USC921

MOONBI 116 MOONBI is the name given by the Butchalla Aborigines to the central part of their homeland, Fraser Island or “Kgari” MOONBI is the newsletter of Fraser Island Defenders Organization Limited FIDO, “The Watchdog of Fraser Island", aims to ensure the wisest use of Fraser Island’s natural resources FIDO's Registered Office: c/- Stephen Comino & Arthur Comino, G2 425 Milton Road, Milton, 4065 ABN 59 009 969 135 FIDO's Postal Address: PO Box 909 TOOWONG QLD 4066 Editor: John Sinclair, #2/30 Cameron Street, Nundah Q 4012 MOONBIs since 1996 and all FIDO Backgrounders can be found at www.fido.org.au Email: john@fido.org.au ISSN 0311 - 032X 17th September , 2007

Since MOONBI 115 There have been some most significant developments involving FIDO and Fraser Island since MOONBI 115 was mailed out on 9th May. State Issues: 1. Council Amalgamations: With the whole of Fraser Island now after a lapse of 33 years (due to Russell Hinze’s intervention as Local Government Minister in 1974) being again under the single local authority, Premier Beattie finally remembered the election promise he made in 2000 to introduce legislation to protect Fraser Island and other World Heritage sites. See story p2. 2. Traveston: Premier Beattie’s belated initiative to protect Queensland’s outstanding natural icons is not matched by other Queensland Government actions such as building the proposed Traveston Dam on the Mary River which will have a most detrimental environmental impact downstream in Great Sandy Strait and on the World Heritage and Ramsar sites. See story p4. A Federal Issues: As Australians prepare for an imminent Federal Election FIDO wants the next Commonwealth Government to give Fraser Island a fair go financially. This MONBI illustrates very graphically just how poorly Fraser Island has fared under federal funding arrangements for World Heritage over the past decade. We encourage FIDO members and supporters to cop[y the petition with this MOONBI gather signatures and get them back to us as soon as possible to enable us to present them early next year. New Recognition: On the Commonwealth front Fraser Island has been included in the National Heritage List although it was the first item to go on to the Register of the Natonal Estate back in 1976. Also in the new revised World Heritage criteria, Fraser Island now meets three of the 10 World Heritage criteria (although just one would be enough to justify is listing) Although no additional values have yet been recognized this is expected to happen when Fraser Island and Cooloola are renominated for World Heritage listing soon. See stories p4, Expanding Lake McKenzie recreation area: In a move from left field the QPWS has suddenly begun advocating the expansion of the recration area to Lake McKenzie’s Second Beach because it only has enough money to build one new toilet block and that model best fits the plan. FIDO is strenuously opposed to this and a big stoush seems imminent. See story p5. Growing Support for Fraser Island’s Light Rail: Amongst the many interesting items in News in Brief is a ringing endorsement from former Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of Tourism Australia, Tim Fisher for FIDO’s light rail proposal. It needs support from Queensland politicians. Finishing FIDO’s Eurong Weed Info Shelter August 07 Weeds: Since May FIDO has organized several working bees to help deal with two epicenters of weed infestation on Fraser Island, the townships of Eurong and Happy Valley and erected weed information shelters in both villages. FIDO is an entirely voluntary organization. It has no professional staff. All work on its behalf is done in an honorary capacity. However, FIDO needs financial support to meet necessary expenses to deal with the major issues and projects, and to pursue research and campaigns to improve Fraser Island management. Backgrounders: This MOONBI provides background on federal funding for Fraser Island which shows how poorly it has been treated. This is accompanied by a petition. Please feel free to copy the petition, and gather signatures but get the signatures to FIDO by 31st January. Another backgrounder deals with the Fraser Island fens. While FIDO had known of the existence of the boggy peaty swamps or “open country” which were incredibly difficult to traverse, it took 25 years before we had a name for these features or even a basic understanding of their ecological significance. Fens are our other backgrounder. FIDO has a complete set of backgrounders on our web site including the 6 A4 page history, “Eliza Fraser’s Troubled TIMES” which was recently revised coincidental with the Queensland Conservatorium’s concert on this theme. In This Issue Fraser Island benefits from local government reforms..2 Waging the war against weeds ........................................3 Damning report on Traveston; More recognition ........4 Bigger footprint at Lake McKenzie; Eliza Fraser .........5 Fraser Dingoes genetic purity; Visitation Stats..............6 News in brief ............................................................... 7-9 A Fair Go for Fraser Island in Federal funding...........10

