We are concerned about the possible loss of Tawny Frogmouth habitat among other things. I think for me (Megan Choong) personally, I am an advocate for those who do not have a voice: the multiple indigenous birds, amphibians and other wildlife that live opposite my house. I reached out to Victorian experts and they have provided evidence of tawny frogmouth habitat that will be compromised if excessive development continues in ‘old’ Wandana Heights at 6 Greenway Court:
- Assoc Prof Raylene Cooke , Deakin Uni , regarding research about the impact that high-density living has on native bird species, especially Tawnys. Refer https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/raylene-cooke
“Raylene is an active researcher with a focus on how disturbance processes such as urbanization, fire and introduced species impact upon our unique ecosystems and wildlife. ”
Megan also gives us this information from Marian Weaving’s transcript in “Weekend birder, Marian Weaving Oct 2022”
“I think as a species we should be sharing our cities and our areas that we live in with other species. I don’t think it’s an all or nothing situation and I think we should build cities and create open areas that can that we can occupy, but also lots of other species can occupy. I think one of the most important things we can do is create gardens and streetscapes and parks that are diverse.
By diverse, I mean large trees that sustain species that need large trees like Tawny Frogmouths. With Tawnys, they need a fairly large tree to provide stability for their nests and, as a long live sedentary species, once that tree is cut down and gone, they then don’t have a spot for breeding. They can’t breed and they’ll leave the area.”
Megan tells us, “We’ve recorded 91 objections to the proposed development for 58 dwellings including 24 apartments on 6 Greenway Court in Wandana Heights.
Objections include:
- Overdevelopment of the site which does not respect the established character of the neighbourhood
- Maintaining wildlife corridor – native flora and fauna unique to Geelong CBD eg. tawny frogmouth and pobble bonk frog habitat
- The creation of hard surface areas that will exacerbate flooding in James Cook Drive
- Increased peak hour traffic bottle necks at Basin Rise / Thornhill Road intersection
- Increased noise and light pollution
- Loss of amenity and thus neighbourhood walkway/parkland impacted
There will be a Planning Committee meeting this Wednesday 16/8 at 5.30pm at City Hall to determine the outcome of this development. We will meet local councillors. All welcome.
From Megan Choong. Photo: of local Wandana Heights Tawny Frogmouths by Matthew Mallett.
HuG 