Mount Gilead Development Bulldozing Koala Habitat Approved: Resident Turtles To Go Too - The Beginning Of The End Of Campbelltown's Koalas
The Developer who was booted out of the Sydney Stadium rebuild one day was welcomed elsewhere with open arms the next. Lendlease, has received permission to remove trees and de-water dams at the historic Mount Gilead farming property south of Rosemeadow late this week.
In the document made public on Friday a four-member Campbelltown Local Planning Panel effectively authorised bulldozers and work crews to enter the site, dismissing the concerns of locals who argued that approval was premature because a development application for the proposed estate has yet to be assessed, let alone approved.
"In the Panel's opinion there are no grounds to justify refusal of the application," the document said.
Although protesters gathered outside the Campbelltown Council's offices, and tens of thousands from the area and surrounds had sent in submissions as well as a long run campaign to save the local fauna on the property, their responses didn't mean much with either the council representing them or the panels that have been put in place for developers so that government at local, state and federal level can say 'it wasn't us' - and 'bulldoze' ahead.
Although the document wasn't released to the general public residents until Friday, vigilant locals spotted a tree service business on the land hours after the panel meeting.
In response to the the fact that koalas will soon have their homes bulldozed the Planning Panel's report states (that they) also:
stipulated that Lendlease take measures to ensure that any wildlife inhabiting the dams or neighbouring surrounds be "treated humanely and relocated" before development activities start.
"A qualified ecologist or wildlife carer is required to be present throughout the de-watering activities to relocate fauna or take fauna into care where appropriate" the approval document stated.
Recent studies and reports show that the success rate for translocated koalas is very low - they don't survive. Coomera, once the heartland of Southeast Queensland koalas is probably a worst case example of translocation outcomes; some 180 koalas (the numbers keep varying) were translocated to facilitate 30 developments – all approved by the Gold Coast City Council. The wildlife returns obtained by Australians for Animals Inc. on the translocated koalas demonstrated that 2 survived - that's not even 1%. Their count found that at least 23 'were ripped to pieces by dogs'.
The NSW government adopted a translocation policy in May 2019 which states its key objective [is to] increase good practice in translocation initiatives by ensuring they:
are only undertaken where necessary or beneficial for conservation of the species or as part of an approved offset arrangement [for a state significant development]
The NSW Government's Translocations for offsets is moving koalas in the way of development. Unfortunately, the approval of mass felling of trees, and plans to raze 100% more of some kola habitats, means translocation, even if it did work, cannot occur as there is nowhere to move them to.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has guidelines for translocations. Two are listed:
1. Conservation Translocation - To improve the status of the species or
2. Conservation Introduction - To avoid population extinction at any scale.
There are also a number of turtles in the dams on the acreage and soon nowhere for them to be translocated to. Their habitat is being destroyed as well.
The panels report's use of the phrase 'before development activities start' would also indicate Lendlease don't need to lodge a DA for the proposed estate - that's already approved too.
The leaders of local environment group Save Mount Gilead are now urging people to keep emailing the council and the premier, as well as looking into an injunction.
It's a bad news to be made aware of on the day that was National Tree Day for Schools this week - not a good message for all those little hands that were out planting green fronds a few inches tall on the same day their parents were finally able to access the panel's decision.
It's a slap to their faces - on National Tree Day too.
It's a disaster for our ever diminishing tree count.
A disaster for our ever diminishing water supply.
It's a death sentence for the koalas of Campbelltown, just as dogs, dogs in reserves, mass quick development and the cutting down of trees were the death sentence for Pittwater's now extinct koalas.
As one resident said;
If this wasn’t such a serious issue it would be laughable how dodgy this whole process has been of acquiring historically significant land that is home to abundant wildlife, no less an endangered [and] disease free koala colony... we need open spaces, our children and grandchildren need to see our native animals, we need to preserve history.
While another stated:
This morning I met with some very knowledgeable people about koalas and when I got home this little guy was nestled in a tree in my backyard, there was a swamp wallaby as well. All I could think was you poor little devils Gladys Berejiklian and some local government people intend destroying you and your habitat.Tomorrow I will email Gladys Berejiklian again, and our local Campbelltown council again and ask that they protect Mount Gilead and the unique wildlife corridor
At Campbelltown this week
National Tree Day Planting At Toongari
National Tree Day activity at Toongari Reserve, Avalon Beach from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm on Sunday 28th July 2019.
