Letters: ‘Last chance’: Morning Glory threatens to destroy Witta’s old growth forest
I’ve worked for ten years to keep Morning Glory out of this reserve. My efforts were always about prevention — never letting the vine get a foothold.
I write with a heavy heart to raise the alarm about a devastating and imminent threat to one of only three remnant rainforest gorge systems left on the Southern end of the Backall Range — a patch of rainforest adjacent to the old Curramore Soil Dump on Kenilworth Road.
This precious forest has no main official name and receives no formal protection, but it is ecologically priceless. And within the next four weeks, it faces its final, irreversible threat: the aggressive regrowth of Morning Glory vine.
This invasive species behaves unlike any other. As it comes out of dormancy, it surges forward at speeds of up to four metres per day. In just two weeks, it can bridge entire gorge systems and reach areas that are impossible to access or spray. Once established in these steep gullies, it will be unstoppable — rapidly smothering the forest canopy and everything beneath it.
I’ve worked for ten years to keep Morning Glory out of this reserve. My efforts were always about prevention — never letting the vine get a foothold. Sadly, that work is now being undermined. Council points to its planting of 5,000 trees as evidence of success, yet in their first year, every tree was overwhelmed by Morning Glory. We are now on the verge of losing both the trees and the forest itself — along with an estimated $250,000 investment.
This is not an exaggeration. This year is the tipping point. Once the vine crosses into the gorge systems under Kenilworth Road, we will never be able to contain it.
The most tragic part is that it is still preventable — but only for a matter of weeks. After that, the damage will be permanent and immeasurable.
For 45 years I have fought for our rainforests. I have never before witnessed such a deliberate act of environmental neglect
If we care about our hinterland, our biodiversity, and our shared future, we must act now — or we will forever regret letting this forest quietly vanish.
– Jeanette Nobes, Maleny
Time to revisit the two-council idea
I’d like to revisit an idea raised some years ago by Trevor Thompson and reported in your paper — the creation of two separate councils: one for the Coast and one for the Hinterland.
Despite assurances from both sitting and incoming councillors that hinterland residents won’t be forgotten, little has changed. Council services west of the Bruce Highway continue to lag behind, while funding flows into the coastal strip — often to upgrade non-urgent infrastructure.
Understandably, some beach repairs were necessary after Cyclone Alfred, and most ratepayers support the need to attract tourist dollars. But in the hinterland, we’ve been lobbying for years just to have our road bituminised or listed on the ten-year works program. Now, with recurring coastal damage taking priority, that prospect is further out of reach.
Grading is welcome but often cursory, with minimal road base supplied. Drain maintenance is rare, and roadside noxious weeds are spreading unchecked.
Council’s priorities remain coastal-focused. It’s time to seriously consider splitting the Sunshine Coast Council in two. If you do the sums, both sides might be better off.
– Ian Laver, Cooloolabin
Nambour safety concerns
Thanks for the recent articles on Nambour and CBD safety concerns (Gazette, May 28).
As a business owner and resident, I have the same concerns after two incidents occurring in the last two years.
The first was being robbed at our premises. The other was an incident when a very anti-social local kicked our car openly at afternoon school time while my daughter was in the car.
Things are getting so bad we are really considering packing up and moving out of the area. We’re considering selling both our business and our house, both based in Nambour.
This man kicked our car openly in broad daylight for no apparent reason.
It frightened my eight-year-old daughter straight after picking her up from school. It was a local man and the incident was reported to policed & followed up with no apparent result or court case.
His photo was provided to police and, now, we see him often walking around Nambour, always with a shirt off and a beer in his hand, spitting, kicking things around on the ground, going through garbage bins & displaying very anti-social and aggressive behaviour.
Kicking cars and frightening children should not be acceptable, nor the anti-social behaviour. It’s got to stop!
It really is true that they appear to be repeat offenders and the same rotten few that spoil the town for everyone. It’s about time to police & courts stepped up.
I am sure there are many stories from locals similar to ours.
I don’t usually get involved with politics but this has made me consider all options.
– Name supplied, Nambour
Too much congestion
Given the recent spate of e-scooter accidents, they are considered a dangerous business and there are calls to ban them. However, they do gets kids out and about and provides them with independence, so what will replace the banned e-scooter. Bicycles? Logically yes but first the council needs to provide a safe interconnected cycle network, as found in other cities around the world, whereby kids can arrive at their destinations safely. Sunshine Coast roads are now congested with too many large cars, and far more should be done in this regard.
– Rob Skimmer, Image Flat