I participated in Frensham's Thurdsay community information session. As is often the case with such online events where there is little opportunity for face to face discussion, I believe more questions were raised than answered.
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In particular I was interested to hear the ecologist Dr David Robertson, of Cumberland Ecology's report of the environment of the Lower Holt. It was interesting in the explanation of how the destruction of the threatened and ever diminishing Southern Highlands Shale Woodland would be offset by the purchase of credits. In the case of these woodlands as there are limited opportunities to contribute to the preservation of the vestiges of this environment funds would be required to be paid to a biodiversity fund. This means that the destroyed forest would not be like for like replaced.
To understand this further I did some due diligence research on Cumberland Ecology and it is quite revealing and disturbing. It is reported on the Australian Independent Media website (https://theaimn.com/koalas-coal-cash) that Cumberland Ecology has a "reputation for getting the job done amongst the mining sector" including such controversial projects including Rio Tinto's Warkworth/Mt Thorley mine, Whitehaven's Maules Creek mine and Shenhua's Watermark mine. Once again this raises more questions than answers.
However, the answer that I'd like to have from the Board of Frensham is did they do their due diligence before appointing Cumberland Ecology for this project. If not, why not? And if so why would they chose a consultant with this type of track record? While they lecture the community about their sustainability values and credentials they have demonstrated through their actions that there is indeed a double standard applying here. This reflects more on the values of the Board of Frensham and contributes to my doubts about the veracity of their intentions.
There is an old saying about "when you are stuck in a hole don't keep digging". I think the Board of Frensham should take heed.
Kim Leevers, Welby
An open letter to the Frensham Board of Governors
We are calling upon the Board of Winifred West Schools to abandon its DA for student accommodation in the Lower Holt (bushland opposite the main campus). The DA will destroy valuable wildlife habitat and sever an important biodiversity corridor.
The nine buildings proposed (six dormitories, two staff cabins, a communal hall with a large fire pit amphitheatre) are intended to give the 72 students a "bush experience".
The school says that the accommodation will only occupy 0.8 hectares but fails to clarify that 4.2 hectares (11 acres) of the bush will be cleared, because of the fire regulations requiring an "Asset Protection Zone". Also, the accommodation is to be located directly on top of a collective ("Wisdom") of 12 wombat burrows.
The wombats are in the only spot that completely avoids the 100-year flood line. This is why the wombats chose it many generations ago. Human habitation is to replace the wombat habitation. Humans have other nearby locations to choose from, the wombats do not. Destruction of habitat is the greatest threat facing our wildlife in Australia. What environmental lesson is the Frensham Board providing the students in locating the accommodation here?
A bush experience can be gained without destroying the bush by walking the 10 minutes from the main campus and or camping. Where is the outdoor challenge of staying in an 'eco' hut less than 10 minutes from the boarding house.
The Council planner's recommendation for approval was based on a biodiversity report that was incomplete and highly inaccurate. Due to a break down in council procedure the DA never went to council's environment department and was not overlaid with the green web mapping available. The wildlife carers who have worked for many years with Frensham in this location were not consulted.
The biodiversity report dismissed the location as being part of a significant wildlife corridor. While the Hume Highway and rail line are a problem that should be addressed, the biodiversity map below from Wingecarribee Council shows that the site is in a crucial part of the Primary Biodiversity Corridor running between Mt Gibraltar and Mt Alexandra. Connectivity of habitats is essential to maintain and enhance biodiversity and is particularly important with the advance of climate change. This development will effectively break that connectivity.
The biodiversity report is also seriously deficient in the range of wildlife said to exist there. The report said they observed only one wombat scat, notwithstanding that the wildlife carers know that there are at least 12 wombats in the Wisdom. Six of these are rescued orphans, that wildlife carers rehabilitated (a process that takes 2 to 3 years) as part of a loved and valued environmental studies program for the students. Frensham has made its own video declaring the importance of the the Lower Holt as a wildlife corridor, its work with 'Land for Wildlife' and its history of the girls being involved in wildlife protection. See: https://youtu.be/IkHUpxMNOSA
There have been recorded sightings of koalas and platypuses in the wildlife corridor, none of which are noted in the biodiversity report. Platypus are shy almost nocturnal animals and the presence of 72 students, four teachers and social events around the fire pit less than 50 metres away from the Nattai River will drive the resident platypus population away. There is no mention of the required permits (NSW wildlife regulations) to relocate wombats, though they are planning to fence them out of their wisdom. This is a disastrous situation for the wombats but is also a safety concern for surrounding locals and road users.
As a private school on private land, Frensham enjoys considerable public funding and tax relief. The school also functions as a significant member of the local community.
We the undersigned call on the Board of Winifred West Schools to honour their responsibilities of good citizenship by treating the local community with respect and hearing its voice. Also, we call on the Board to uphold the moral responsibility the school owes to its own family by honouring the spirit of stewardship of the land prescribed by the schools' progressive founder, Winifred West.
Signed by representatives of Australian Wildlife Society, Wildlife carers, Bushcare groups, Wombatised, Birdlife Southern Highlands, WinZero and Australian Native Plants Society, and others.
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