Push to make developers pay for wildlife ‘ambos’
Dedicated animal ambulances, specialised veterinary care, and wildlife hospitals would all be funded by developers, under a new push over Queensland land clearing.
Thousands of Queenslanders are throwing their support behind a new petition demanding mandatory developer funding for wildlife rescue, care, and habitat rehabilitation.
More than 3000 people have already signed the petition – launched in the past week – which calls on the government to introduce an “impact-pays” principle to property development.
Specifically, it calls for legislated per-lot or per-hectare levies to “offset environmental impacts” of land clearing.
It argues an imbalance between property developers’ profits and the financial burden of conservation.
“Currently, the burden of rescuing, treating, and rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife falls almost entirely on unpaid volunteers and underfunded rescue groups using personal savings,” the petition states.
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It calls for mandatory developer levies “to fund non-profit wildlife rescue groups, dedicated ambulances, specialised veterinary care, and wildlife hospitals”.
Further, signatories are calling for statutory requirements to “preserve critical wildlife corridors and fund dedicated wildlife habitat restoration trusts administered by an independent non-government consortium of democratically elected representatives’.
“With Queensland hosting the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, our international reputation and environmental credentials will face global scrutiny,” the petition argues.
“Relying on volunteer goodwill to manage wildlife crises damages Queensland’s image as a world-class, sustainable eco-tourism destination.
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“Applying an “impact-pays” principle to property development is essential to protect our biodiversity.”
Deb Seal from Australian Native Animals Rescue and Rehabilitation Association (ANARRA) said development of rural land had “skyrocketed” in recent years, leading to “unprecedented numbers of animals impacted by loss of habitat”.
Her group supported the petition, and said it was “challenging” for wildlife groups to “constantly fundraise to cover provision of essential services”.
“Meanwhile, developers are profiting immensely from land clearing,” Seal said.
“But the only mandatory contribution conditional on development applications is for trunk infrastructure for roads, water and sewage.”
The petition comes after months of community anger over the clearing of about 600 trees at Ormiston College, which is adding new sporting ovals to its campus.
It was approved by the state government in May and clearing has now begun.
On Tuesday, protesters again gathered at the Redlands private school for a “peaceful rally” to protect the koala corridor on its grounds.
Another rally will be held on Saturday at Capalaba.
A Department of the Environment spokesperson told InDaily: “When the petition closes, it will be addressed by the responsible minister”.
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