This is an appeal for community members to plant tubestock and help continue the work already completed by the Toongari Reserve Bushcare Volunteers.
The site of the planting is behind the kindergarten. Come along and get involved in greening your community and making a difference to your local environment.
How to find this hidden gem:
- The pathway from Central Road is between 55 and 59 Central Road and joins the pathway from Bowling Green Lane, behind Pittwater Palms retirement village leading to Toongari Reserve.
- The pathway from Avalon Parade is the right-of-way at 118 Avalon Parade, which is beside the KU Avalon Kindergarten.
Please wear suitable clothing for planting including enclosed shoes. Gloves, tools and equipment for planting, watering cans and buckets provided.
Sydney Wildlife August 2019 Course
“Goodbye”
It‘s one of the happiest and saddest times of being a wildlife carer. We give the animals a second chance, help them realise their instincts and prepare for the wild. Often we have no idea how they are getting on in their natural habitat after release. We can only hope that the months of dedication and sacrifices pay off.
These two were taken to the vet after being found by members of the public. They were both orphans and soon became close friends in care. Scratchum was found alone in Newtown and Foxy was with her mum (who subsequently died after suspected poisoning) at Fox Studios. Over many months they were bottle fed, introduced to solid foods, increased their strength and climbing skills and now are living in a thick patch of bush in a Sydney suburb.
If you want to become a volunteer carer, rescuer, phone operator, fundraiser or educator, register for the next course to be held 10-11 August in Londonderry. Register here: http://www.sydneywildlife.org.au/upcoming-courses.html
Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services)
Barrenjoey Seal Colony Growing
Jools Farrell, local ORRCA lady extraordinaire, reminds us that at present the Australian Fur Seal Colony at Barrenjoey is growing. In mid May there were 3 but there will be a lot more as we had up to 20 last year.
Please remember that legally you must stay a minimum of 40 metres away from seals, especially if they come ashore on the estuary beaches or ocean beaches to rest.
Also please keep an eye out for them if you are out in a boat as they do venture out of this spot to feed on the estuary or around Barrenjoey Headland. In recent years they have been seen everywhere from Barrenjoey to Clareville and Church Point.
Please do not attempt to feed them as they get plenty of food here in Pittwater. Please also do not attempt to swim with them, Jools asks.
If you do see a seal in distress, please contact ORRCA on their 24/7 hotline: 9415 3333.
Tasmanian Lobster Organs And Reflexes Damaged By Marine Seismic Surveys New Study Shows
July 26, 2019: IMAS
A new study of the impact on marine life of seismic air guns, used in geological surveys of the seafloor, has found that the sensory organs and righting reflexes of rock lobster can be damaged by exposure to air gun signals.
Published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the research by scientists from IMAS and the Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University is the latest in a series of studies they have conducted into how seismic surveys affect marine animals.
The study was funded by the Australian Government through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), Origin Energy, and the Victorian Government’s CarbonNet Project.
Lead author Dr Ryan Day said researchers exposed rock lobster to seismic air gun noise during field tests in Tasmania’s Storm Bay and examined the effects on a key sensory organ, the statocyst, and the lobsters’ reflexes.
“While the impact of air guns on whales and fishes has been relatively well-studied, the effects on marine invertebrates such as lobsters, crabs and squid remain poorly understood,” Dr Day said.
“We chose to study the impact on rock lobster because they are a high value fishery and an important part of global marine ecosystems.
“Previous studies have shown that the statocyst, a sensory organ on a lobster’s head, is critical in controlling their righting reflex, enabling them to remain coordinated and evade predators.
Image: seismic air gun test in Storm Bay, Tasmania. Credit: Rob McCauley
“After exposing lobsters to the equivalent of a commercial air gun signal at a range of 100-150 metres, our study found that the animals suffered significant and lasting damage to their statocyst and righting reflexes.
“The damage was incurred at the time of exposure and persisted for at least one year - surprisingly, even after the exposed lobsters moulted,” Dr Day said.
The study’s Principal Investigator, Associate Professor Jayson Semmens, said that while the ecological impacts of the damage were not evaluated, the impairment would likely affect a lobster’s ability to function in the wild.
