Stop the destruction of nature and the construction of freeways through our bushland

RALLY PARLIAMENT HOUSE STEPS – FEB 24 12PM

From: Save our Bush Alliance

ONE MORE NAIL IN THE COFFIN, OUR BUSHLAND IS BURIED

Melbourne’s bushland reserves are under attack like never before, by a Brumby state government obsessed with freeway construction. 2010 might be the Year of Biodiversity everywhere else, but in Melbourne – unless Brumby can be stopped – it will be the year of bio-destruction.

On February 24, members of the Legislative Council will debate and vote on a Greens motion to stop the building of the Peninsula Link, a freeway that will slash through some of the city’s most valuable and cherished bushland reserves. On that day Rod Quantock, Vice President of Protectors of Public Lands and comedian, will preside over a Bushland Burial on the steps of Parliament House . “The burial signifies the impact of the Government’s plan to build Freeways and Bypasses through the State’s rare and endangered bushlands, grasslands, wetlands and other threatened flora and fauna”, Mr Quantock said. “If the motion is defeated it will represent a nail in the coffin for the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve and other wonderful ecological treasures in the Southeast, and represent a green light for the destruction of our city’s bushland reserves generally”.

Under threat from Peninsula Link are the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve; a rare patch of herb-rich grassy wetland that the Department of Sustainability and Environment says can’t be replaced; the Belvedere Reserve in Seaford; the Pobblebonk/Willow Reserve and the Wittenberg Reserves in Langwarrin; and the pristine Heritage Victoria-listed remnant bushland at Westerfield in Frankston.

Other valuable reserves and ecosystems under threat from Brumby’s road mania include Keysborough’s Coomoora Woodland Flora and Fauna Reserve, a native landscape and indigenous ecosystem inhabited by increasingly rare and endangered flora and fauna species, which is classified by the National Trust for its environmental and heritage values. “The government didn’t even bother with an Environmental Effects Statement before deciding to plough through Coomoora with the Dingley Bypass”, Save Coomoora’s Damon Anderson says.

The North East Link – often referred to as the ‘missing link’ in Melbourne’s orbital road network – is about to create a ‘missing link’ of ecosystems in the Banyule Flats and Warringal Swamplands. These lowland riverine flood plains are among the most threatened landscapes in Victoria. Banyule Swamp is the most intact and biologically significant shallow freshwater marsh in the Lower Yarra. Both are key wetland areas in maintaining the viability of populations of waterbirds and wetland ecosystems in the Lower Yarra. They contain a number of rare, vulnerable and threatened fauna, 23 species of waterbirds, 125 species of native birds, 11 species of native mammals and four bat species.

Where we see wonderful trees that have existed since before Melbourne was founded, rare and endangered species, vital eco-systems, Premier Brumby sees free land for more roads. The State Government’s Transport Plan leaves communities chronically under-serviced by public transport, with freeways that will not ease congestion, but which physically divide communities, and destroy bush land, wetlands, native grasslands, farmland and recreational facilities. What is needed instead is an integrated transport plan for the city, one that takes seriously VicRoads’ recent admission that Melbourne has reached the limit for new road construction, one that takes Melbourne into the 21st century, not the 1960s, . .

SOBA contacts for further information:

Gillian Collins – Friends of Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve (impacts of Peninsula Link on the Pines): Ph: 9782 5116, Mob: 0414 309 960 gillianuu at yahoo.com.au

Damon Anderson – Save Coomoora Reserve Coalition (impacts of the Dingley Bypass on Coomoora): Ph: 9769 1651; Mob: 0425 784 983; savecoomoora at hotmail.com

Marion Ware – Friends of Banyule (impacts of North East Link through Banyule Flats and Warringal Swamplands): Mob: 0413 41 88 32: info at friendsofbanyule.org

Rosemary West – Joint Coordinator of Green Wedges Coalition (urban growth and the impact on Green Wedges): Ph: 9772 7124; Mob: 0418 554 799; rowest ozemail.com.au

Colin Long – Greens Candidate for South-East Metro Upper House (cultural heritage value of Westerfields and what a Vote for Greens will mean in the Year of Biodiversity): Ph: 9584 7398; Email: clong at deakin.edu.au

SAVE OUR BUSH  – RALLY PARLIAMENT HOUSE STEPS – FEB 24 12PM

SUPPORT 2010 YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY

M.C. – ROD QUANTOCK

SUE PENINCUIK – GREENS MLC

ROSEMARY WEST – GREEN WEDGES

COLIN LONG – GREENS UPPER HOUSE CANDIDATE

DAMON ANDERSON – COOMOORA RESERVE

MARION WARE – FRIENDS OF BANYULE

GILLIAN COLLINS – PINES FLORA & FAUNA RESERVE

www.savethepines.net

3 thoughts on “Stop the destruction of nature and the construction of freeways through our bushland”

  1. Shadow says:

    Oh my gosh! STOP THE CONSTRUCTION OF FREEWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!x infinite Seriously we need more nature! Habitats are being destroyed for no reason! What did nature ever do to us?!

  2. Foxeye says:

    OMG WE NEED MORE NATURE!!!! I love nature and don’t want ANOTHER FREEWAY!

  3. ruth rehfisch says:

    Having just recently travelled from mornington to peninsula private hospital, the back way I can’t believe the green areas that are going to be destroyed in the name of progress!! Our natural reserves are so important as habitat for our native wildlife!! These areas are so important to these creatures. Sacrifice all these green areas so people can access the penininsula by car 15 minutes quicker? Brumby what are you thinking? or not thinking about ? You’ve lost my vote forever!!!

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