The silence on the proposed new development has been deafening from both Council and Blue Care – could it be the quiet before the storm? Here’s a bit of an update on the Glossy Birding Day results, the latest communication and some thoughts on the way forward.
Glossy Birding Day
Rain had set in on this years Glossy Birding Day and so the results were meagre.
Noosa Council’s Head of Environment Peter Milne sent through the results for our region:
“A number of areas were surveyed including Lake Weyba, Cooroibah, Noosa Heads, Sunrise Beach, Sunshine Beach, Peregian, Ringtail Creek.
Only 2 feed trees identified this time round, no GBC sightings. A number of sightings were made in Sunshine Coast Council area. We suspect that the Glossies are still away from the coast but will come back to Noosa shortly, as they normally do for winter. We have noticed a lone male flying around the place. I saw it at Noosa Springs on the Tuesday after the birding day.
Orts were found under an Allocasuarina tree at Ozcare (500 chewings) and one tree at SBSHS (50 chewings).
The Sunshine Coast Council Glossy Birding Day reported 26 volunteers spotting 12 Glossies all up.
The next birding day will be in October 2020.
Update on Communications
I sent an email to the Mayor last week asking whether he had any response from his letter to the Blue Care CEO in which he advised them of community concerns about the development generating a loss of Casuarinas and the loss of a water source that are known to be utilised by Glossy Black Cockatoos.
In his letter to Blue Care, the Mayor said that the locals community was keen to see further changes to protect more trees. He said that he was “acutely aware that any further changes must arise as a result of Blue Care’s instigation” and that “Noosa Council would be happy to consider any formal or informal approach by Blue Care that may lead to improved environmental outcomes at the Girraween site, most particularly where those outcomes benefit Glossy Black Cockatoos.”
The Mayor responded to my email with the following:
Hi Desire,
Whilst I did contact Blue Care on 24 March 2019 I have not received a response.
I note that Operational Works applications have been lodged with Council which are consistent with the approved development footprint. Therefore, it would appear that Blue Care intend to proceed with the development in its current form.
Whilst Blue Care have identified a specific timeframe for commencement of construction, the submission of the Operational Works applications suggests that Blue Care are seeking to commence the development as soon as practicable.
Council is very mindful of the impact of the development on community safety. Accordingly a Traffic Management Plan was submitted with the Operational Works applications, this is currently being assessed by council officers.
In the meantime, our staff will continue to consider opportunities to plant Casuarinas on public land. From my personal experience filming and photographing Glossy Blacks, they are one of the least timid birds, and are happy to feed on street trees and the like, even when people are around.
Best wishes
Tony Wellington
Blue Care Community Engagement
At Glossy Team Sunrise (GTS) – our Sunrise Beach Glossy and Wallum protection group – we haven’t heard anything further from Blue Care despite many people telling us that they had written letters to the CEO.
The only “community engagement’ we have come across was a flyer found at the Uniting Church in Tewantin with some Q&A’s about the development at Sunrise Beach.
It outlines the development timeline, with stage one of constructions works to clear the site and do earthworks mid 2019, so any day now. It states:
Stage one building working include the villas closest to Grasstree Court / Ben Lexcen Drive and the Community Building to commence end 2019. Stage two of building works – remaining villas and apartments to follow stage one and based on sales take up. Residential Aged Care to open early 2021 and the village residents move in from early 2021.
There is no mention of staged approach to land clearing, so should we hit an economic downturn and sales from Stage one are not up to scratch, then all that land would have been cleared in vain. A staged approach will allow time to see if the offset planting is working and the Glossy Black food trees in that area can remain for the time being. Surely that’s not too much to ask from a Green Church?
The Residential Aged Care facility will include a Salon / Day Spa, Cinema, Consultant room, coffee area, chapel, multi-purpose activity rooms, multiple courtyards and a deck (north facing to rear of building)
The retirement village facilities will include a cafe/lounge, outdoor swimming pool, outdoor landscaped areas, art studio, consultant rooms, workshop, gym/exercise room, cinema, multipurpose room, library, day spa and a hair salon.
So much for making use of the existing facilities in the surrounding neighbourhood and blending in with the local community!
As for environmental concerns, the flyer states that all environmental conditions will be met as required in the development approval from the Regional Council. Nice one for setting the bar so low, Noosa Council!
There will be a $1.1 million investment by Bluecare in re-vegetation of a 3 hectare site identified by the Council in the same habitat area near Resort Drive which will be protected as a conservation zone. Over 600 Glossy Black Cockatoo food trees will be planted on site and throughout the Sunrise Beach area to increase the number of feed locations available to the birds. Glossy Black Cockatoo feed trees will also be made available to plant in the community members yards.
This all sounds wonderful, but it still doesn’t address the fact that most experts agree that offset planting doesn’t work – where are the birds to go over the next 7-10 years before the new trees mature?
Tim Jubb posted a great video on the GTS Facebook page. He says he’s been observing Glossies for a long time and they are very selective of their trees. According to Tim: “They go for more mature trees 9 times out of 10 and I assume if trees reshoot from the trees they have been feeding on they will take to them more so than brand new trees.”
Interestingly, Bob Carey posted some photos of both the male and female flowers of the Allocasuarina, with the female needing the male partners for germination. Bob suggests we ask Noosa Council how they propose to manage this in the process. It’s not so easy to replicate the existing biodiversity of a site – we should always protect what we have first rather than destroy and then try to recreate.
Bob also raised a valid point for Noosa Council to stipulate the use of endemic species in the planned landscaping.
Fencing requirements will also play a part in allowing native fauna like lizards, bandicoots and the like to be able to travel through. The local community doesn’t know how the building will affect their movements either – the fern walk is a favourite for many locals walking to the shops via Grasstree Court. Community engagement on this project is dismal to say the least, and we deserve better.
Next Steps
- Since work can start any day now, it would be great if we could line up some drone operators to get footage of the clearing, so if you know anyone with a drone or have one yourself, let us know if you are happy to be on call!
- If you see any action, put a shout out on Glossy Team Sunrise on Facebook.
- Keep calling, writing letters and generally stirring things up a bit so they know we’re still watching.
- Let us know if you have any other great ideas.
