Glossy Team Sunrise meets Blue Care

On 22 January 2019 Sunrise Beach locals supported by a Glossy expert sat down with Uniting Care and Blue Care representatives to discuss the planned aged care development at Sunrise Beach.

The developer (Uniting Care / Blue Care) was represented by Richard McKeon, Senior Project Manager Property Development, Sue-Ellen Smith, Blue Care North Coast General Manager and Glenys Webby, Service Reform and Innovation Director Uniting Care Queensland.

Glossy Team Sunrise (GTS) was represented by locals Bettina Walter, Desiré Gralton, Bob Carey accompanied by Eric Anderson, Birdlife, Southern Queensland’s representative on the Glossy Conservancy.

GTS presented to Uniting Care

• The Save Sunrise Glossies petition with over 2250 signatures
• A list of over 220 comments left by signatories
• 9 letters of support including from the largest local community conservation organisations

Handing over the documents Desiré read aloud some of the heartfelt, beautiful and very concerned comments left by signatories. The documents clearly show the passion and support from local community members, organisations and bird enthusiasts around the world to save our iconic species, the vulnerable Glossy Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus lathami.

Glossy expert Eric Anderson from Birdlife Southern Queensland explained the vulnerability of the Glossies and how much their habitat has declined over the years. Local Glossy legend Bob Carey talked about his work with the local schools and urged Uniting Care to work with the schools and local community to minimise impact and to instil multi-generational learning.

We explained why it is so important to conserve Glossy feed trees. Eric stated feed trees are like ‘gold’ and must not be removed. He also stated that offset planting is commonly known by Glossy conservationists as ‘green-wash’ and is unlikely to work.

Operational plans submitted to council

We discussed the operational works plan which was submitted to Noosa Council on 21/12/18, in which the developer proposes to retain only 15 out of the 71 identified Glossy Black food trees across the two sites, all located along the perimeters of the development.

We were shocked by the low number of trees to be retained, which was called out by one experienced bird conservationist as a mere ‘token’, doing little to ease the pressure on our vulnerable Glossy Black Cockatoos.

As it currently stands most of the trees to be retained are located on the northern site (11) and only four on the southern site. Bulk earthworks drawings show the overall majority of both sites to be clear felled, and the ground cut and filled to achieve their desired levels. Many of the Glossy feed trees in both areas are planned to be cut and with them the all important regrowth which restock feed trees when the older ones die off.

Understandably Uniting Care were careful in their responses considering at what late stage this development already is. The community consultation for this development occurred ten years ago. We told the developer that when we discovered by accident that this major development was going ahead many in the community expressed that they had no idea and where quite shocked by its extend. We believe the environmental impact assessment has been minimal although all within legal parameters. Blue Care have ticked all the boxes.

Land swap options

We told the developer that our preferred solution was a land swap options with already depleted land adjoining the site or elsewhere. Blue Care/Uniting Care listened, but we realise it would take immense courage and commitment by both Uniting Care and Noosa Council to make major changes this late in the proceedings. However we believe a biosphere reserve worthy aged care development designed in partnership with the local community would be a truly exciting game changer – however rather unlikely. (Note from the editor: The environment levy could financially support this game changer!)

Richard pointed out the steep cost of the project to date including fulfilling the environment requirements in offset planting and other mitigations. To us locals it seems crazy to spend so much money bulldozing intact precious wallum bushland and then spend more money to try and recreate it somewhere else, especially considering that the offset planting is unlikely to help the Glossies. How do you tell birds to just hold off for seven years or so until the offset planting start bearing fruit? Assuming they will actually be accepted by these fussy eaters.

Our other suggestions included a smaller development footprint retaining more trees and a more staged approach to clearing over the course of the staged development, which might help transition birds to other sites over time.

Traffic Impact

We also had some discussions around the traffic impact and pointed out that the ten year old traffic report did not measure up and that things had changed since.

Sunrise Beach residents are already struggling to cope with increased traffic around a cluster of three fast-growing schools, the Flexible Learning Centre, Noosa Aquatic Centre, tennis courts and more?

The Blue Care development will see another estimated 500 people crammed into a short cul-de-sac leading directly into one at times very congested roads – we do have the unenviable claim to fame of having one of only two traffic lights in the shire! (And good on Tim Lennon for incorporating it in an analogy in this great letter to the editor.)

Uniting Care made the case how aged care traffic from inhabitants, services and staff differs from school traffic as it occurred spread over the day.

We made the point that any increase of traffic added to the intersections already over an estimated 120% capacity is problematic. Particularly in cases of emergencies.

The traffic report in the approved development application was modelled up to 2019 and we believe it does not represent the reality on our roads at peak times. Reportedly the neighbouring schools have commissioned their own traffic reports towards the end of last year which we believe will show this. We will try to get a copy or at least an executive summary of the report. As ratepayers we need to know if we’re going to foot the bill for extra roadworks required to deal with the increased population in this fairly restricted area.

The development is on a high fire danger site and it wasn’t that long ago that a severe event threatened nearby homes. The evacuation of the estimated 500 elderly residents and unknown number of staff along with students and staff of the schools could prove challenging. Not to mention the extra clearing needed to provide a fire break.

We call on Noosa Council to please provide more information about their plans to cope with the increased traffic, especially given the need for safety around schools during construction and thereafter.

Community engagement

Uniting Care/Blue Care stated their eagerness to engage with the local community for the benefit of all and that they’d fully expect Noosa Council would commence their community engagement with the Sunrise community. So far Council has not shown itself willing to truly engage. But hopefully this is about to change.

A great partnership OPPORTUNITY

The most heartening take away from the meeting was Uniting Care’s saying that our awareness raising and action has got their staff talking and reconsidering. If knowing you have a problem is the first step in fixing the problem, well then we may just have made some difference.

We discussed how this is indeed a great opportunity for a developer to work with the community during development and over the life of the facility. Apart from local jobs being created, students could be engaged, aged care residents could actively participate in activities and connect with community in walking distance – especially if we can create a lively community space at the shops with healthy, fresh and affordable food on offer. This could become a multi generational engaging space with great services while conserving and enjoying and perhaps even recovering Glossy numbers.

For this we need Noosa Council, the developer and community to come together asap to discuss options for a sustainable development worthy of a UNESCO Biosphere reserve.

The all important next steps

• We shall be calling on council and organise a meeting.
• We will continue to raise awareness and do everything we can to make the Sunrise Shops area a great space for the community and our flora and fauna.
• In the meantime we will keep at it to find out how many feed trees will be retained. We stated clearly that many in the community indicated to us that they will not stand by and watch the clearing without action.

We want to thank Uniting Care / Blue Care representatives Sue-Ellen, Glenys and Richard for travelling to meet us, for listening to us with open minds and their expressed willingness to collaborate on better outcomes.

We are also grateful for all the support and encouragement we have received from locals and bird enthusiasts all over the world.

Glossy Team Sunrise is an open facebook group.

The change.org petition is still open. If you haven’t done so, please sign and comment.