A packed ‘town meeting’ on Sunday afternoon opposing an approved development plan saw 100 residents come together with the future of one of the city’s last natural habitats in mind.
Brookwater, Bellbird Park and Camira residents have shown true people power as they hardened their resolve and joined forces with the Queensland Conservation Council to form the Save Woogaroo Forest Group.
They are leading the fight against Stockland’s proposed Springview Village 2&3 Development which proposes approximately 1400 houses for the site.
Woogaroo Forest is a 160-plus hectare parcel of pristine bushland that is bordered by the Opossum and Woogaroo Creeks, a prolific habitat for koalas, and other native wildlife including powerful owls, kangaroos, platypus, and echidnas.
A group spokesperson, Russell Eley, spoke with Local Ipswich News about the importance of the group and why the forest must be protected.
“My wife was walking our dog and got chatting to another dog walker who told her about this amazing forest that was quietly being destroyed piece by piece, and how the local community felt helpless to do anything about it,” Mr Eley said.
“The forest is home to local wildlife populations that are extremely vulnerable, with numbers declining – extinction happening right before our eyes.”
The approved development was given the green light by the Ipswich City Council only days after the Local Government Election in March, following extensive assessment and consideration, however further assessment is to take place at a Federal level.
Ipswich City Council Chief Executive Officer Sonia Cooper said the location had been earmarked for predominantly residential development under the broader Springfield Development Control Plan first issued by the State Government in 1997.
“Their (ICC) position is that the region needs more houses, and that planning approvals obtained in the 1990s mean that despite koalas being declared endangered since then, they are exempt from protection,” Mr Eley said.
“In reality, because the endangered species that live on the site would be impacted, the remaining four development proposals still require Federal approval before they can proceed.”
Prior to the approval, the Council received over 200 submissions on the proposed development, with most of those regarding the region’s reputation as a native wildlife habitat.
Local residents have been left with a bad taste in their mouths after they said they were guaranteed by Springfield City Group that the area “would never be developed”, so there is sure to be continued push-back by the growing residents’ advocacy group.
The Save Woogaroo Forest Group is lobbying for the bushland to be protected so it can continue to be a haven for native wildlife, much like Toohey Forest in Tarragindi, which has become a green oasis and valuable habitat for koalas.
The group’s vision is to build a chain of protected forest areas linking the site with other neighbouring bushland pockets, creating a 400-hectare equivalent of the Toohey Forest for the Ipswich region.
“The development can only begin if the Federal Government approve the development plans; our understanding is that the developers have yet to submit plans detailed enough for the Federal Government to review,” Mr Eley said.
“It is not too late for people to add their voice to the calls to protect the remaining forest and its incredible wildlife.”
