Gliders 'not protected'

By Rowan Roebig

BRISBANE City Council has failed to guarantee protection for Cannon Hill's squirrel glider site under the proposed new City Plan, says a southside wildlife group.

Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Bayside branch secretary Simon Baltais said the City Plan had designated the land for the squirrel glider colony, off Creek Rd, as Emerging Community, which was totally unacceptable.

"This means, it is land which may be developed for new suburbs and supporting facilities," he said.

"It indicates that some- where in the future we may see the bulldozers moving in and the colony destroyed through partial or total development of the site."

Mr Baltais said council held scientific reports by independent consultants indicating the conservation value and recommended protection for squirrel gliders.

"One would expect if Brisbane City Council was serious about protecting this site, it would at least take advantage of a new Town Plan to maximise the protection afforded under this legal planning document," he said.

"Instead, the glider colony doesn't even rate as a park under the Cannon Hill District Local Plan, let alone the Town Plan.

"We will no doubt hear councillors complain about compensation costs if the land is given a conservation status. If so, their comments about ensuring the site will be protected has been nothing more than typical political rhetoric."

South-East Advertiser Wednesday, April 14, 1999 page 3

This page is maintained by

The Rivermouth Action Group Inc

E-mail: activist@rag.org.au

as a community service.