A RUSSELL Island woman is pushing for the island’s four wetlands to become national park in a bid to further protect the native habitat.
Sharon Keegan, who cares for injured birds, said she was sickened by the pace of development on the mainland and wanted to make sure Russell retained its ecologically sensitive spots.
While Moreton Bay is covered by Ramsar, an international treaty for the protection of wetlands, Russell Island’s four wetlands are not.
Ms Keegan said she was scared that Whistling Kite, Turtle Swamp, Water Mouse and Melomys wetlands were not strongly protected and would be sold to developers.
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The Toondah Harbour area at Cleveland was covered by the Ramsar Convention as part of Moreton Bay but that has not stopped plans for a $1.3 billion development.
Ms Keegan said designating the wetlands as national park was the only way to ensure they were preserved.
“The wetlands are not being looked after,” she said.
Ms Keegan said she had also approached council about her idea of a zebra crossing at High Street, near where Burrows Street runs into Cavendish Street, to slow traffic along the 2 kilometre stretch that takes traffic to the ferry.
She said the crossing would allow pedestrians to walk across safely and help ensure wildlife travelling from corridors on either side of the stretch were seen by passing motorists.
Ms Keegan said too many animals were being hit by cars, including along High Street, and wanted council to do something about the problem.
“Russell Island is growing at such an enormous rate, animals are getting hit every day,” she said.
“...I am calling for fencing and designated animal crossing zones.”
A council spokesperson said eight wallaby and wildlife warning signs were erected along Canaipa, Minjerriba, Centre and Glendale roads following council’s assessment earlier this year.
The spokesperson said the proposed pedestrian area had also been inspected by staff.
The spokesperson said while traffic volumes were not high enough to warrant a crossing, the area would be monitored for operational safety.
“It was noted that motorists approaching the locations have good sight distance, allowing them to take appropriate action if required to do so,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said council could not enforce the island’s speed limits, but had raised the problem of vehicles speeding along Centre Road, Bangalow Street and The Boulevard with police at Redland Traffic Advisory Group’s meeting in April.
The spokesperson said council had also progressively bought about 5800 lots on the SMBIs that were either of significant environmental value or subject to tidal inundation and overland flooding.
“All land on the SMBIs affected by major flooding constraints and/or containing high environmental values have been included within the conservation zone sub-area one of the Redland planning scheme to recognise the land is unsuitable for development,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said significant wetlands and council-owned conservation areas were managed by council’s City Spaces Group, which provided guidance for ongoing management.
“While there is continuing private ownership of conservation zoned land on the SMBIs, council has commenced a process to amalgamate all adjoining council-owned conservation sub-area CN1-zoned land,” the spokesperson said.
“The amalgamation of this land provides a significant step towards council’s longer term aspiration of formalising consolidated conservation areas on the SMBI’s.”
