Federal threatened species strategy applies to prison site, say residents

The Brushy Rivulet Reserve is the proposed site for the new Northern Regional Prison Archive photo supplied

Sharon Webb

Birralee residents who are opposed to a proposed prison believe the Brushy Rivulet Reserve may be a ‘potential future place of refuge that species might migrate to’, referred to in a recently released Federal Government blueprint for protecting Australia’s biodiversity.

Spokesperson for Concerned residents Opposed to Westbury Prison Site (CROWPS), Aaron Reader, said the group is looking forward to consultations on the strategy later this year.

‘The footprint of the proposed Northern Regional Prison and its inevitable intrusion to the remainder of the surrounding reserve would have a disastrous impact’, he said.

‘The State Government’s proposed prison must not be allowed to proceed on this reserve’, he said.

‘The Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s Threatened Species Strategy 2021–2031 ensures reserves will be preserved in perpetuity for future generations due to the many endangered and protected flora and fauna that exist on these sites.

‘Flora and fauna are thriving on the Brushy Rivulet Crown Reserve and this must be allowed to continue.’

Announcing the 10 year strategy, Sussan Ley said it would be the guiding light for threatened species investment, including $57.1 million of new funding for threatened species.

‘The new strategy identifies both species and “places”, with an expanded focus on the protection of a more diverse range of species, including reptiles, amphibians, freshwater species, marine species and all of the incredibly unique environments in which they are found’, she said.

Local Birralee environmentalist, Sarah Lloyd OAM, said she recently wrote to Sussan Ley, outlining her concerns about the Tasmanian Masked Owl roost on Brushy Rivulet Reserve. Her letter describes the reserve as ‘a biological gem’.

Ms Lloyd wrote, ‘I think it is important for you to be aware that there are more than 50 hollow-bearing, old growth eucalypts scattered throughout the 70 hectare reserve. That in itself should be enough to fully protect the site.

‘These trees are critical to the survival of many native animals. They have disappeared from the surrounding landscape: having been cleared during conversion of native forest to plantations, especially in the 1970s; more recent clearing of forests for agricultural production; and in recent decades, clearing paddock trees to make way for irrigated agriculture.’

Ms Lloyd told the federal Environment Minister that she believed clearing approximately 16 hectares of the 70 hectare reserve would severely compromise the reserve’s ability to maintain the diversity of species currently at the site.

‘Surveys during the past several months show that the proposed prison “footprint” coincides with a significant population of the blue pincushion Brunonia australis and at least 15 species of native orchids recorded at the site since the government’s announcement.’

Minister Ley said the strategy draws on the lessons of the 2019–20 bushfires:

• to identify and adapt to sudden threats from an increase in natural disasters

• calls for a more coordinated approach to culling feral pest animals and weeds that are pushing species to extinction

• plans for the deployment of new monitoring technologies including drones and environmental DNA.

She said, ‘In addressing adaptation and resilience, the strategy considers identifying and conserving potential future places of refuge that species might migrate to and strategies for “assisted colonisation” for populations whose local environments are impacted by changing climate.