Submission by Spencer Hitchen, Sunshine Beach

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This site is mapped as “Core Koala Habitat” and is an essential part of the
“Core Koala Habitat” corridor from the Noosa National Park - Headland
Section to the Noosa National Park in the south (pictured below)




Above: Proposed development site in black. If the site is destroyed it will
seperate the “Core Koala Habitat” corridor. Our Koalas need to be able to
move freely throughout their limited habitat if they are going to have any
chance of surviving into the future. They need genetic diversity or will face
disease & death. Fragmented habitat pushes Koalas onto roads & into
backyards which usually results in injury & death. The road already is a
danger for our Koalas & needs to be addressed.
——————————————-
The below from the Australian Government PDF “Conservation Advice
for Phascolarctos cinereus (Koala) combined populations of
Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory”
“Crucial habitat elements include patches and corridors for gene flow.”
“Increasing the area of priority koala habitat that is protected is a key
strategy to prevent further habitat loss and fragmentation and prevent
further loss of koala populations.”
——————————————-

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It is not just Koalas that depend on this habitat. The site is listed as “Area
of Biodiversity Significance” (see the below map).


RACV says “the proposal would enhance koala habitat by the removal of
frangipani vines”. We do not need to destroy habitat to remove weeds on
the site. The proposed development will bring more weeds in and further
fragment the habitat in the surrounding area.


The decision makers have all told me “We will lean from Grasstree Court
and make sure this doesn’t happen again.” Here I am writing a submission
to try to protect yet more crucial habitat that is designated for destruction.
We need to protect habitat if we want to save all of our unique species.
Let's protect this habitat and all habitat for the future of the planet and
future generations like me.


If what we are doing was working our Koalas & other threatened species
like the Glossy Black-Cockatoos would be thriving, not having their listing
upgraded.


Thank-you and I hope you listen to all the voices of the Community who
are asking our Council to protect what we all love.


Spencer Hitchen (12 Years)

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NO TREES, NO ME (Photograph ©Spencer Hitchen)