1 March, 2016
Manly community protests Baird’s tree-clearing changes
Community members will deliver a compelling photograph of a eucalypt to Premier Mike Baird’s electoral office in Manly this Thursday, World Wildlife Day, calling on him to stand up for nature by not scrapping tree-protection legislation, which he is expected to do later this year.
“There has already been a massive assault on trees across Sydney in the past two years. With so little bushland left on the Northern Beaches, the added impacts of the Baird Government’s tree-clearing changes will be significant,” said Corinne Fisher, Stand Up For Nature Campaign Coordinator.
“The future of NSW’s image as a clean, green provider of produce relies on keeping strong nature laws to protect sustainable agriculture,” said Charlotte Richardson, Manly local resident and Campaign Manager for the Wilderness Society.
“Our farmers need the healthy soil and pure water that trees and bushland provide.”
Malcolm Fisher, Manly Vale resident, and Vice Chair of Save Manly Dam Catchment Committee, said the proposal to bulldoze vital pockets of bushland encroaching into Manly Dam Reserve indicates that Mike Baird’s commitment to protecting nature is lacking.
“Imagine the scale of destruction for NSW if the Baird Government makes the clearing of bushland even easier by further diluting NSW tree-clearing laws?” said Mr Fisher.
Leanne Taylor, CEO of WIRES warned that “Australia’s iconic wildlife, such as the koala, is simply too precious to watch slide into extinction. As wildlife carers the last thing we want to see is more habitat cut down.”
Thursday’s protest will culminate in the gifting to the Premier of the framed photograph of a beautiful eucalyptus tree, donated anonymously by a Sydney-based artist. The artwork will be accompanied by messages from all the protesters asking Premier Baird to protect our trees and wildlife.
The event will be hosted by the Stand Up For Nature Alliance a group of leading environmental organisations formed as an emergency response to the current NSW Government’s Biodiversity Review. (www.standupfornature.org.au/)
When: 11am-12pm, Thursday 3 March (World Wildlife Day)
What: Delivery of photograph from Manly community
Where: In front of Mike Baird's Manly office, Shop 2, 2 Wentworth St, Manly
Tags
Forests and wildlife
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