"My wife and I have some land in South East Queensland. Most of it has its original diversity of subtropical forest. It has been selectively logged only in the distant past. The more level country used to be a dairy. I think there is a good balance on this land. Many native trees were left on the growing country and have been allowed to grow into magnificent specimens. In the forest they defoliate and grow tall with leaves just at the top.
This hinterland area is the home of many valued botanical garden species. Eg: Flame tree, Firewheel tree, Silky Oak, Blackbean, Hoop Pine, Red and White Cedar, Black Pine, Brush Box, Crows Ash and that's without mentioning the completely different vegetation on the ryalite ridges or the palms and ferns etc.
At the moment, because it is in the water catchment area for the Hinze Dam it is zoned at 50 acres. However, if you give the Gold Coast Shire an acre they can bend the rules to slice off a block of 10 acres. So you have to be aware that developers are always at the ready to buy and subdivide in the blink of an eye. Although most people up there are committed to keep it, as it is the temptations are there. The council is too clever to spell out a town plan in case they change their minds.
A handful of us managed to convince Peter Beattie and the locals that a cableway proposed was the thin edge of the wedge. It would have lessoned the pristine quality of the unique mountain area. It would have been the beginning of the end of what many of us see as a true paradise.
I believe we are all paying for the privilege to take care of our land. It is never ours to abuse how we see fit."
