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Conjecture over fish 'discovery' |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 31 May 2005 |
An 8cm long fish is causing a stir in Montville in relation to the Montville Country Club.
Concerned residents say the fish, of the species Rhadinocentrus ornatus but of a different colour (see picture), could have vast implications for the proposed Links Golf Course Development. But Montville Country Club spokesperson Garth Greenaway downplayed its relevance. He said, even if the fish was an important scientific discovery, it and all other aquatic life would be better off with the Links development.
"There are very small fish there which have survived despite all of the years of farming practice etcetera," Mr Greenaway said. "We won't be impacting on them adversely. In fact we will enhancing, protecting and maintaining their environment."
Residents say the fish may be an environmentally significant discovery. "I only hope that in the haste to get approvals that the potential critical status of this fish is not ignored,'' said Jeanette McEwin of Montville. But Links and its consultants say the fish is neither new nor endangered.
"Rob Wager found a strong population of Rhadinocentrus ornatus in a small, un-named tributary of Skene Creek,'' said PLACE Environmental Ecologist Carl Corden. "Wager himself has stated that 'These fish are clearly rhads, but are a unique colour variety (which is not unusual for isolated populations of rhads). They have some resemblance to those I have seen in the upper Obi Obi Creek (in 1996)'," said Mr Corden.
"Whilst the species is naturally restricted in occurrence, it is not listed as an Endangered or Vulnerable species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) or an Endangered, Vulnerable or Rare species under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act (1992) and associated Regulations. It is also noteworthy that 'The Action Plan for Australian Freshwater Fishes' (co-authored by Wager himself) failed to recognise Rhadinocentrus ornatus as a threatened species.
"Despite the absence of legislative protection for this species, Links have from the onset of investigation stipulated that conservation of biodiversity is an essential outcome of development at the site. To this end, waterways at the site supporting populations of Rhadinocentrus ornatus will be protected by stringent measures to avoid changes in water quality or chemistry. Waterway buffers will be established (sometimes requiring substantial rehabilitation due to the current land use at the site) to ensure that Rhadinocentrus ornatus will not be adversely impacted upon by the proposed development."
In a submission to TRN Jeanette McEwin said she was sceptical about Links' treatment of high conservation priorities on the site. "The PLACE Environmental consultants noted to Links that there were some important frog-breeding wetland habitats on the development that should be protected with minimum 100 metre buffers.
Yet on Links Concept Plan the wetlands have been filled in and fairways constructed directly over the top. With Fairways criss-crossing and running adjacent to the creek, tributaries and gullies the 50 metre buffer required by Link's consultants to safeguard Skenes Creek has also been completely ignored."
Mrs McEwin noted that of the 18 holes, it appears only three remain outside the Buffer zone areas suggested by their Environmental Consultants.
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Range News 2005 - ON 
