BirdLife Australia and supporters are demanding action to save Moreton Bay’s critically endangered eastern curlews, saying the contentious Toondah Harbour development will badly impact shorebirds.
As part of a series of national events being held to highlight Australia’s failing environment laws, BirdLife Australia will host a community forum tomorrow at South Brisbane’s Fox Hotel from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
The forum will call for government action to save the curlew and other critically endangered birds lest they become extinct.
“This is an urgent issue,” said Judith Hoyle, a local bird expert.
“The eastern curlew, the largest migratory shorebird in the world is a gorgeous bird, much loved in Moreton Bay across southern Queensland, but it is being pushed to the edge of extinction.
“Australia is directly contributing to this issue because our current legal framework allows for large scale development in its remaining habitat.
“The Walker Group plans to build a massive residential and marina development that will extend over a section of the Ramsar site used as feeding grounds and roosting sites by the eastern curlews and other threatened shorebirds.
“We need to protect our natural environment and preserve our birdlife.
“That state and federal governments continue to ignore science, putting commercial interests ahead of our unique and endangered species is a disgrace.
“Toondah Harbour lies within the Moreton Bay Ramsar site. This site is home to many migratory shorebirds, several of which are critically endangered species, including the eastern curlew.
“Ramsar wetlands are wetlands of international significance, protected by an internationally binding treaty that require effective protection and management from signature countries.
“The deliberate destruction of any wetland protected under this treaty is unacceptable.
“Migratory shorebirds are one of the most threatened groups of species in the world.
“Their survival depends on protecting all the remaining habitat along their migration route. This includes Toondah Harbour.”
Birdlife Australia campaigns manager Margaret Quixley said environment laws were failing.
“Our environment laws are failing Moreton Bay’s eastern curlews because they are not being enforced in the way they were intended,” she said.
“We need national nature laws that don’t let vested interests influence important decisions that will impact on internationally significant wetlands.
“Our current environment laws are weak, often not enforced properly, and they are failing to protect the birds and places we love. We need a new framework that can be strongly and independently implemented.”
BirdLife Australia is calling on the federal government to agree to four key actions.
These include creating national environment laws that protect natural heritage, establishing an independent national sustainability commission, establishing an independent national environmental protection authority and guaranteeing community rights and participation in environmental decision making.
