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Thanks Viateur, Below is the complete
email to the Editor of my local newspaper and the reason it was sent. The
Shoalhaven City Council (NSW South Coast) is to say the least, a developer
friendly body and following a recent article where the Mayor stated
"Shoalhaven City is a majestic haven for thousands of native species" I saw
red (again). This statement comes from a man who described one of the threatened
species, Prasophyllum affine, as "nothing more than a bloody stick" and prompty
killed nine of them during the construction of a Leisure Centre. Then
he expects the rest of the voters to think he is coloured green. I am
continually in awe of how this man can walk straight, given his lack of a social
conscience. He and he alone is the reason many of our flora and
fauna are disappearing, with his propensity to develop every spare
blade of grass within the city boundaries, which total 4,660 square kilometres.
The threatened species orchids are; Arachnorchis tessellata and the habitat
of this species was converted to a Pine Forest during the 1960's.
Fortunately it was rediscovered two years ago in a location which will cannot be
developed. Speculantha vernalis is endemic to the area as is Corunastylis
vernale. We are also blessed with Prasophyllum affine, Oligochaetochils
gibbosus, Diplodium pulchellum, Genoplesium baueri, Rhizanthella slateri and
Cryptostylis hunteriana. I am responsible for discovering new locations for
five of these species. The other three species as yet unnamed are, one
Calochilus species, (rediscovered in three new locations by me), but only
six plants exist in these three sites plus two Prasophyllum
species which I can claim as being newly found by me. All are awaiting
new taxonomic status and this will be determined by the Centre for Plant
Biodiversity Research at the National Botanic Gardens. Yes it seems like I
have bragging rights but it is also dammed hard work trying to keep them from
the bulldozer. And yet some who know me, wonder why I am such a cranky
little b-----d. Trying to protect orhids is like pushing snowballs uphill with
your nose.The full text reads as follows.
Alan
How pleasing to see the Mayor, Clr Watson is at
last prepared to recognise some of the threatened species still remaining within
Shoalhaven boundaries. In addition to the cute and cuddlies or fierce and
venemous we are blessed with eight orchid species recognised as threatened by
the Commonwealth and a further three newly discovered species awaiting
formal descriptions. However, at the rate of development within this area
the children of today will never get to see any of them except as Herbarium
records in the form nof uninspiring colourless pressings or alcohol
preserved specimens. Unfortunately these are the type of species unsuited to pot
culture, as they are quite specific in their habitat requirements. No money
making Wollemi Pines among this lot, just a few struggling
orchids awaiting execution by the developer's
Bulldozer.
Alan W Stephenson
NOWRA 44217773
National Conservation Officer
Australasian Native Orchid
Society |
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