“This study adds to a growing body of research that shows marine invertebrates can suffer physiological impacts and changes to their reflexes in response to anthropogenic noise such as seismic surveys,” Associate Professor Semmens said.
“In recent years our research team has also looked at the impact of seismic surveys on lobster embryos, scallops and zooplankton
“Such studies are important to enable government, industry and the community to make informed decisions about how such activities can best be conducted while minimising negative outcomes for fisheries and ecosystems globally,” he said.
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Earlier this year approval was given to 3D Oil to conduct seismic surveys in the Otway Basin, 18 kilometres west of King Island.
The President of the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishermen's Association, John Sansom, said this area encroaches on the lobster fishery.
Mr Sansom said he was more concerned about the effects on the larvae or eggs.
"Through this research we understand that seismic surveys actually impact on larvae and actually kill them. he said in an ABC report on Friday
IMAS is the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies in the University of Tasmania.
Researchers Identify New Species Of Pocket Shark
July 18, 2019: Tulane University
A team of researchers, including two from Tulane University, has identified a new species of pocket shark, following careful study of a pocket shark that made international headlines in 2015 after it was brought to the Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection at the Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute.
The 5½-inch male kitefin shark has been identified as the American Pocket Shark, or Mollisquama mississippiensis, based on five features not seen in the only other known specimen of this kind. That specimen was captured in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in 1979 and is now housed at the Zoological Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The newly identified American Pocket Shark was first discovered in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. (Photo by Tulane researcher Michael Doosey)
The details of the new species, which was caught in the Gulf of Mexico in February 2010, are described in an article published in the animal taxonomy journal Zootaxa. The authors include Mark Grace of the NMFS Mississippi Laboratories of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Henry Bart and Michael Doosey of the Tulane University Biodiversity Research. Other researchers involved in the study are John S. Denton and Gavin Taylor of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida, and John Maisey of the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
“The fact that only one pocket shark has ever been reported from the Gulf of Mexico, and that it is a new species, underscores how little we know about the Gulf." - Henry Bart, director of the Tulane Biodiversity Research Institute
“In the history of fisheries science, only two pocket sharks have ever been captured or reported,” Grace said. “Both are separate species, each from separate oceans. Both are exceedingly rare.”
Bart added, “The fact that only one pocket shark has ever been reported from the Gulf of Mexico, and that it is a new species, underscores how little we know about the Gulf - especially its deeper waters - and how many additional new species from these waters await discovery.”
Researchers said there were notable differences between the original Pacific Ocean specimen and the newer specimen from the Gulf of Mexico. Those differences include fewer vertebrae and numerous light-producing photophores that cover much of the body. The two species both have two small pockets that produce luminous fluid (one on each side near the gills).
The pocket shark was collected in February 2010 in the eastern Gulf of Mexico by the NOAA ship Pisces, during a mission to study sperm whale feeding. Much to his surprise, Grace discovered the shark in 2013 while examining specimens that were collected during the NOAA survey. Grace asked Tulane to archive the specimen in its Fish Collection. Soon after, Grace and Tulane postdoctoral researcher Doosey undertook a study to determine what species it was.
Identifying the shark involved examining and photographing external features of the specimen with a dissecting microscope, studying radiographic (x-ray) images and high resolution CT scans. The most sophisticated images of internal features of the shark were produced at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, which uses the most intense source of synchrotron-generated light in the world to produce x-rays 100 billion times brighter than the x-rays used in hospitals.
Bart said the partnership between Tulane and NOAA was instrumental to the work that lead to the discovery and identification of the American Pocket Shark. “The Tulane-NOAA Fisheries partnership is continuing and may lead to additional discoveries in the future,” he said.
Mollisquama mississippiensis GRACE, DOOSEY, DENTON, NAYLOR, BART & MAISEY, 2019
American Pocket Shark
Classification: Elasmobranchii Squaliformes Dalatiidae
Reference of the original description
GRACE, M.A. & DOOSEY, M.H. & DENTON, J.S.S. & NAYLOR, G.J.P. & BART, H.L. & MAISEY, J.G. (2019)
A new Western North Atlantic Ocean kitefin shark (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa, 4619 (1): 109–120
Mollisquama mississippiensis GRACE, DOOSEY, DENTON, NAYLOR, BART & MAISEY, 2019, illustration to provide what may be how it looks in the deep-dark, with all of the photophores and luminous fluid glowing © Mark Grace
