from being turned from a marine park into a private 3,600-unit housing estate.  

World Wetlands Day
Walker’s silence was welcome however on this very positive 7News coverage of the Toondah Alliance’s well-attended World Wetlands Day celebration at Toondah Harbour on 5 February. 

This uplifting community event was full of heart and soul with community spirit, music, a free long-table breakfast, speakers, displays and everyone holding up leaves to represent a mangrove. Thank you to the organisers, speakers and everyone near and far for your support.  

Community action 

• Walk for Toondah (Sunday 14 May 9-11am in park next to Cleveland train station) – Join people from all walks of life on Mother’s Day to show our governments we want them to Save Toondah Harbour. Over 2000 people marched last year, let’s go BIGGER this year!  
• Petition calling for G.J. Walter Park to be nominated for inclusion in the Queensland Heritage Register has over 300 signatures and will be presented to Redland City Council.
• Email the Queensland Premier via this form letter - let her know you want the Priority Development Area (PDA) declared to facilitate the construction of a new ferry wharf and Walker major residential development revoked. 
• Rally for East Asian Flyway Partnership visit – Toondah Alliance members took their Save Toondah signs to the ferry terminal to raise awareness among more than 100 visitors of the planned 3,600-unit development over the Ramsar wetland and shorebirds they were there to see. Read more on Save Our Bay and Save Straddie Facebook pages.
• Hopes and dreams – Many Toondah friends lodged their wishes for a genuinely sustainable 2032 Brisbane Olympics where Moreton Bay’s Ramsar wetlands were protected for wildlife.   

Thanks to you, our petition has over 64,200 signatures :))

Flyways
The filmmakers from Storyland, in conjunction with BirdLife Australia and distributor Antidote Films, will hold the World Premiere of award-winning Director Randall Wood’s new film 'Flyways – The Untold Story of Migratory Shorebirds' at the Majestic Cinema, Wynnum 5pm on 6 May 2023. Tickets here.

You can also see Flyways at the Brisbane premiere at the New Farm Cinemas at 4.30pm on Sunday 7 May. Tickets here. Randall will be at both for a Q&A session. See nationwide sessions here.

‘Flyways’ follows teams of scientists and amateur bird enthusiasts across the world, as they join forces to track shorebirds during their epic, annual migrations.

Wing Threads
A fundraiser is being held at the Cleveland Scout Hall at 6pm on 17 April for Milly Formby who is flying a microlight around Australia to promote awareness of shorebirds and the threats they face. Wing Threads is a flying quest to share the amazing journeys of migratory shorebirds with Australian primary schools. Using science, art and adventure to foster nature stewardship.

Media
Hear Chloe White’s Toondah interviews with Stephen MacDonald (Redlands2030) and Andrew Hunter (Birdlife Australia) on The Wire community radio network. 

‘It’s Time’ – Save the Bay today!
It’s been almost 10 years since the Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area was formally declared by the Newman Government on 21 June 2013. 

Given the area’s international ecological significance, I cannot understand how this environmentally disastrous private land grab could get this far.  

It’s time to remove this concrete cancer from the Ramsar wetland and marine park to protect the health of our planet and wellbeing of future generations.  

Thanks for your support, take care :))

Dylan