MOONBI 116 (17th September, 2007) — 2 Fraser Island Benefits from Local Government Reforms In the process of slashing the number of Queensland councils from 156 to 72 Premier Beattie inadvertently did Fraser Island a long overdue favour by bringing it all under the control of a single local authority — the Fraser Coast Regional Council. In this he has FIDO’s support. Ever since 1974 when former Bjelke-Petersen Local Government Minister, Russell Hinze, intervened to divide Fraser Island between Hervey Bay and Maryborough city councils the island has suffered from the lack of consistent land positive local government to support and protect the island’s World Heritage values. Until 1974 Fraser Island was administered by the then Burrum Shire Council. However when the Hervey Bay City Council was created, Minister Hinze took away the southern half of the island and gave it to Maryborough to facilitate the exploitation of its timber and mineral resources despite the recommendations of a local government boundaries inquiry. A serious anomaly has existed which has made the integrated administration of the island difficult. In February 2001 Queensland Premier Peter Beattie promised that if he was re-elected his new government would (bring) Fraser Island under the planning control of a single government agency. These three “core promises” were part of the environmental policy in the policy speech: * Giving statutory recognition to Queensland's responsibility to fulfil our obligations under the World Heritage Convention to formulate and implement WHA Management Plans that give priority to the protection and conservation of World Heritage values while presenting those values to the best advantage; * Giving legislative effect to World Heritage area Management Plans to ensure their planning policy and principles are reflected in local planning schemes and considered in the assessment of development applications, and * Giving priority to implementing the Great Sandy Region Management Plan (including bringing Fraser Island under the planning control of a single government agency) and finalize submissions necessary to expand the Fraser Island World Heritage area to incorporate the entire Great Sandy Region including Cooloola National Park. It is regrettable that Fraser Island wasn’t brought under the control of a single authority (as recommended in the Fitzgerald Report back in 1996) when Local Government Commissioner Greg Hoffman’s review of local authority boundaries in the Great Sandy Region (commissioned by the Goss Government) was stopped in its tracks by the Borbidge Government. There was then the chance to implement the most logical of moves to improve the administration of the island. Although more than 99% of the island’s area is incorporated in the Great Sandy National Park almost 99% of the problems of management of the island emanate from the 1% which is outside the jurisdiction of the QPWS. The settlements are the epicenters of visitor movements. They are also the epicenters of weed infestation and a much wider range of problems including the management of domestic pets, the negative interactions between dingoes and residents and much more. Fraser Island contributes enormously to the economy of the region. How much benefit from Fraser Island goes to Maryborough and how much goes to Hervey Bay should now no longer be any consideration in how much a mainland based council should be prepared to put into this huge regional economic generator. It makes so much sense to combine the separate administration of this most significant economic resource, ecological treasure and single bio-geographic unit under a single administration. For more than three decades the two mainland based councils have found it awkward and expensive to maintain separate infrastructures to service the island. There can now be a single more efficient authority which combines and improves on the previous means of dealing with local government issues on the island. It is most significant that the new Regional Council indeed takes its name from the island. Iconic Legislation? FIDO is now encouraged that having moved to bring all of Fraser Island back into one local authority the Beattie Government has also indicated it will do more to ensure that the new local government regime protects World Heritage and iconic areas of Queensland. Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser whose department will oversee the new legislation said the iconic status could include areas of state or national significance, areas of historical significance, areas of unique natural environment and World Heritage areas. He said, "Internationally, Queensland is environmentally unique and there are very few other places that could match our areas of iconic importance." Premier Peter Beattie said the Iconic Queensland Strategy would give the force of state law to already existing planning schemes in such environmentally significant and important areas as the Fraser Coast area. He said, "What the government will do is legislate to ensure those planning schemes now have more grunt and the clout to ensure icons like … are given even more protection. … Of course, appropriate development will continue but with the new laws, planning schemes in these areas become more powerful than ever.” FIDO wrote to the Premier seeking to clarify if this will be a step towards delivering his promises of February 2001.

