MAITLAND GREENING PLAN A BLUEPRINT FOR BUSHLAND CLEARING

Tuesday, 26 February 2002 10:00

 At tonight's meeting Council will consider a report from its Environment Committee that recommends allowing the loss of 341 ha of the scarce Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest (LHSGIF) as part the 'Greening Plan'.

Total Environment Centre (TEC) Urban Campaigner Mr Leigh Martin said "It beggars belief that anything purporting to be a 'greening plan' could allow so much destruction of forest that has been nominated for listing as an endangered ecological community".

Only 1204 ha of the original LHSGIF community, which has been nominated as an endangered ecological community, remains. Loss of a further 341 ha would reduce the community to only 6.75% of its original distribution.

Council has received advice from the Hunter Catchment Management Trust that the community meets the criteria for listing as endangered ecological community under both the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and that further loss of this community should be minimised.

Despite this council officers have sought to justify allowing the loss of 341 ha on the basis that consideration of the nomination has not yet been finalised.

"It appears that Council officers are trying push through approval for destruction of large tracts of this scarce forest community before the listing can be finalised. This flies in the face of the precautionary principle and makes a mockery of the nomination process", Mr Martin said.

TEC has written to all Maitland City Councillors urging them to reject clearing of the LHSGIF community and protect the entire remnant forest.

"The treatment of the Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest is a litmus test for Council's greening plan. Council must ensure that this remnant forest community is given the strongest possible protection" Mr Martin said.