Caneland Subdivisions a Blow to Rare Birdlife

Spotted Harrier

Despite local and state government restrictions on land use on sugarcane farms around the Maroochy River on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, properties are being busily subdivided with the blessing of the local council. New residential developments on flood-prone land are carving up once extensive areas of grassland and cane, putting at risk populations of Eastern Grass Owl, King Quail and other rare and threatened species.

Four new residences are being built along one road in the canelands near Bli Bli, while For Sale signs are popping up throughout the Maroochy River floodplain. Large areas of former caneland have been swallowed up by plans for a new runway for Sunshine Coast Airport, and for the Maroochy River golf course at Bli Bli.

New canelands subdivision near Bli Bli 

Although the Moreton sugar mill in Nambour closed in 2003, cane continues to be grown locally and is either sold as garden mulch or transported north to the Maryborough mill. A succession of government and expert reports have recognised the need to maintain the rural nature of the landscape, to protect both biodiversity and social amenity in the rapidly growing urban footprint of south-east Queensland.

Maroochy River floodplain grassland

Work on some of the recently subdivided properties had to be suspended following recent heavy rains as vehicles and bulldozers became bogged in muddy quagmires. A 2006 report by the CSIRO, Future Use of Sunshine Coast Cane Landscapes, says 7,000ha - close to half the Maroochy River floodplain - is poorly drained and flood-prone. Most of the floodplain - 13,000ha between Yandina in the west and Marcoola on the coast - is designated under the council's Maroochy Plan as a Sustainable Cane Lands Precinct.

The precinct is intended to be protected for cane and other farmland activities due to its agricultural value. The plan says the existence of cane in these areas forms an important part of the rural character of the shire. Urban uses and the fragmentation of land holdings, other than to enhance their long-term viability or provide for supporting infrastructure, "are not considered desirable or consistent with the intent for this precinct".

New canelands subdivision, Bli Bli

The state government's South-East Queensland Regional Plan is no less firm in laying down firm restrictions on caneland development. The regional plan excludes development for urban purposes on most caneland, except areas east of the Sunshine Motorway and close to Nambour and other towns, unless there is an "overriding public interest". The plan introduces a 100ha minimum lot size for subdivision in the Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area, which supposedly precludes further subdivision.  The regional plan "will permit almost no urban development of the caneland west of the motorway and even on land east of the motorway; the applications will be subject to sequencing and environmental limitations".

New canelands subdivison near Blli Bli

All of this seems to have gone out the window. Apart from the adverse social consequences of urban sprawl, and the likely impact that caneland subdivisions will have on the region's appeal as a tourist destination, once healthy populations of avian grassland rarities and specialties in the Maroochy River floodplain are shrinking rapidly. Species at risk include Eastern Grass Owl, Red-backed Buttonquail, King Quail, Lewin's Rail and several raptors including Spotted Harrier. These birds have happily co-existed with the cane farms for generations. They habitually make use of cane crops for shelter and feeding, while residing in the many areas of grassland that are slashed intermittently but are always to be found over parts of the area.

Spotted Harrier

I returned recently from a 10-day birding trip through western Queensland and saw just a single Spotted Harrier, notwithstanding an abundance of seemingly suitable habitat. I saw 4 of these lovely rare raptors in the space of a couple of hours this week during a drive through the Maroochy River canelands. One pair which has nested annually in recent years now has two large new residential developments in its territory.

Collared Sparrowhawk

Collared Sparrowhawk

One of the areas I visited was River Road, Yandina Creek, where Collared Sparrowhawk and Striated Heron were showing.

Striated Heron

Elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast, a pair of Nankeen Night-Herons are roosting at their regular spot above the amenities block at Wappa Dam.

Nankeen Night-Heron

Large flocks of Topknot Pigeons have moved from the hinterland mountains to the lowlands, where they are feeding on fruiting introduced Camphor laurel trees.

Topknot Pigeons

Topknot Pigeons