What is being proposed?

Strategic action #22 directs Council to identify future opportunities for singificant revegetation projects on private land which improve habitat connectivity. This action is linked to action 1.2.1 and 1.2.7 in the Ballina Shire Biodiversity Strategy.

Why is this being proposed?

You only need to look at an ariel image of Lennox Head to see how clearing for agriculture, and subsequently, residential development, has resulted in fragmented wildlife corridors. Of particular concern is the corridor between the Ballina Nature Reserve (shown in the middle of the image) to the coastal reserve. Fragmented corridors disrupt the habitat available to wildlife and their movement between locations, and result in increased roadkill.

What are the benefits?

Increased native vegetation and wildlife habitat

Land clearing for agriculture, and subsequently residential development, has left the Ballina Shire with the lowest percentage of native vegetation of any local government area in the Northern Rivers (less than 20%). Habitat loss is the single biggest threat to our biodiversity, which is in steady decline.

What are the risks?

There a few risks relating to this action, however there are some complications. Council does not have the money to acquire privately owned land from landowners, and offering incentives for them to regenerate their land can be difficult. Landowners may prefer for their land rezoned for residential use because it is more profitable. This is beginning to change with the establishment of carbon and biodiversity markets, but change is painfully slow.

It is important to note that the most important thing that Council can do to protect wildlife corridors is to complete the C Zone Review, which seeks to rezone envirnomentally sensitive privately owned land that currently has a rural zone under the old 1987 LEP, meaning that it is virtually unprotected from land clearing. You can read more about the C Zone review in this blog.

Tell us what you think?

Tell us what you think about Strategic Action #25 of the Lennox Head Strategic Plan but making a formal submission on the Your Say Ballina website here: https://www.yoursayballina.com.au/lennox-head-strategic-plan

You can also send me an email at [email protected] or call me on 0419493898.