Save the Steve Irwin Way Forest
November 2016 FANTASTIC NEWS
The Save Steve Irwin Way Forest campaign led to an improved road design & the protection of the forest.
Thank you to Sunshine Coast Environment Council, Mark Bailey MP for Yeerongpilly & Steven Miles MP for their roles in bringing about this innovative road design which reduced the road footprint in Beerwah State Forest from over 75ha down to 6-8ha, and their part in transitioning the 744ha of Beerwah State Forest to National Park.
If you want to know how this campaign achieved this outcome please refer to the Successful Campaigning tab in this website plus the Facebook groups Save the Iconic Forest at the North End of Steve Irwin Way and Save Beerwah State Forest (posts prior to 2017)
REDUCTION OF THE ROAD INTERCHANGE FOOTPRINT:
Caloundra Road Interchange footprint in to Beerwah State Forest was reduced down to 6 to 8 ha plus a commitment was made by DTMR to do their best to save the very old habitat trees in the remaining footprint.
THE FOREST WAS TRANSITIONED TO 744.558HA OF NATIONAL PARK
On 2nd November 2016 a motion was passed in Queensland State Parliament to transition 744.558ha of Beerwah Forest to National Park.
OFFSET LAND AND EFFECTIVE WILDLIFE MOVEMENT STRUCTURES PLANNED
Three areas were allocated as offset land:
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50 ha at Glenview,
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16.64 ha along Mooloolah River east near the Mooloolah River NP,
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4.65 ha in Mooloolah Valley
a total of 71.29 ha.
What still needs to be done?
The following DTMR commitments need to be upheld:
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effective wildlife movement structures need to be assessed to determine their effectiveness.
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the land tenure of the offset areas needs to be secured e.g. given Nature Refuge status under the Nature Conservation Act asap.
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some of the offset areas need the revegetation to be maintained.
take a 'virtual walk' in this forest
BIG THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DID:
The following requests were made from 2013 TO 2016:
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The road design to stay out of Beerwah State Forest.
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NO approval of revocation of the State Forest tenure.
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The forest to be transitioned to National Park so it will be protected forever.
To:
Hon. Mark Bailey
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports
(07) 3848 4410
mainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Hon. Dr Steven Miles
Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection
Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
(07) 3217 7142
environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk
Premier
(07) 3372 3207
you wrote to your local papers:
Glasshouse Country and Maleny News - editorial@gcnews.com.au
Sunshine Coast Daily - http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/contact/feedback/
you got involved through the facebook group.
you attended some of the campaigns and rallies.
you walked in the forest.
This forest is home to koalas, glossy black cockatoos, giant barred frogs, Richmond birdwing butterflies, Coxen fig parrots, Wallum froglets and other vulnerable declining frog and butterfly species.
Our Goals:
We used petitions and community support to demand a better design for the interchange and to restore the plan to protect this forest as a National Park.
Habitat
This forest contains koala habitat, lowland subtropical rainforest (a nationally recognised critically endangered ecosystem), centuries old habitat trees and unique wetlands.
Total 8ooha of Beerwah State Forest - Meridan Hill section.
Forest shaded in red.
Current major roads are in yellow.
