Posts tagged ‘biodiversity’
Growling Grass Frog wetlands habitat at Moomba Park under construction by Merri-bek Council
The excavators have been busy during January and February 2023 at Moomba Park in Fawkner. They are creating a series of six connected ponds. Street stormwater will be piped by gravity from Somerlyton Cresent to feed water into the ponds, which will flow through the system before going under the Merri Creek Trail to enter Merri Creek.
The 6 ponds will provide breeding habitat for the endangered Growling Grass Frog. It will also naturally filter the stormwater before it enters Merri Creek. Construction of the wetlands is due for completion in May 2023.
The Merri Creek (and other creek systems) are an important hotspot for biodiversity, and they also contribute through the running water and vegetation in moderating urban heat in the municipality.
(more…)Synthetic Turf and the Tragedy of the Commons in Moreland
Climate Action Moreland has done a literature review to highlight the general environmental, social and health issues with synthetic turf, and specific issues around a proposal to convert unfenced grass sporting fields at Hosken Reserve in Coburg North to a fenced synthetic soccer pitch. This is the text of our submission to the Moreland Council engagement consultants employed for public consultation to inform the Hosken Reserve Refresh project for Moreland Council.
We have also reported on our blog separately on synthetic turf carbon footprint and total life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, and on the impact synthetic turf will likely have on the urban heat island effect on local residents.
Conversion of natural grass to Synthetic turf at Hosken Reserve should be considered as a catalyst issue for opposing increasing synthetic turf generally in our municipality. We are also very concerned with increasing State Government funding of school oval conversions increasing heat stress risk for children and heating the local microclimate affecting both children and local residents, against expert advice. (See Madden, et al, 2018 (Cool Schools), Pfautsch et al, Sept 2020 (School Microclimates))
We acknowledge the work done by local Merlynston residents on this issue to Help Keep Hosken a place for Community in defence of their grassed open space which they have been quite willing to share the use of with Sporting Clubs as Commons space.
(more…)Submission: Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria
Matted Flax Lily in Moreland
After the 2019/2020 Summer bushfires we should all be concerned about the loss of biodiversity, the decline in ecosystems. The health of our environment supports the health of human society. Climate change is one of several human related factors driving ecosystem decline. Here is our submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria.
Climate Action Moreland Submission on Ecosystem Decline in Victoria (PDF)
Submission: Moreland Nature Plan needs to recognise existential threat to biodiversity
Kangaroos in Northern Memorial Park
Moreland Council has had a commitment to developing a biodiversity Strategy since at least 2004, but this strategy has been consistently overlooked. We have a Climate Emergency. But we also have an ecological and biodiversity emergency. Both crises are related and need to be addressed together.
Moreland acknowledged we have a climate emergency. Now we need the proposed Nature Plan, which we have waited 16 years for, to reflect the global science on the existential threats to ecosystems and biodiversity. This is important even in highly built up areas such as Moreland, which still harbours over 900 sepecies, at least 36 of them being threatened species.
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Bushfires a threshold event, a climate tipping point in real time says climate expert
Michael Mann on ABC News
“Heartbreaking the damages that has been done” says visiting distinguished climate scientist Michael Mann on the bushfires across Australia. He articulated the comnnection between bushfires and climate change “is not rocket science”.
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Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 