MOONBI 116 (17th September 2007) — 3 Waging The War Against Weeds Since MOONBI 115 FIDO has sponsored three weeding bees at Happy Valley and one at Eurong as well as a special trip to install sign shelters in both Eurong an Happy Valley to alert residents and visitors to these two epicentres of weed infestations of the need to control weeds and avoid further infestation. Reports of the weeding projects are contained on FIDO’s web site: www.fido.org.au. Happy Valley: These are just some extracts from reports from Laura Simmons who has been coordinating the work of volunteers in Happy Valley Future Planning: Laura is still looking for volunteers for two more planned working bees in 2007. These are scheduled for: 27th October to 4th November and Saturday 1st December to Sunday 9th December (after exams!) Laura advises that a condition of the program is that each volunteer is expected to complete 35 hours of voluntary weeding work during the week (5 hours per day Sunday to Saturday). The work will be undertaken in the morning so that afternoons are available for free time for guided tours to different locations around the island to experience the true natural beauty including magnificent rainforests, enormous sand blows, giant coloured sand cliffs and crystal clear lakes. Weeds targeted: Singapore Daisy, Cape Ivy, Corky Passionfruit, Stinking Passionfruit, Edible Passionfruit, Easter Cassia, Lantana, Basket Asparagus, Mother-in-Law Tongue, Green Panic, Broad Leaved Pepper, Brazillian Nightshade. Laura has written full plant species list for middle bushland of Happy Valley township and is concerned that Abrus prectorious vine might be a potential weed. … The large Broad Leaved Pepper’s that had reshot was treated again. Previously these trees had been cut and painted with herbicide. It is necessary for any Broad Leaved Pepper to be frilled with herbicide if the stem diameter is greater than 20cm and re-treated by cutting regrowth and painting as well as scraping back to roots where possible and painting with herbicide. Seed was collected from Corymbia intermedia. Sign Erection Trip: Laura assisted builders, Tony and Paul with transportation and erection of information shelters in Happy Valley and Eurong townships. … Resorts in both townships werepleased with the sign erection. Eurong Beach Resort requested HBCC ‘Dirty Dozen’ weed brochures to distribute to those interested. … Happy Valley Wilderness Retreat has requested to go on a plant/weed identification walk during the next weeding bee. Weed identification and treatment training will be conducted at the same time. … Laura and Brad walked the boundaries of the Happy Valley township with the National Park ranger to gauge weed infestation and found NW and SW boundary survey pegs. Infestation not too bad the further out of town you go. Interesting finds included ground orchids, huge patches of scrub that are completely free of weed species. Eurong: The now annual May trip to Eurong led by Ballina based bush regenerators, Stephanie & Julian Lymburner was mainly composed of volunteers from New South Wales. It ended up being one person short after FIDO Honorary Project Officer, John Sinclair, fell off a viewing platform at Seary’s Creek in Cooloola National Park shattering his right shoulder. But the show went on. These are some notes from the group’s diary: Troops assembled at 7.00am for breakfast, clean for the last time, and were kitted up with regenerating implements and marched off to a patch between the resort and the beach, where under the bemused gaze of passing tourists we pulled up our old friend Lantana (Lantana camara) and new friends Corky Passionfruit (Passiflora suberosa) and Prickly Pear (Opuntia sp.) and others. … … we stopped off to join the crowds of backpackers at Eli Creek. The request to remain silent and appreciate the sounds of this wonderful site, was shattered by the exuberance of youth. Us oldies chose to paddle the cool clear creek waters observing the Native Tibouchina (Melastoma affine) and the Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum). Here also we spotted the white faced honeyeater, the mistletoe bird and a pardalote. … We divided up into two groups, one working on the hill behind the resort and the other weeded a huge mound of Fishbone Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia) at the southern end of the resort. … The morning’s session was in the more upmarket end of town – Second Valley, or at least the swale on the northern edge. A new terror was tackled. MADEIRA VINE (Anredera cordifolia)! And also Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum delagoense), Green Panic Grass (Panicum maximum) and good ‘ole’ corky passionfruit and the odd Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta). Three hours and we had them licked. You can help Fraser Island best now by drawing Federal Government’s attention to the very inadequate and iniquitous distribution of World Heritage funds amongst Australia’s natural sites by both networking as much as possible and both copying and gathering signatures for the petition included with this MOONBI or downloadable from www,fido.org.au

