Petition launches to save Bray Park koalas

A group of residents and a volunteer-run koala rescue group have launched a petition in a bid to convince Moreton Bay City Council to amend plans to upgrade John Bray Park.

Koala Advocates for the City of Moreton Bay is overseeing a change.org petition asking Council to stop removing trees and bushland by “modifying their plans and utilising the open green space already there, after proper consultation with the residents who live in the area now”.

“We have no objection to a park, we just would like the opportunity to strike the right balance between suitable outdoor spaces and the ecological needs of our fauna and flora before it’s too late,” the petition says.

Push to pause work

Residents fear the upgrade will destroy important koala habitat and put other native wildlife at risk and want Council to alter its concept plan to protect eucalypts and other trees.

More than 30 people attended a meeting with Councillor Jim Moloney (Div 8) on Friday, September 13, hoping to convince him to appeal to Council to pause work that’s due to begin in October – during koala breeding season – until more consultation has taken place.

Residents called for the meeting after receiving a letter late last month from Cr Moloney alerting them work was due to start.

Lynn Docchar has been monitoring koala activity in the area for several years and says clearing eucalyptus trees will leave the marsupials without critical habitat.

“Works are going to proceed during the worst time of year for these koalas in the development area,” she says.

‘Outdated’ consultation

She says Council needs to rethink its plans because community consultation in May and June 2021 is outdated, with the occupants of 59 new dwellings built on the opposite side of Walsham St overlooking the park in the past two years not being given a chance to have input.

However, a City of Moreton Bay spokesperson says a proposal for a district park has been in Council’s Local Government Infrastructure Plan for more than two decades.

“Extensive input into the district park design has occurred, including appropriate consultation with community, especially by the previous Councillor who retired in March this year,” the spokesperson says.

“Council is reviewing community suggestions including car parking but cannot change the scope of the proposed works.

“The tender has closed on the $3.4 million project. The contract will be announced shortly.”

Reduced footprint

The residents want Council to use existing open space at the park for amenities such as play equipment, toilets and barbecues instead of the current plant to build them within John Bray Park’s bush reserve.

“There were over 30 people present (at the September 13 meeting) with quite a few pointing out they were also representing other people unable to be there due to work or child commitments,” Lynn says.

“The majority agreed they didn’t have an issue with a park in principle but fail to see why the council needs to build the new amenities within a bush enclave.”

But the Council spokesperson says the current design has significantly reduced the footprint compared to the original concept.

“During the design process, officers have removed works originally placed in the natural areas including the hard court area to minimise impact on the natural habitat,” the spokesperson says.

“Mature koala habitat and food trees are not being removed and are integrated into the park design. “In areas where some small regrowth saplings exist, Council will be retaining as many as possible within new garden beds.”

Buffer zone

Council will plant more than 100 new trees and more than 2500 shrubs and groundcovers, most of which will be native species.

“This new planting and Council’s protection of the significant riparian corridor from future development will support enhanced koala habitat,” the spokesperson says.

“The new park facilities and enhanced landscaping will form an important buffer zone between the riparian corridor and the new residential area.”

Raising awareness

Lynn says she and others who attended the meeting, including representatives from Pine Rivers Koala Care, Moreton Bay Koala Rescue and Pine Rivers Catchment Association, hold little hope of changing Council’s mind, which is why they have launched a petition to raise more awareness about their concerns.

“I got the feeling everything is signed, sealed and delivered and that the only possible alteration will involve any trees that have since grown to the safe size of 100mm diameter,” Lynn says.

Find out more about the petition here.