C4 General Meeting - Saturday 11th May, 5pm
Guest speaker is Dinouk Perrera - Principal Ranger with the Wildlife Management Unit, Dept of Environment and Science.
Dinouk will talk about how we can live with cassowaries and how they can live with us- a topic of ongoing importance in the Mission Beach area which is widely recognised as having the highest density of cassowaries in the Wet Tropics.
The Wildlife Management Unit is tasked with dealing with all wildlife incidents including rescuing injured, orphaned and separated cassowaries and chicks as well as catching crocodiles which are 'in the wrong place'. Some of these animals need to spend some time in the Garners Beach Cassowary Recovery Centre.
With recent changes to the operation of the Cassowary Recovery Centre (the 'cassowary hospital'), C4 is intending to play a greater role in the day-to-day management of the Centre. C4's belief is that the Mission Beach community should have greater involvement in caring for cassowaries which need to recover from an incident.
We expect that this meeting will lead to an interesting and informative discussion, so welcome visitors as well as members.
After the meeting, everybody is invited to stay for supper and further discussion. We encourage people to 'bring a plate' to share.
For further information, ring C4 40687197 or 0429179152.
C4 Newsletters
NEWSLETTER, AUGUST 2017
FILM NIGHT: The Last Ocean, Saturday September 9. Drinks and nibbles start 6.30pm, movie starts 7.30pm. $10 includes a complimentary drink, nibbles and post-movie discussion.
With stunning footage of Antarctica’s unique landscapes and wild life, The Last Ocean profiles the international battle over commercial fishing in the Ross Sea, a vast, icy landscape that teems with life: whales, seals and penguins carving out a place on the very edge of existence. This “living laboratory” is one of the last places where the delicate balance of nature still prevails, largely untouched by humans. But an international fishing fleet has recently made its way to the Ross Sea, targeting the highly lucrative Antarctic Toothfish.
WORKING BEE: Sunday September 10 at C4 9am to noon.
Come and join in the working bee to erect new signs and do other necessary maintenance around the C4 site to be followed by a barbecue lunch. Bring and share.
WORLD CASSOWARY DAY: Sunday September 24.
Members are invited to help with the C4 stand at WCD from 9am to 3pm this year being held at Fogarty Park on the Cairns Esplanade. Anyone able to help please contact Peter Trott or email C4 at the above address
NEW COMMITTEE
The Management Committee welcomes a new member, Peter Cox, who has accepted the role of Nursery Coordinator.
The annual general meeting on August 5 re-elected Peter Rowles as President and other retiring office-bearers including Vice-president Helen Larson, Secretary Peter Trott, Treasurer Maurice Franklin, Display Coordinator Jeff Larson, who is also Membership Coordinator, Web and Facebook Coordinator and Display Coordinator and Djiru Coordinator Leonard Andy.
MEETING DATES
Following uncertainty with meeting dates this year, General meetings have been scheduled for the year ahead. Our next GM will be the Christmas meeting on Saturday December 2. Next year’s general meetings will be on Saturday March 17, Saturday June 23 and Saturday September 15 with the AGM on June 23. Please mark these dates on your calendar and let us know of any date clashes.
The committee has also decided to hold a series of interest activities through the year, ranging from guest speakers to guided walks and film nights.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month starting at 5pm. Interested members are welcome to attend.
KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS
Birdlife Northern Queensland is hoping to gather an alliance of interested and willing birders to help monitor our local Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), which include our Wet Tropics and other areas. Date to be determined.
USE OF C4 EQUIPMENT
Members are advised that anyone borrowing C4 equipment for their private use must return the items in the same condition or pay for repair or replacement.
LOCAL ISSUES
Clump Point Marine Infrastructure Project - clarification of C4’s position.
• Conservation groups do not support or endorse this project;
• A major objection is that the consultation process was inadequate and highly flawed;
• There is a specific issue with the change in scope (exclusion of Perry Harvey jetty from project);
• There was a lack of notification to the public of the EPBC referral;
• The consultation focused only on Mission Beach local community although the project directly affects two adjoining World Heritage Areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics. Clump Point is the only rainforested basalt link between these two World Heritage.
At a meeting with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, a delegation including C4 requested that TMR conduct an independent investigation of the entire process, prior to moving forward with the project.
More information on this project can be obtained from the Management Committee and will be available on the C4 website soon.
Bingil Bay Craft Distillery Development Application
Comments/submissions are due by COB Friday, Sept. 1. While C4 is not opposed to the idea of a boutique distillery in Mission Beach, the management committee has environmental concerns about the use of this location. The forested creek is an essential part of one of only two cassowary corridors in the Bingil Bay area and while the development is not intended to involve further clearing, there is very limited space in the existing cleared area to accommodate a development of this size.
In addition, water quality is always of concern with industrial type developments and this concern exists over run-off into the creek from the site.
Information from an independent planner indicates the proposed development has numerous conflicts with the Cassowary Coast Planning Scheme which are not identified in the application.
Approval by the Council of this development, in this location, would call into question the value of a Planning Scheme which can be relied on by residents.
C4 members who would like more information on this Development Application or who would like to contribute their opinions should contact C4 before the end of this week.
