I cannot understand what is happening in Australia at the moment. We have had
two decisions in favour of the environment in the past two weeks. Firstly a
proposal to clear 102 hectares (47 acres) of good bush land for an extra runway
at Jandakot Airport near Perth in Western Australia, has been rejected by the
Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure and also referred to the Minister for
Conservation. The land in question is habitat for a threatened orchid species,
Arachnorchis huegelii (Grand Spider Orchid) and several other significant flora
and fauna species. The people responsible for this result are Friends of Ken
Hurst Park and the Western Australia Native Orchid Study and Conservation Group
and my point of contact as far as information goes has been Dr Eddy Wajon who
is the Convenor of the first group and is Conservation Officer for the second.
I have compiled several submissions from information sent to me by Dr Wajon and
am delighted he now has a positive result. The next piece of good news relates
to another threatened orchid species Diuris aequalis (Buttercup Doubletail).
This species numbers about 250 plants in total and for over three years a
battle has raged to protect its habitat from a landholder who calls himself
"The Firewood Baron". His proposal to log the remaining trees in his section of
the Mt Rae Forest under the guise of a Private Native Forestry Operation was
rejected unanimously by the Upper Lachlan Shire Council. The proposal was to
log trees with no replanting to replace those logged for firewood. The
"Firewood Baron" has played a very physical game in that letterboxes have been
blasted by shotgun and one opponent was told his house would be burned if he
continued his opposition. However some locals were made of better stuff and
managed to convince several landowners and the council to reach this decision.
This was done by sheer hard work and intestinal fortitude on their behalf and
their efforts have so far been successful. As this situation is only 200km (120
miles) from my home, I have made several visits to the area and written several
submissions and countless letters to the Council but the concerned locals are
responsible for the decision. The Mt Rae Forest has been declared an Endangered
Ecological Community in that it is considered rare Tablelands Basalt Forest,
containing a wide range of birds, animals, orchids and other significant flora.
This result can also be challenged but the unanimous decision is one the
Council will find hard to reverse.
Alan W Stephenson
National Conservation Officer
Australasian Native orchid Society (ANOS)
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the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD)
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