Hi all Please see below and apologies for the short notice It beggars belief what has been proposed for this small but significant remnant bequeathed in good faith in 1994. I urge you to support Judi Gray’s campaign. She herself is a local and a passionate advocate for the wildlife in the Highfields area (See http://jarowairourpatch.blogspot.com.au/). Also a big supporter of Toowoomba Bird Observers. We’ve armed Judi with a preliminary bird list but we would appreciate records from anyone else who has surveyed this reserve. Please sign the petition today (20/1) for your vote to count. Thanks in advance. Mick Atzeni Toowoomba Bird Observers https://www.facebook.com/pages/Toowoomba-Bird-Observers/175472075881350 —– Original Message —– From: “Brendon & Judi Gray” To: “Judi Gray” Sent: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:40:42 +1000 Subject: FW: URGENT SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO PRESERVE THE CHARLES & MOTEE ROGERS BUSHLAND RESERVE AT HIGHFIELDS PLEASE DISREGARD PREVIOUS EMAIL AND USE THIS ONE TO FORWARD ONTO FRIENDS – THANKYOU – JUDI. Dear Friends, IT IS WITH SOME URGENCY THAT I CONTACT YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ABOUT AN URGENT CAMPAIGN TO PRESERVE THE CHARLES AND MOTEE ROGERS BUSHLAND RESERVE ON O’BRIEN ROAD AT HIGHFIELDS. SIGN THE PETITION HERE: HTTPS://WWW.CHANGE.ORG/EN-AU/PETITIONS/TOOWOOMBA-REGIONAL-COUNCIL-PRESERVE-CHARLES-MOTEE-ROGERS-BUSHLAND-RESERVE-AT-HIGHFIELDS [1] I have been working on this campaign only for the last week, many of you have supplied information to support me in my campaign to preserve the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields. This has now become a matter of urgency with Council making a decision this coming Tuesday 21st January 2014. This Bushland Reserve land was donated by local Highfields Residents Mr & Mrs Charles and Motee Rogers to the Crows Nest Shire Council in 1994. It was the wishes of Mr & Mrs Rogers that the Reserve land was preserved as it was (remnant bushland) for future generations to enjoy. CURRENTLY THE TRANSPORT AND DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT OF THE TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL HAVE SURVEYED AN AREA WITHIN THE RESERVE AND ARE PROPOSING TO CLEAR A 3 METRE WIDE STRIP OF LAND THROUGH THE BUSHLAND RESERVE FOR A FOOTPATH/CYCLEWAY FOR HIGHFIELDS STATE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TRAVELLING FROM THE NEW SCHOOL ON THE CORNER OF O’BRIEN ROAD AND POLZIN ROADS, TO THE HIGHFIELDS TOWN CENTRE. The Engineering section of this department has not consulted with the Parks and Environment Department or any other departments about this project. I have had full written support from Cr Bill Cahill, Cr Sue Englart and Cr Geoff McDonald about the issue. They are all against any destruction of the Rogers Reserve for any reason. WE ARE NOT AGAINST A FOOTPATH FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS TO TRAVEL SAFELY ON, BUT WE ARE AGAINST THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED ONE. CURRENTLY THERE IS A FOOTPATH SECTION ALLOCATED ADJACENT TO THE RESERVE ON O’BRIEN ROAD WHICH WOULD BE AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS TO TRAVEL SAFELY ON TO AND FROM THE HIGHFIELDS TOWN CENTRE, HIGHFIELDS STATE HIGH SCHOOL AND LOCAL RESIDENTIAL AREAS. WE PROPOSE THAT THE TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL RE-LOCATES THE PROPOSED FOOTPATH TO O’BRIEN ROAD, NOT THROUGH THE RESERVE. WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN THE PETITION: · Students and Residents will be far safer travelling on a footpath along O’Brien view with street lighting and no chance of being in an unsafe environment. A footpath through a reserve would not be ideal for students and it is not an ideal location for high foot-traffic as there would be a risk of falling tree limbs from gum trees within the reserve. · Students and residents using a footpath through the reserve on a regular basis could feel unsafe travelling through a thickly treed area on a daily basis. · High Foot-traffic through a nature reserve could result in further damage to the surrounding environment, increased littering and nature vandalism · The Charles and Motee Bushland Reserve has been identified of “Endangered” Ecosystem under the Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999 and is of Ecological Significance. The Reserve is a “Biodiversity