Mandurah Mail reader and Greenfields local Chris McMahen sent us this interesting letter this week. Is there anyone who agrees?
MANDURAH Mail readers and local residents who have not visited the area in Greenfields bounded by Bortolo Drive to the east, Mandurah Road to the west and Education Drive to the north have now forever lost the opportunity to experience one of the prettiest examples of mixed tuart, jarrah and banksia bushland remaining in the district.
On March 25 the bulldozers began the work of turning the small but magnificent piece of bushland into more high density public housing.
The development comes complete with yet another licensed premise, despite four major liquor outlets within a two-kilometre radius.
"The failure to capture and relocate at least some of the native fauna is unforgivable"
- C McMahen
Does a high density residential area really require a tavern and a bottle shop?
In addition to an amazing diversity of native flora, this bushland was home to a variety of native fauna.
Some, like the Quenda are threatened, others like the Carnaby’s black cockatoo are endangered.
There are also several varieties of goanna, brushtail possums, native mice, bat and too many small bird species to list.
This piece of land had become an island refuge as other habitats around it were developed over the years.
It is sad but understandable the magnificent trees could not be saved by relocation.
"This type of natural resource is priceless"
- C McMahon
But surely the timber should have been harvested, instead it will be turned into the mulch adorning the numerous traffic islands and roundabouts littered across Mandurah.
The failure to capture and relocate at least some of the native fauna is unforgivable.
Where is the council’s sustainability policy for developers?
This type of natural resource is priceless.
Instead it has been regarded by council and the developers as valueless.
Past and present Mandurah City councillors who approved this vandalism have diabolically failed current and future generations of residents.
This type of native habitat can not be artificially recreated or replaced by planting non-native tree species along street verges and in the precious roundabouts.
Shame on all of you.
