SOME Logan libaries and the Logan administration centre have the forms - seeking your feedback. Following is a copy of text of form with comments in blue italics Copy-of-text-from-DTMR-PARK-RIDGE-CONNECTOR-PROPOSED-CORRIDOR-FEEDBACK-SHEET.doc67 KB

PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR PROPOSED CORRIDOR - FEEDBACK SHEET. Some may have a box to put your completed sheets in? You are asked to base your feedback on a map with little  cadastral marking. A digital version of same form calls it CONSULTATION ON THE PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR PROPOSED CORRIDOR.

There is also an information sheet stating that consultation is being undertaken during August and September. How and with whom is unclear. As both a participant in the CSRG process Community Stakeholder Reference Group and a submitter to the 2011 consultation LACA has not been invited to a consultation as yet?

 If you would like to contact the planning team please call 1800 799 824 - email pThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Presumably this is also where you email your response?

It is strange that anonymous feedback is "allowed"  -  form states Contact details (optional)

The usual protocol with submissions and feedback requires details of NAME and ADDRESS and usually a signature is also required. What weight will be given to them without? The genuineness of this consultation process is questionable in the writer's opinion. Where are we in the NEXT STEPS? inside cover REFO.

The REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OVERVIEW available at Browns Plain Library is the same one as used last  year. It is available on DTMR website at http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/8c2d4e8a-469a-4948-984ceeb7d944cf93/prcreviewofenvironmentalfactorsoverview.pdf

Read about the fiasco of registered letters sent in error to be followed by a retraction for some. The NO PRC website http://www.noprc.org/ has details.

Consultation is not about individual property owners meeting - at Loganholme office for DTMR - with the public servants. People have a right to all the information they need to make INFORMED DECISIONS.  

To date we have not been provided with any information or criteria to establish the existence of a VIABLE CORRIDOR?

Perhaps we should all contact our local councillor and State member to ask for assistance with voicing our concerns in a meaningful way. Email  Michael Pucci   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone 07 3806 8513. Visit at Maxima House, 1/3 Helen Street, Hillcrest Qld 4118.

What does Minister Scott Emerson mean when he said "I've signed off on nothing"?

This statement was spoken in the presence of Mr Pucci, Mr Pucci's assistant Ben and the chief of staff for Mr Emerson and another staff person for Mr Emerson at the meeting attended by LACA President Anne Page and 3 other NO PRC Committee members. They met with Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson at Parliament House 11 July for an half hour meeting - reduced to 20 minutes. Logan LNP member Michael Pucci had negotiated this meeting for the group. Although we had received verbal information via different media sources that the minister had approved the corridor the group were hopeful that the LNP government would honour its promise to review previous Labour government processes.

This verbal communication from the department of Transport and Main Roads is ambivalent and inconclusive. It would appear from our rational reasoning that the minister has accepted at face value what Main Roads staff have said that there is a need for a road corridor. The concept of viability has not been examined.

It also appears that the minister has "approved" a corridor of interest as some members of the community have received registered letters - including a map - and information that their property is not directly affected.

 Not sure yet how this resident koala will be considered? This property has regular sightings of koalas.

Will new federal EPBC decision listing koalas as vulnerable "protect" the koala habitat?

The whole question of viability was not resolved at the Community Stakeholders Reference Group CSRG and to date the feedback report that was to have been presented to council for their decision making process has not yet been presented - though a hasty decision was made to approve the corridor. 

NO VIABLE CORRIDOR FOR THE PARK RIDGE CONNECTOR ROAD 

The following is part of LACA's submission to DTMR to object to both the decision to construct a six lane freight motorway impacting on significant wtland areas and also the method of "consultation" used to validate their decision.

LACA does not believe there is a viable corridor for the Park Ridge Connector Road because there are existing communities and environmental assets in the area proposed for the corridor. LACA has stated this position clearly since the beginning of the CSRG process and has continued to communicate this position at all times.

LACA is extremely concerned that the significant environmental issues are being ignored by Main Roads, despite LACA's ongoing communication of our environmental concerns since the beginning of the Community Stakeholder Reference Group or CSRG process. LACA has been particularly concerned that the biodiversity hotspot of Jerry's Downfall Reserve-Flesser Reserve continues to be targeted for an infrastructure corridor, when it is such a significant biodiversity area and bioregional corridor. LACA has also continued to voice its concern for the northern bioregional corridor of Karawatha – Greenbank-Flinders Peak ,Berrinba Wetlands and Scrubby Creek.

