LACA will take the opportunity on

Sunday 2 pm, 20 March 2016 at

Shailer Park State High School Hall

to call for stronger than ever vegetation clearing laws, given the recent report by WWF World Wildlife Fund that during the Newman government year 2013-14 around 300 000 hectares (including 40 000 ha of Koala habitat) was cleared compared to a total of 77 000 ha in 2009-10.

The 2013-14 rate of clearing under the Newman government put Queensland back up with Brazil and Indonesia as the worst in the world for deforestation. Biodiversity is now fast approaching tipping points in Queensland and the greenhouse gases released by this level of clearing have severely limited Australia’s chances of meeting its climate change mitigation targets.

Come to the meeting next Sunday, get the facts from a panel of speakers and have a chance to ask questions and have your say about the need for stronger vegetation clearing laws in Queensland.’

Barry Fitzpatrick is a long term passionate advocate and campaigner and LACA's spokesperson about the environment - in particular wetlands, Great Barier Reef and climate change.

Speakers from the Wilderness Society will also be leading discussion. Both organisations LACA Logan and Albert Conservation Association and the Wilderness Society understand that if we don't take actions to reduce climate emissions it will have deeply negative impacts on our natural environment, the Great Barrier Reef and all that rely on both.

The state of vegetation clearing in Queensland revealed by a CO2 study commissioned by the Wilderness Society is alarming and reveals concering discrepancies. Lyndon Schneiders, national campaigns director of the Wilderness Society, says the new data shows

 Australia is “lying to the world and lying to ourselves” about the true state of greenhouse emissions.

Read the coverage of the situation from The Guardian 

LACA appreciates the opportunty to particiate at this public forum. LACA does not support particular political parties but does support good policy and is encouraged that the Queensland Government ALP Member for Springwood is hosting. 

Let's come together on Sunday to discuss our ideas to be presented  in parliament to help formulate the good policy that is needed to protect our shared environment.

Persicaria elatior featured as plant of the month April 2009. Listed as vulnerable under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act, Persicaria elatior has rarely been seen in Queensland, being recorded by the Queensland Herbarium only 6 times before this discovery - at Cornubia Wetlands Reserve

Recently some 30 Logan residents spent a day expanding their knowledge about our wetlands. The day began at 8am with several powerpoint presentations relating to wetland vegetation, water quality, fish habitat and bird habitat, and also included a Berrinba Wetlands Walkabout.

 During the presentations we learnt what elements of a wetland are beneficial to  Australian native wildlife and what we can be doing on our property to help convert our  dam into a nature refuge during times of drought.

 It was offered as part of the Logan and Albert Rivers Catchment Association's, "Wetland  Management on Private Property in Logan" Project. The invitation was extended to all  who registered interest at one of the display stalls at the Logan Environmental Action  Festivals (LEAF).

 A bus tour was included and we visited several public wetlands within Logan City Council, including:

Eagleby Wetlands

JJ Smith Recreation Corridor

Springfield Mountain Wetlands.

Next will be a site visit to a private property to showcase a property which has had no revegetation effort and is just starting out, so this landholder would like to receive advice for further action which would improve habitat for wildlife. 

Last visit will be to a private property to inspect established revegetation efforts and offer advice for further action which would improve habitat for wildlife.

Logan and Albert Conservation Association aka LACA's water and wetlands management person Barry Fitzpatrick shared his extensive knowledge about vegetation and processes for revegetation for wetland areas. He has been observing and recording Cornubia Wetlands processes for several years. 

Image and diagram aside are provided by Barry. Detailed information about plants is available in our essential plant reference tool Mangroves to Mountains with local botanist Glenn Leiper being a contributing author.

Suggested planting guide includes plants generally occurring across Logan - Albert Catchment. Selection is influenced by on soil types, steepness of slope down to water, general typography, climate etc.

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Logan - Albert Waterways Summit hosted by Logan City

LACAs northern spokesperson Barry Fitzpatrick has been advocating tirelessly that all levels of government and community must take  some action in response to the failed HEALTHY WATERWAYS REPORTS.

Saturday 23 July saw the fruitition of successful lobbying when Logan City Council hosted the WATERWAYS SUMMIT at the Logan entertainment. 125 people from a range of backgrounds joined together to take some positive actions to redress the sorry situation. All present committed - pledged - to continue  - to rebuild the rivers systems. Local papers across Logan and Scenic Rim have been reporting on this process.

Barry has also been engaged with local community in the Cornubia Wetlands area. This ecologically functioning wetlands is an example of a healthy wetlands sysytem which keeps itself clean. There are no mosquitoes as the micro-organisms in the water are the natural controlling agents. It is only when man steps in and changes a balanced system - using poison for a fast fix or planting with non endemic species that the balanced is tipped.

Barry produces newletters for the local community as part of the successful Logan Envirogrant application. The last newsletter includes information about the Waterways Summit.. It is available to read here. Cornubia_Wetland_News_4web.pdf

Plant in image above is the federally listed endangered species Persicaria elatior - one of the many species making up the wetland habitat area. Image of eroded river banks illustrates one of the past mismanagement issues.

Cornubia wetlands is being cared for by a local Logan bushcare group under the leadership of LACA member Barry Fitzpatrick. He has developed a website.

That community group are playing an integral role in helping to maintain a healthy benthic plankton in wetlands  - by not creating sediment, runoff of garden fertilisers etc

To follow the progress of the protection of this unique wetland area explore the site and images here.

The health of wetland areas contributes to the health of our river systems. Cornubia is a very heathy ecosytem with Nature's natural processes being in balance.

Our Logan River does not have a healthy report card having failed the 2009 Healthy Waterways reporting process. This is a situation where all levels of government should be concerned - and being pro-active. The huge burden of population growth will futher degrade the river - unless better processes are mandated and funded.