Thank you to Steve Wells for his excellent letter. I remember back in 1990 environmentalists were saying that we have 10 years to get it right. Sadly that never happened. If governments had acted back then on the science, we would not have had such catastrophic fires and droughts as we have had in recent years.
One of the major causes of climate change is destruction of vegetation. This is still happening at an alarming rate, and we are about to see large-scale clearing of forest here in Logan as a result of the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail Project.
The already threatened Karawatha Forest is about to be reduced drastically on the eastern side of Acacia Road, and partially on the western side. We’re told this is necessary, although one of the TMR staff told me that it was “more economic” to put it through the forest – fewer resumptions.
Karawatha Forest needs surrounding vegetation; an island of bush will not survive. Much of the land bordering the forest has been totally cleared in recent years for housing and industry. The forest is also severely stressed from within by mountain-biking and drought. Anyone walking in the forest would be shocked by the erosion and the large areas of dying trees.
I would like to see a commitment from Cameron Dick and fellow MPs to replace every tree removed for the whole of the rail project. Plantings should be in nearby areas; along the old railway line would be an ideal place to start. Planting along the new railway line for noise abatement is also necessary.
It remains to be seen how committed the Palaszczuk government is to helping Australia lower our carbon emissions.
Sue Bradbury,
Trinder Park Retirement Village
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