Wallum Development threatens nature's "Prime real estate"

This week’s survey of bird species shows again that the planned Wallum Development is in the centre of an outstanding area for wildlife. A total of 44 species were recorded including the Glossy Black-Cockatoo, listed as vulnerable in New South Wales. Also of interest was the presence of “platelets” (see photo below) indicating that Painted Button-quail are using the area.

During the week came the news that the Byron Shire Council has issued authority to proceed with this development of the Wallum Sand Heath and will not contest the decision of the Northern Region Planning Panel. While understanding the council’s short term thinking to avoid a costly and difficult court battle, these costs would soon be overshadowed by the costs of maintaining another development on flood prone land and the irreversible loss of outstanding biodiversity.

Many species of honeyeaters were feeding, incuding the Noisy Friarbird, Little Wattlebird, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater and the White-cheeked Honeyeater seen here.

Four Grey Fantails were seen in total.

“Platelets” are the circular feeding marks left by the Painted Button-quail. As the forage for seeds and insects amongst the leaves they spin on alternate legs, leaving this very characteristic pattern.

Some 25 Little Wattlebirds were seen feeding on nearby banksias.

A Rainbow Lorrikeet, always around when the pickings are good!

Locals protest in hope the Wallum Sand Heath can still be saved.

Wallum Development

The Wallum Development at Brunswick Heads, New South Wales, once more illustrates Australia’s totally inadequate planning and environmental protection laws. Putting aside that the site concerned is declared Flood Prone by the Byron Bay Council, this planned development would destroy a unique Northern Rivers coastal habitat, a significant area of Wallum Sand Heath, and should have been stopped many years ago.

The Wallum Development is a housing subdivision to be built within a patch of Wallum Sand Heath, one of the last remaining in northern New South Wales. It would be adjacent to endangered Coastal Swamp Oak forest and the Sclerophyll forests that line nearby Simpson’s Creek, shown above. The whole development area and surrounds is categorised as “High Environmental Value Vegetation (2023)” on the Byron Bay Council Web Map.

The development area itself is Flood Prone, as designated by the Byron Bay Council and as shown on the web map. The category of Flood Prone is a zone based on the hypothetical “Probable Maximum Flood”, calculated from historic Bureau of Meterology data; data that does not take climate change into account! Future floods could well exceed this level.

The published plans state that many mature trees are to be removed and that the Wallum Sand Heath will be built on. Wallum Sand Heaths form on acid sandy soil with a high water table. The signature plant is the Wallum Banksia and it is home to several specialised Wallum frogs that have adapted to acid waters and soils. Unfortunately as can be seen above the heath has been slashed to a low level, a sad act of destruction. Given the chance though, this important heathland could eventually recover.

In the fenced-off area at the end of Omega Cresent, many different types of birds were seen in a very old and large gum tree. These included Rainbow Bee-eaters, Magpie Larks, Willie Wagtails and four White-winged Trillers, with a female and male shown here, high up in the canopy.

The tree referred to above is the one on the right. It must be hoped that this tree is not one of the trees listed for removal in the development plans. Ancient trees of this size provide priceless habitat for wildlife and cannot be replaced by new plantings.

The whole area is teaming with life; rich in plants, animals and bird population. This Varied Triller was photographed at the cul de sac at the end of Omega Cresent. A pair of Leaden Flycatchers were nesting nearby. Cicadabirds were calling. Swamp Oaks in the area provide food for endangered Glossy Black-Cockatoos.

The vegetation is of high quality but also beauty. The destruction of coastal habitat the length of Australia’s east coast of Australia makes remaining patches just so valuable.

The are a large number of hollows and nesting sites for birds and animals. The hollow shown could be suitable for a small bird; maybe for the Sacred Kingfisher that was calling nearby.

This young Lewin’s Honeyeater was being attended to by two watchful parents. There were many signs of birds breeding.

The beauty of this coastal bush is seen in the taller trees and the undergrowth. Even more important is the need to protect outstanding areas of biodiversity at a time when Australia must reverse its trajectory of habitat destruction. The Wallum Development should be stopped immediately; the area is an obvious candidate for a managed program of restoration and protection.

Birds and the EPBC Act 1999

Taking photographs in burnt out bush land - land that is slated for future development - brings to mind the importance of the review underway of Australia’s top environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The act is reviewed every 10 years and Professor Graeme Samuel’s final report from the review is due in October.

The post-fire explosion of herbs and weeds is providing ample food for Crimson Rosellas.

In the meantime Australia’s parliament has just passed legislation on to the Australian senate that would result in each state conducting its own process to assess and approve projects before the appropriate national standards or compliance checks have been set up, a change that many believe will further dilute the act’s effectiveness.

Likewise the small birds are flourishing; like this Variegated Fairy-wren.

The twenty years since the EPBC was passed have seen continual deterioration of Australia’s environment and loss of biodiversity. The act needs a total overhaul and the importance of the current review cannot be overstated. We should all be letting our politicians know how important this is.

Eastern Whipbird looking for a meal.