area” on the Highfields Town Plan, while the adjoining Highfields Cultural Centre and the Highfields Sports Centre are “Community Areas”. Any encroachment of a biodiversity area for a community project like a cycleway . · Any removal of undergrowth or trees from this reserve would only “snowball” over time and would require widening of the path for the safety of people using it on a daily basis. · Removal of any undergrowth or hollow trees would be detrimental for the animal species living in the reserve. Currently there are Echidna’s, Brown Bandicoot’s, Long-Nosed Bandicoot’s, Sugar Gliders, an extensive variety of birds and butterflies who rely heavily on the plants in the Reserve and at times there have even been Koalas seen in the Reserve. Due to urban development, this small block of land is one of the only habitats left for these species of animals in Highfields. · There already a Nature Trail in place at the Reserve that was officially opened in 2001 by Mayor Geoff Patch of the Crows Nest Shire Council. This track has been maintained and travels through the park with an exit option near the corner of O’Brien and Polzin Roads. Anyone interested in travelling through the reserve to enjoy the surrounding bushland can use this existing option. · A cyclepath/footpath on the scale that the Toowoomba Regional Council is proposing would be a very expensive and un-necessary project that would effect all rate payers. Using an existing kerb along O’Brien road for a footpath (similar to the existing one on Rogers Drive) is a far more affordable option. Street lighting is already in place along O’Brien Road on the opposite side. · Mrs Motee Rogers passed away in 1980 and Mr Rogers in 1994. They did not have any children and do not have anyone who is able to speak on their behalf about seeing that their wishes are adhered to. This is your opportunity to preserve a rare natural area of significance for your children, their children and future generations to come. TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCILLORS WILL VOTE ON THE PROPOSED FOOTPATH AND TREE CLEARANCE THROUGH THE CHARLES AND MOTEE ROGERS RESERVE THIS COMING TUESDAY THE 21ST OF JANUARY 2014. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE GAIN AS MANY SIGNATURES AS POSSIBLE TO THE ON-LINE PETITION. I HAVE HAD TO SET UP AN ON-LINE PETITION RATHER THAN A PAPER ONE DUE TO THE LIMITED TIME LEFT. PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES NATURAL ASSETS BY SIGNING THE ONLINE PETITION. COUNCILLOR BILL CAHILL WILL PRESENT THE PETITION ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AT THE MEETING ON TUESDAY. ALL SIGNATURES ARE REQUIRED BY MONDAY NIGHT THE 20TH OF JANUARY. I thank each and everyone of you for your support of this petition and am very grateful in the support that I have received. I have heard some wonderful stories about Mr and Mrs Rogers and feel that as a community we have to make our voices heard. I have set up a Facebook Page where you can follow any updates about what is happening with the reserve. If you are a facebook user, please go to the page and press the “Like” button as this will add to our number of supports and will enhance how many people support the preservation of the reserve. You can follow the facebook page here: https://wwwfacebook.com/charlesandmoteerogersbushlandreserve [2] Here is the online petition link – please sign it as soon as possible – every signature helps! https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/toowoomba-regional-council-preserve-charles-motee-rogers-bushland-reserve-at-highfields [3] Thank you, Kind Regards Judi Gray PO Box 40 Highfields Qld 4352 jarowair@bigpond.com [4] 0458155177 Links: —— [1] http://webmail.westnet.com.au/HTTPS://WWW.CHANGE.ORG/EN-AU/PETITIONS/TOOWOOMBA-REGIONAL-COUNCIL-PRESERVE-CHARLES-MOTEE-ROGERS-BUSHLAND-RESERVE-AT-HIGHFIELDS [2] https://www.facebook.com/charlesandmoteerogersbushlandreserve [3] https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/toowoomba-regional-council-preserve-charles-motee-rogers-bushland-reserve-at-highfields [4] mailto:jarowair@bigpond.com _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
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URGENT SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO PRESERVE THE CHARLES & MOTEE ROGERS BUSHLAND RESERVE AT HIGHFIELDSComments are closed. |
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