The daily news and media is full of stories on economic growth, underpinned by population growth that drives the need for higher levels of the development of natural and agricultural land to accommodate housing, industry and infrastructure.
 
At Redcliffe, we live in one of the highest urbanised areas in South east Queensland and these days you have to move to the fringe areas of Hays Inlet and Deception Bay to see any of the original habitat associated with our peninsula. We know in the past, Redcliffe was characterised by wetland habitats including freshwater swamps, Eucalypt forest and patches of remnant coastal rainforest. I was particularly struck by a quote from Constance Campbell Petrie (1904) who reflected on the changes to the area especially in reference to the diminishing forests and the ways of life of the original inhabitants of the land. I include a quote below:
 
If all the old aboriginals of Brisbane could come to life again they would not recognise their country – the country we have stolen from them. If they went hunting in the forests, where would be their spoil? – where, indeed, would they find the forests to hunt in? Oh! How they must have loved those forests, their forests…”God made the country, man made the town.” As the aboriginal hunted careless and free in those days long gone, little dreamed he of what his brother-white would do – little dreamed there was a brother-white.
 
The waters even have changed since those times. Dugong used to be very plentiful then, when there was nothing much in the way of disturbances. The aboriginals would catch them at Fisherman’s Island; at St Helena at a place near Dunwich they called “Gumpi,” at Bribie Passage and the mouth of the Pine River.
 
 (Petrie, C.C 1904, page 66)   
 
If Constance was live today (just over 110 years later) I wonder what she would think of Brisbane and Moreton Bay now.  No doubt it would almost be unrecognisable to her.
 
Even now though, anyone can take a trip to one of the local highlands such as Lamington National Park or the D’Aguilar ranges, or head out to one of the sand islands and marvel at what would have once been a spectacular domain of forests, wetlands and blue waters and of course the amazing wildlife. We should treasure all of these places, the last remaining natural jewels in an urbanised landscape.
 
Further reading
 
Constance Campbell Petrie (1904) Tom Petrie’s reminiscences of early Queensland, first published by Watson, Ferguson and Co, reprinted by UQ Press in 1992
 

Deep River Bend Reserve on the Pine River is a public amenity including a boat ramp, barbecue and picnic areas and fishing platforms. It is adjacent to the Tinchi Tamba wetlands. In the same area there is also a walking track which allows the public to enjoy the variety of habitats and wildlife (particularly the birdlife) associated with this riverine system.

The track includes sections of boardwalk (in tidal areas such as mangroves and saltmarsh) along with clear pathways (made of road base in the higher areas and timber slatting in other areas where occasional flooding can occur such as in the stands of Casuarina).

The pathway is around 1.6 kilometres in distance and includes an extra pathway to a bird hide on the Bald Hills Creek. This structure allows participants to watch the local shorebirds roosting and feeding in the mangrove and tidal flat areas without the wildlife being disturbed. There is also some great examples of interpretive signage to help people understand the environment they are interacting with.

Winter and spring is a great time to check out this amenity and any visitor will be rewarded with the sights and sounds of the birdlife including scarlet honeyeaters, fantails and whistlers, kingfishers and the local wading birds.

The "Island Track" provide some examples of infrastructure that could be used for the Hays Inlet project. The pathway not only provides access for nature lovers, but also helps to keep traffic off the sensitive wetland areas.

What do you think? Is there anything else you feel might add to the design of the Hays Inlet project site? Let us know by posting a comment.

Yesterday the Birders of the South Pine River completed their winter survey of the Eco-project at Silcock Street, Clontarf. This marks 2 years of seasonal surveys and we are now starting to appreciate the value of this site in terms of biodiversity. In the first year, the survey identified 101 different species of birds utilising the site. In the past 12 months a further 13 species have been identified taking the total to 114 species!

The Eucalypt stands were in bloom and there was plenty of activity in the canopy including flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets, Blue-faced Honeyeaters and Scarlet Honeyeaters flitting from tree to tree. In a recent article we discussed the prevalence of honeyeaters in Australia and this site is no different with 11 species identified at the site. With the Melaleuca due to flower next, there will continue to be ample supply of nectar over the next few months. The graph below shows the variation in numbers of bird species seen on a seasonal basis.

Through the surveys we have also learnt that at least 27 species of birds can be found at the site all year round, with many other species arriving as seasonal visitors no doubt aligning with the pulses of blooms across the forested areas and also the increase of insect life in the warmer months. On the tidal flats of Hays Inlet there are large numbers of residential water birds including the Black-winged Stilts (also known as Pied Stilts) and Red-capped plovers along with some international waders that have remained in Moreton Bay including the Bar-tailed Godwit, the Whimbrel and the critically endangered Eastern Curlew. By the time of the next survey in late spring, migratory birds from Asia and Alaska will have arrived in Moreton Bay and the Inlet.

Hays Inlet is a remarkable site and the work carried out by REF volunteers, bush care volunteers, our Green Army team members and staff and contractors at the Moreton Bay Regional Council to improve the habitat is making a valuable contribution to the wildlife found at the edge of Hays Inlet.