South Moonee Forest
From Envirowiki
South Moonee Forest, north of coffs harbour, is high in biodiversity and culturally significant.
The South Moonee Forest is the single most biodiverse and ecologically significant private property along the Coffs Coast . It is recognised by Coffs Harbour City Council as the number one "Coastal Icon" for biodiversity values within the Local Government Area.
The South Moonee Forest is composed of extensive areas of 8 (eight) Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs) as defined within the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995 (TSC Act), namely:
- Saltmarsh
- Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplain
- Swamp Oak Forest
- Littoral Rainforest
- Lowland Rainforest
- Subtropical Coastal Floodplain Forest
- Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplain and
- Headland Grasslands.
No other single landholding on the Mid North Coast has this number of EECs present.
[edit] Take action
There have been a few submissions going in to the Department of Planning objecting to the Moonee Waters Development proposal but HEAPS MORE ARE NEEDED to capitalise on the recent public exposure of this site and to ensure that Frank Sartor refuses it.
Please email submissions to ray.lawlor@planning.nsw.gov.au and office@sartor.minister.nsw.gov.au immediately.
Call for Minister Sartor to immediately refuse the development and to work towards the creation of a Nature Reserve to protect this national conservation icon.
The objections to the development can be very brief and are best based upon:
- The national conservation significance of the South Moonee Forest, as it provides habitat for 21 threatened species and 8 Endangered Ecological Communities;
- The astounding Aboriginal Cultural heritage significance of the site, it is the creation site of the Bagawa people of the Gumbayngirr nation, the centre of their universe;
- The clearance of such a large area of native vegetation will create unacceptable global warming impacts including removal of large carbon stores contributing significantly to climate change;
- Unacceptable impacts on water quality in the Moonee Creek Estuary, an important part of the Solitary Islands Marine Park
- The removal and destruction of the only remaining "greenbelt" between Moonee Beach and Sapphire Beach will lead to a loss of quality of life for residents and visitors
- Feel free to add your personal concerns and please spread this message far and wide - get your parents, your children, your neighbours and your friends to put in a submission - it has come down to the numbers.
[edit] Campaign Contact
MSG (Mark Graham) - savesouthmooneeforest@gmail.com