MOONBI 116 (17th September 2007) — 4 Damning Report on Traveston Despite a Senate inquiry’s warnings of unacceptable environmental impacts in its 153-page report released in August, the Queensland Government says it will continue "full steam ahead" with the Traveston Crossing Dam. Anna Bligh described the inquiry's report into the proposed $1.7 billion mega Mary River dam as "the biggest non-event since the Y2K bug". The Senate's rural and regional affairs committee report into the dam, labelled it a "political response to a serious problem" while raising concerns about key social and environmental issues. The report said, “This appears to be symptomatic of a politically expedient decision made in a tense political environment and in the face of burgeoning population growth and a reducing water supply.” The committee made just two recommendations but stopped short of calling for the dam to be halted. It urged federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull to broaden a study on the potential environmental impact of the proposed dam, as well as carry out an audit of the approval conditions for the Paradise Dam, on the Burnett River. In its report the committee singled out three species as being under specific threat from the damming of the Mary River - the Australian lungfish, which is currently listed as vulnerable, the Mary River turtle, listed as endangered and the Mary River cod, also listed as endangered. It also raised concerns about the negative impact on Great Sandy Strait wetlands and World Heritage listed Fraser Island. The report urged the Queensland Government to explore alternatives, such as raising the Borumba Dam near Noosa, transporting water from northern NSW to south-east Queensland and making greater use of rainwater tanks and recycled water. FIDO made submissions to the Committee on the impact of the dam on the Ramsar listed Great Sandy Strait and World Heritage listed Fraser Island and Honorary Project Officer John Sinclair appeared before the Inquiry at its Gympie hearings to support FIDO’s submissions. FIDO also made strong submissions that the terms of reference for the Environmental Impact Statement on the Traveston Crossing dam needed to identify the downstream impacts, particularly on Great Sandy Strait and Fraser Island. These criteria are included in the EIS but although the Queensland Government seems determined to bulldoze ahead regardless of the outcome of any study (which they already seem to have pre-empted) the study has to run the gauntlet of the Commonwealth Government’s EPBC legislation which seems to be the only chance left to bring some sanity to the best way to address the current and future water needs of South East Queensland. FIDO is pleased to note that Brisbane’s per capita water consumption has fallen so significantly that it is setting anew benchmark for water conservation globally. Let’s hope that this can be maintained while better considered options to meet future needs are developed. More Recognition for Fraser Island National Heritage Listing: For inexplicable reasons when the Howard Government introduced the new National Heritage List all of the existing World Heritage properties were left off. Finally this anomaly has been rectified and Fraser Island has finally been included on the National Heritage List. This is a welcome move because there were nominations to recognize specific Fraser Island values such as the purity of Fraser Island dingoes being made, whereas recognizing all of the World Heritage values is a more logical basis of recognition. The fact that Fraser Island wasn’t included on either the National nor the Queensland Heritage Registers disqualified some funding applications such as a feasibility study for a light rail route on the island. FIDO has moved to correct the Queensland anomaly and has nominated Fraser Island for inclusion on the Queensland Heritage Register which has previously been almost exclusively focused on recognizing Queensland’s built and cultural heritage. Extra WH tick for Fraser Island AS a result of revision of World Heritage criteria Fraser Island is now listed as meeting three of the four natural criteria whereas it was previously inscribed as meeting only two. The World Heritage Centre (WHC) has transferred all properties listed under the original 1992 Criteria, and the 2002 Criteria to the unified 2005 Criteria. Hence the WHC has agreed to transfer Fraser Island's original listing for Criterion (ii) geomorphological and biological values; and Criterion (iii) exceptional natural beauty to the following unified 2005 Criteria: (vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; (viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; (ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. While it is true that Fraser Island is now listed for three World Heritage Criteria, this has not resulted from a review of the values of Fraser Island, but from an administrative decision to standardise the criteria for all World Heritage Areas to the unified 2005 criteria. This transfer does not add any values to the Fraser Island listing. The Commonwealth Government though has agreed to a renomination of Fraser Island together with Cooloola and the recommendation from scientists when the new material is reviewed is that the extended World Heritage area of Fraser Island and Cooloola will meet all four natural criteria although this is still subject to international adjudication.

