The development company behind a planned $1.39 billion redevelopment of Cleveland's Toondah Harbour has offered a 200-metre buffer zone around a nearby island to allow up to 920 endangered shorebirds to nest.
But Birdlife Australia said the move was not enough and the proposed development would still destroy "feeding habitat used by migratory seabirds."
This 2016 document by consultants Saunders Havill Group showed an average of 699 migratory shorebirds used Cassim Island, where the buffer would be put in place, roosting on the island about 30 metres offshore.
"The Cassim Island mangroves, located 30 metres from the (priority development area) boundary, are used daily as a high-tide roost during the summer months by four migratory shorebird species; an average of 699 and maximum of 920 migratory shorebirds were recorded roosting during four summer high-tide surveys," he said.
The Walker Group has, after 17 months negotiation with the federal environment department, offered to scale back the scope of its Toondah Habour development.
Its new offer is being considered by the department, with the company seeking permission to move to an environmental impact study stage.
Toondah Harbour shelters boats, ferries and water taxis that connect with North Stradbroke Island.
Last December, the Walker Group asked the federal government for six months to solve the problem on the vulnerable and critically endangered shorebirds.
Birdlife Australia became worried about the plans and called for a radical rethink of the project.
Walker Group Queensland general manager Peter Saba said the company planned to introduce a high tide buffer zone around Cassim Island.
???The Walker Group plans:
- "Reducing the development footprint to increase the buffer between the proposed development and the shorebird high tide roost site at Cassim Island to a minimum of 100 metres and up to 200 metres."
- "Engaging an independent expert to develop a methodology for assessing potential impacts on the ecological values of the wetland, in acknowledgment of the importance of the Moreton Bay RAMSAR Wetland."
- "Refining the referral area through a more detailed analysis of environmental constraints and engineering design requirements."
Birdlife Australia southern Queensland convenor Judith Hoyle said the Walker Group's new plan was still unsatisfactory.
"Walker Group's new development proposal still involves the destruction of feeding habitat used by migratory shorebirds and will likely result in the abandonment of nearby roost sites due to increased human disturbance," she said.
"Migratory shorebirds are protected under domestic legislation and international agreements.
"As one of the most threatened suite of species in the world, their survival depends on protecting all remaining habitat across their migration route."
Redland City mayor Karen Williams said the new plan from Walker was "a sensible approach."
"I have said from day one that this project would need to stack up environmentally and was critical to the future economic transition of North Stradbroke Island," Cr Williams said.
"This new application is not asking for approval of the project, merely to allow Walkers to take it to the next stage of assessment; to have it tested against the science through an environmental impact statement.
"We have always supported such scrutiny and believe Walkers should have the opportunity to demonstrate the acceptability of the proposal through an EIS."
Moreton Bay has had an 113,000-hectare internationally recognised wetland area, which includes 50,000 wading shore birds, since 1993.
Toondah Harbour takes up 67 hectares within this 113,300 hectare protected wetland area.
The project includes 17.5 hectares of mostly reclaimed government-owned land and 49.5 hectares over Moreton Bay.
Ms Hoyle said Bird Life Australia was still very concerned at impact of Cleveland's Toondah Harbour development on the Moreton Bay protected wetlands under the federal government's RAMSAR agreement.
"We are calling on the Australian Government to uphold their obligations under the Ramsar Convention and reject this proposal."
Project timeline
- June 2014: The project was declared a Priority Development Area.
- July 2014: The project was put out to tender by the state government and Redland City Council.
- July 2015: The Walker Group wins the tender to build the project over 15 years.
- November 2015: Sent to federal government for environmental discussions.
- Mid-2016: December 2016: Difficulties emerge over impacts on threatened seabirds.
- May 2017: Revised plan from Walker suggests buffer zone for threatened seabirds.
