Lake preservation a win for wildlife and the community
THANK you to councillors Peter Young, Robert La Castra and Daphne McDonald, who have spoken in support, so long and so effectively, for the community-owned Black Swan Lake. They have based their advocacy on the scientific evidence that this was a city asset.
Thank you to Crs William Owen-Jones and Gail O’Neill who kept faith with the community expectation that the 2019 resolution, geared to preserving the remainder of the lake, would be honoured.
Thank you to Cr Ryan BayldonLumsden who, by his vote of support and careful questioning, illustrated that a new councillor may lead the way for others in respecting community concern over preservation of their property. Thank you to Cr Cameron Caldwell who, though not supporting the lake, chaired the meeting fairly.
Thank you to the local media and the media beyond our city for their dedicated work in recording this long saga.
Greatest thanks to the community, who have stood up for the lake for so long, photographed and witnessed its beauty, sent its story via social media, bravely defended it when it suffered destruction, monitored and watched over its prolific birdlife, publicised its plight and contributed to the campaign to ensure, finally, a large area, a seventh of the once extensive lake, remains.
And grateful thanks to the botanists, water quality experts, the RSPCA, Birds South East Queensland, Gecko, Wildlife Queensland and the very many other experts and organisations who have given so generously of their time and skill. From their many scientific disciplines, they have provided a body of irrefutable data testifying that this lake, inadvertently constructed not deliberately excavated like so many, evolved over five decades, in a quiet bush-sheltered remnant wetland site, to become viable and valuable – and to outshine others, in terms of the variety of the multitude of flighted beings who chose, and continue to choose it, as their home.
SALLY SPAIN, PRESIDENT, WILDLIFE QUEENSLAND, GOLD COAST BRANCH