Protecting environment
IN THE months since the Toowoomba Regional Council announced its green infrastructure strategy, I have seen the plan in action: Trees – now you see them. Now you don’t (e.g. Reis Rd, Brookstead; Kearney St South, etc).
Also, at the Reis Rd development a Bailey’s Cypress tree (Cypress baileys) was missidentified and got the chop. This tree species is classified as near threatened under the Nature Conservation Act (NCA), 1992.
Was this a genuine identification mistake? So, will the TRC report this breach of the NCA by the developer to the relevant federal authority? Does the TRC require a qualified wildlife rescue person to be present while trees are being cleared? If so, does it actually monitor this policy?
I think the answers to these questions are “I doubt it”.
The green infrastructure plan is just another example of “greenwashing” used by governments and corporations/ companies to project an image that their policies actually protect the environment.
Most of these greenwashing schemes are in fact just brainwashing schemes to promote an image of environmental sustainability while their business – as- usual model rolls on to maintain high profits. I have no problems with businesses make good profits provided they pay for any environmental damage and don’t use greenwashing motherhood statements and environmental offsets to cover their tracks on environmental damage caused by their activities.
So, less emphasis on higher profits and more empathy and care for the environment are really required now.
Most people forget that all of our basic necessities for life and also for our high standard of living comes from the environment. So, why is it allowed to be trashed so often under the guise of jobs and growth?
Why doesn’t the TRC have any tree clearing guidelines that are relevant to the TRC area?
Just relying on the broad State Government tree clearing rules are not enough to protect our unique local vegetation and wildlife from unnecessary tree clearing for housing and other projects. Yes, I realise there is a chronic housing shortage but developers and the TRC need to work smarter with more innovative designs and rules to protect the environment while satisfying customer demands. Also, maybe customers (e.g. home buyers) need to be encouraged to reduce their expectations of house size and internal designs/ furnishings to reduce the demands on resources. Sadly, any proposed innovations will probably be consigned to the “too hard basket” by the TRC due the backlash from developers who generally want less red-tape and restrictions to protect their profit margins.
Al Young, Toowoomba