MOONBI 116 (17th September 2007) — 5 A Bigger Footprint at Lake McKenzie? FIDO was recently alarmed by a proposal put to the QPWS hierarchy to direct about 120,000 people each year to use Lake McKenzie’s “second beach”. There is currently almost negligible visitor impact on this almost pristine beach. A majority recommendation from the Site Visitor Capacity Working Group despite strong opposition from conservation interests proposed that while leaving the main Lake McKenzie beach free for the recreation of about 80,0000 free and independent travelers annually, 120,000 commercial visitors should leave their footprints on a beach which now wears only one or two thousand. The recommendation seems to be largely driven by the urgent need for new and better toilet facilities at Lake McKenzie and the desire to separate visitors on commercial tours and free and independent travelers Adverse Impact in Perceptions: FIDO believes that while coming up with a recommendation to manage about 217,000 annual visitors to Lake McKenzie, the proposal has overlooked the preservation of the aesthetics of Fraser Island’s best known icon which has vicarious value to millions of other people globally. It seems an excessive extravagance to attempt to reduce visitor density at Lake McKenzie, (negligible compared with Bondi and Surfers Paradise beaches) by opening a new beach. The profound value of Fraser Island depends on its spaces free of humans. Are we to continur to extend the human footprint when tourists are well catered for already? The profound value of the ocean beaches has been destroyed by the volume of motor vehicles and aircraft that use the beach as a highway and regular landing strip. FIDO has been assured that we will be consulted over any redevelopment at Lake McKenzie and that there needs to be more consensus before any plans are approved. This Indonesian Navy sailing ship was washed ashore at Inskip Point by wild weather Wild weather closes Fraser Island Fraser Island section of Great Sandy National Park, Inskip Point Recreation Area and the northern section of Cooloola were closed to the public during some extremely wild and very wet weather in late August. It delivered more than 700mms of rain to parts of Cooloola in just 24 hours on 24th August. A large clean-up operation was necessary to clear debris, repair road surfaces and associated drainage at Fraser and Cooloola sections of Great Sandy National Park. FIDO endorses the decision to close the parks and believes that this is a positive move to bring Fraser Island into line with closure policies which apply to other National Parks around Australia. FIDO would like to see road closures on the island when it is apparent that continued use is resulting in unacceptable damage. An Evening with Eliza Fraser A concert at the Queensland Conservatorium on 30th August was based on the story of shipwreck survivor, Eliza Fraser who with her husband who died there gave Fraser Island its name. The concert focused on two aspects of this dramatic and tragic story — the historical facts and its role (along with Fraser Island itself) in inspiring musicians, writers, visual artists and film-makers. The History: In 1986 FIDO marked the Sesqui-centennial of the shipwreck of the “Stirling Castle” on the Great Barrier Reef and the dramas surrounding the crew as they attempted to reach Moreton Bay by producing a medallion and a tabloid account of the story, “Eliza Fraser’s Troubled TIMES”. FIDO has now revised and reproduced that history with illustrations in printable A4 PDF format which can be accessed and downloaded at FIDO’s web site: www,fido.org.au Artistic Inspiration: The evening with Eliza Fraser was centred around the performance of the epic poem, “Eliza Survivor” by leading poet, Barbara Blackman and set to music by leading composer, Peter Sculthorpe. Following the most impressive recital FIDO had an opportunity to discuss the role of Fraser Island and the story of Eliza Fraser in inspiring artists with Barbara Blackman herself. Barbara Blackman with her famous artist husband, Charles Blackman visited Fraser Island in 1969. Both were violently ill throughout their stay. This and her experiences growing up in South East Queensland inspired her to write “Eliza Survivor”. Barbara rattled off the names of impressive Australians, all close acquaintances of hers who were inspired by the island including Sidney Nolan and Harrold Hattam (artists), Judith Wright (poet), Patrick White (writer) Peter Sculthorpe (composer) and Tim Burstall (film-maker). She agrees with her late longtime friend, Judith Wright, that the Fraser Island landscape and its history is to Australian art similar to the significance of England’s Lakes District or Constable Country. Australia has very few such important sites. FIDO believes that the aesthetic value of Fraser Island has still to be properly recognized by both the Australian and Queensland Governments. Artist Erwin Weber sketching on Fraser Island