Bushland clearance a blow to local wildlife

It is a haven for a wide variety of bird species, including boobook owls, golden whistlers and superb fairy wrens.

Male red-backed fairy wren offering a female a red berry. Picture: Contributed

I SUPPORT the letter by Jenny Allan (Daily, March 30) concerning the proposal by the Lennium Group to clear 21-39 metres around the block of bushland at Meridan Plains. I live in the Halcyon Parks over-50s village, on Meridan Way and greatly enjoy having this small patch of bushland nearby.

It is a haven for a wide variety of bird species, including boobook owls, golden whistlers and superb fairy wrens.

Other native wildlife, such as echidnas and goannas, are also present.

Previous discussions with councillors have indicted that this block of land would not be suitable for housing development and that Sunshine Coast Council has approved a six-metre fire break. Lennium apparently consider a wider firebreak is necessary to allow vehicles better access.

Surely, a six-metre break would be more than adequate, particularly in light of a fire risk assessment carried out by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in 2016 which found the risk of fire to be low.

The residents of Halcyon Park have only ever sought to have trees that overhang their properties to be cut back.

We have asked for this for several years but have received no action. Perhaps the council could enforce this.

The 21-39 metre clearance proposed by Lennium would remove almost all of the existing bush and can only be viewed as the first step in gaining housing development approval.

Council should act firmly to ensure an adequate fire break is established and that the bushland is preserved for the enjoyment of all Sunshine Coast residents and visitors.

DAVID CLYDE

Meridan Plains

Originally published as Bushland clearance a blow to local wildlife