CASSOWARY ROAD INCIDENTS
A young cassowary was recently hit by a vehicle on the Bruce Hwy through Smith’s Gap. This is the first incident in this location for some years but, with construction of overtaking lanes through this section, the highway will be an impenetrable barrier for cassowaries and other wildlife. DTMR have suggested their first land-bridge over the highway in FNQ but that is cost-dependent. Letters to the Ministers (DTMR and Environment) could encourage DTMR to include this land-bridge as a pilot project to prove the concept.
ROAD-KILL HAZARD
Another incident had a cassowary on the road feeding on fresh road-kill. Other potential victims include raptors and owls. If you see road-kill which could be attracting other wildlife, please move it off the road.
FROG SAFE is now a member of C4. Anyone who would like to volunteer some time would be welcome. Please contact Deborah on 40886572 or admin@frogsafe.org .au
FILM NIGHT: The Last Ocean, Saturday September 9. Drinks and nibbles start 6.30pm, movie starts 7.30pm. $10 includes a complimentary drink, nibbles and post-movie discussion.
With stunning footage of Antarctica’s unique landscapes and wild life, The Last Ocean profiles the international battle over commercial fishing in the Ross Sea, a vast, icy landscape that teems with life: whales, seals and penguins carving out a place on the very edge of existence. This “living laboratory” is one of the last places where the delicate balance of nature still prevails, largely untouched by humans. But an international fishing fleet has recently made its way to the Ross Sea, targeting the highly lucrative Antarctic Toothfish.
WORKING BEE: Sunday September 10 at C4 9am to noon.
Come and join in the working bee to erect new signs and do other necessary maintenance around the C4 site to be followed by a barbecue lunch. Bring and share.
WORLD CASSOWARY DAY: Sunday September 24.
Members are invited to help with the C4 stand at WCD from 9am to 3pm this year being held at Fogarty Park on the Cairns Esplanade. Anyone able to help please contact Peter Trott or email C4 at the above address
NEW COMMITTEE
The Management Committee welcomes a new member, Peter Cox, who has accepted the role of Nursery Coordinator.
The annual general meeting on August 5 re-elected Peter Rowles as President and other retiring office-bearers including Vice-president Helen Larson, Secretary Peter Trott, Treasurer Maurice Franklin, Display Coordinator Jeff Larson, who is also Membership Coordinator, Web and Facebook Coordinator and Display Coordinator and Djiru Coordinator Leonard Andy.
MEETING DATES
Following uncertainty with meeting dates this year, General meetings have been scheduled for the year ahead. Our next GM will be the Christmas meeting on Saturday December 2. Next year’s general meetings will be on Saturday March 17, Saturday June 23 and Saturday September 15 with the AGM on June 23. Please mark these dates on your calendar and let us know of any date clashes.
The committee has also decided to hold a series of interest activities through the year, ranging from guest speakers to guided walks and film nights.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month starting at 5pm. Interested members are welcome to attend.
KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS
Birdlife Northern Queensland is hoping to gather an alliance of interested and willing birders to help monitor our local Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), which include our Wet Tropics and other areas. Date to be determined.
USE OF C4 EQUIPMENT
Members are advised that anyone borrowing C4 equipment for their private use must return the items in the same condition or pay for repair or replacement.
LOCAL ISSUES
Clump Point Marine Infrastructure Project - clarification of C4’s position.
• Conservation groups do not support or endorse this project;
• A major objection is that the consultation process was inadequate and highly flawed;
• There is a specific issue with the change in scope (exclusion of Perry Harvey jetty from project);
• There was a lack of notification to the public of the EPBC referral;
• The consultation focused only on Mission Beach local community although the project directly affects two adjoining World Heritage Areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics. Clump Point is the only rainforested basalt link between these two World Heritage.
At a meeting with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, a delegation including C4 requested that TMR conduct an independent investigation of the entire process, prior to moving forward with the project.
More information on this project can be obtained from the Management Committee and will be available on the C4 website soon.
Bingil Bay Craft Distillery Development Application
Comments/submissions are due by COB Friday, Sept. 1. While C4 is not opposed to the idea of a boutique distillery in Mission Beach, the management committee has environmental concerns about the use of this location. The forested creek is an essential part of one of only two cassowary corridors in the Bingil Bay area and while the development is not intended to involve further clearing, there is very limited space in the existing cleared area to accommodate a development of this size.
In addition, water quality is always of concern with industrial type developments and this concern exists over run-off into the creek from the site.
Information from an independent planner indicates the proposed development has numerous conflicts with the Cassowary Coast Planning Scheme which are not identified in the application.
Approval by the Council of this development, in this location, would call into question the value of a Planning Scheme which can be relied on by residents.
C4 members who would like more information on this Development Application or who would like to contribute their opinions should contact C4 before the end of this week.
CASSOWARY ROAD INCIDENTS
A young cassowary was recently hit by a vehicle on the Bruce Hwy through Smith’s Gap. This is the first incident in this location for some years but, with construction of overtaking lanes through this section, the highway will be an impenetrable barrier for cassowaries and other wildlife. DTMR have suggested their first land-bridge over the highway in FNQ but that is cost-dependent. Letters to the Ministers (DTMR and Environment) could encourage DTMR to include this land-bridge as a pilot project to prove the concept.
ROAD-KILL HAZARD
Another incident had a cassowary on the road feeding on fresh road-kill. Other potential victims include raptors and owls. If you see road-kill which could be attracting other wildlife, please move it off the road.
FROG SAFE is now a member of C4. Anyone who would like to volunteer some time would be welcome. Please contact Deborah on 40886572 or admin@frogsafe.org .au
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