Today – The 7th September is supposed to be “Threatened Species Day”. How sad then that it has been marked by the destruction of a local forest area, an area that was one of the few remaining remnants of critically endangered Cooks River – Castlereagh Ironbark Forest.
This is a small area adjacent to the M5 Motorway and lies in the Wolli Ck Valley between Kingsgrove and Beverley Hills. Why have the trees been removed? The reason is that the land will be used as an access ramp – either for the expanded motorway or to access a tunnel. As native forest, it provided a haven for wildlife – including birds such as powerful owls. It takes many decades for trees to form hollows suitable for nesting birds and homes for sugar gliders.It takes many decades for trees to form hollows suitable for nesting birds and homes for sugar gliders.
The small patch of forest, was adjacent to the M5 on one side. On other sides it is surrounded by a golf course, land already greatly disturbed. Why couldn’t a section of the golf course not be used for this purpose rather than a section of endangered bushland?
This had been the latest battle in Baird’s War on Trees. Another battle lost by Nature. According to the EIS, the loss of this endangered bushland will be countered by biodiversity offsets – but that is a far from satisfactory outcome.
This resident has lost its home