The river city prides itself on green spaces, bushland and natural beauty, but it’s these things the Australian Conservation Foundation says we are destroying at a rapid rate.
According to the Foundation, Brisbane is the worst city in Australia for the destruction of threatened species habitat with more than 6000 hectares cleared for urban sprawl since national environment laws were put in place.
Jess Abrahams from the Australian Conservation Foundation says those laws are clearly not working.
He also states it’s not just Koalas which is being hit hard, Brisbane is home to 30 other threatened species including a bird called the Australasian Bittern.
“The Bittern has lost more than 3,000 hectares of habitat in Brisbane.” Mr Abrahams told ABC radio.
Brisbane was followed closely by the Gold Coast and Tweed heads for the worst city in the nation for habitat destruction.
“Queensland was responsible for 64% of urban habitat destruction in Australia, so there’s a big problem there but we can fix it,” Mr Abraham said.
The concerning study comes as pressure mounts for the Brisbane City Council to stop a development proposed for Bridgman Downs.
Developers want to turn 415-427 Beckett road into a service station and food outlets.
The land is reportedly listed as critical habitat for Koalas, Squirrel Gliders and Grey Goshawks.
The application was originally knocked back by Council, but that decision is now being appealed in the Planning and Environment Court.
It’s sparked an online petition calling for the Lord Mayor to buy the block and protect the habitat once and for all.
So far the petition has received nearly 10,000 signatures.
Council’s Opposition Leader has been calling for the Lord Mayor to buy the land for months.
“The Lord Mayor needs to stop wasting ratepayer funds in a developer court battle and buy this land to protect Brisbane’s wildlife,” Cr Cassidy said.
“This is one of the most significant pieces of habitat in the Mountain to Mangroves Corridor and is home to a large koala community.”
To view the online petition click here.