LACA believes that this consultation process has been deficient and members of the CSRG have communicated their concerns that they felt like they were being lead by Main Roads throughout the CSRG process. LACA is also very unhappy at the short consultation time frame given to the general community to peruse the EAIR document - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND INVESTIGATION REPORT - and supporting evidence. LACA has continued to request an extension of time to this consultation from the beginning of the public display period

Record your formal objection to the Park Ridge Connector Road. The Connector Road Investigations that are currently being undertaken by Logan City Council and the Department of Main Road, are to determine if there is "a viable corridor". Many concerned citizens and local community do not believe there is a viable route because this road corridor is being proposed through existing residential and rural-residential communities and biodiverse environments that cannot be replaced.

The property with signs shown above at 292 Browns Plains Road ( 92 hectares) has great historical significance to family friends and the wider community. This property has been in family ownership since 1939 and every effort to conserve the environment has been made on this property. The family does not want to sell or develop this property wanting to preserve this for conservation purposes.

The 92 hectares [200 acres] represents an area that contains valuable remnant vegetation and biodversity that has not been surveyed since 1992 by the West Logan Environment Group. Because of its proximity to Karawatha it is logical to assume that this site will have high biodiversity values as well. The intact size of this property represents such valuable ecosystem service assets that they cannot be replaced or offset. Karawatha Forest has at least 27 frog species -  some likely to be on this bushland property as well as koalas, snakes, grey headed flying fox, owl species, gliders and other wildlife whose home range includes this area.

The property is critical in protecting the water quality of Scrubby Creek, and has critical connectivity to Berrinba Wetlands area. LACA Logan and Albert Conservation Association supports protecting with adequate buffering and connectivity of all waterways and wetlands. We do not support the degrading of waterways and water quality. Water quality is a critical issue for all rivers creeks and wetland areas in Logan - as recognized by council and community committment at the July Waterways Summit and LACAs campaign to Rebuild the Rivers.

All development and infrastructure to support an increasing population with its growing perceived need for more goods and commodities ie freight has a cost. This cost is not only the dollars needed to build these structures but also a cost to community wellbeing. We NEED CLEAN AIR CLEAN WATER and FOOD in that order so remain alive. We DO NOT NEED roads for freight.

VIABLE Park Ridge Connector (PRC)  arterial - or not???

What is The Park Ridge Connector (PRC)? See TMR  link here for an explanation

What is your vision for South East Queensland - specifically the new Logan area

 - listed in government documents as Mt  Lindesay North Beaudesert Study Area. It has been and will continue to be subject to processes called "investigation" in various South East Queensland Regional Plans. As a conservation group LACA's major concern is that the landscape is being fragmented into a patchwork mishmash of disconnected bits of bushland - without long term seasonal studies of flora and fauna.

Significant areas of wetlands and regional ecosystems are threathened by these processes and archaic planning processes. To their credit Logan City and Main Roads gathered a Community Stakeholder Reference Group to determine VIABILITY of a road corridor through the new urban area of Park Ridge.

Community feedback is now being sought - without there being any analysis or discussion of the real costs if intact areas of natural environment are destroyed by a clever piece of engineering.

Globally nations have been talking about TEEB  - THE ECONOMICS OF ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY and many nations are placing a value on the benefits we receive freely from nature. The loss of functioning biodiversity has not been included in the economic analysis!!

What does viable mean? The CSRG were told - as you are told - we need this motorway to move freight. There are other options - none of which were discussed at CSRG meetings - but should be discussed.

A timely article appears in the current issue of GMAGAZINE - How the Dutch got their cycle paths. Enjoy the video here 

Dutch cities could not cope with the traffic, recognized the peak oil situation and economic crisis. People power helped government to acquire A POLITICAL WILL TO CHANGE. Can we take some advise from Ablert Einstein who said

We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them

Check out the refined area of interest for a major motorway at this link

If you are concerned about the nonviabilty of a six lane 100 metre freight road corridor please make that clear on your feedback form.

Consider coming along to a LACA meeting to discuss options and work towards creating a sustainable environment for future generations.

 Contact Anne Page President3297 0624 Kathy Faldt Vice President or Ted Fensom from BREC [Brisbane Regional Environment Council] 3801 1208 to discuss your concerns.

It is also important to discuss your concerns with both your local councillor and  Logan CEO. Contact also Minister for Roads and Minister for Environment.