saveeumundi.org

The discovery of a Brush-tailed Phascogale at West Cooroy proves that hinterland forests contain many hidden treasures, which are all now under genuine risk of extinction due to infrastructure projects earmarked for the Sunshine Coast and Gympie region.

“Brush-tailed Phascogales are rare on the Sunshine Coast,” said Wildlife Volunteers Association (WILVOS) vice-chairperson Donna Anthony.

“Our organisation has only ever had two Brush-tailed Phascogales come into our care throughout our almost 20-year history.”

West Cooroy resident Jenny Tsilfidis found the animal dead in bush alongside Ceylon Road and brought it to WILVOS, an organisation dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and documenting the coast’s native fauna.

Eminent local scientist and WILVOS member Lyndall Pettett, one of only six microbial ecologists in Australia, undertook a detailed examination of the specimen to determine the likely cause of death and to learn more about this elusive, nocturnal creature, about which very little is known.

“As suspected, trauma from being hit by a car is the likely cause of death,” said Mrs Anthony.

“But what Lyndall was also able to determine was that it was a nine-month-old male in excellent health, with blood, liver and kidney properties being at normal levels, and that he had increased his feeding to prepare for his first mating, with a fat content of the tail at 60 per cent.

“Lyndall also identified its likely hollow, an Ironbark tree, due to the smell emitted from its coat, concluding that it was probably foraging for food nearby its roadside Ironbark home at the time of being hit.”

Mrs Anthony said the conservation status of phascogales in New South Wales and Victoria is vulnerable. However – despite the fact that no field studies are known to be done in Queensland – the species are not considered at risk in the sunshine state, even though females found in south-east Queensland have a genetic make-up unlike any other.

“What’s so frightening is that phascogales are likely to follow the same fate as the endangered Spotted-tail Quoll, which has the same environmental and social characteristics,” she said.

“They are both in the mammal group with the highest extinction rate in the world, so once the quoll is extinct then the phascogale will be next in the firing line as the highest order of carnivorous marsupial left on the mainland.”

“So the cycle continues and we lose more precious species, cementing Australia’s title as the nation with the highest mammal extinction rate.”

The main threat to the marsupial’s survival is loss of habitat, fragmentation of wildlife corridors and the associated spread of feral pests, and eco-system collapse, as it depends on particular dietary and habitat requirements.

Jenny and her husband Mike are among hundreds of landowners affected by Powerlink’s proposed 275,000 volt, 73 kilometre transmission line project, which plans to carve a new 8.5 kilometre, 60-metre-wide easement through private property – much of which is dedicated Land for Wildlife – from Ridgewood to Eerwah Vale.

“It was the first phascogale that I’d seen and now I’m spellbound by the little creatures, with their grey fur and black, brushy tail,” said Ms Tsilfidis.

“Incidentally, we’ve just responded to a draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) produced by Powerlink-paid consultants and nowhere in their 1900-page assessment did they report evidence of Brush-tailed Phascogales, nor did they assess impacts on the species.”

Graham Smith, coordinator of Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE), a volunteer residents group which formed 19 months ago in reply to Powerlink’s proposed Woolooga to Cooroy South (Eerwah Vale) Transmission Line and Substation Project, said environmental studies in the area were grossly insufficient, as detailed in the group’s 180-page response.

“Only 17 days of fauna field studies were stated in the draft EIS, including five days on the Black-breasted Button-quail, leaving 12 days to cover 73 kilometres of study area,” Mr Smith said.

“The draft EIS also acknowledges that the project will cause loss of habitat for threatened and migratory species of national significance, and that it will fragment populations of these highly vulnerable species, yet it does not adequately assess their risks of extinction.

“Studies for nocturnal species were also noted as being done during the day, which is bizarre, and there was no assessment of the cumulative impacts of multiple infrastructure projects proposed for the area and the vulnerable fauna which call it home, including koalas, Grey-headed Flying Foxes, Richmond Birdwing Butterflies and Sooty Owls, to name just a few.

“It’s a devastatingly flawed assessment, which would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious.”

Ms Tsilfidis said the experience highlighted a dire need for regular, seasonal field surveying to ensure the affects of development on wildlife are monitored and the impacts of major proposals are duly assessed.

“We cannot rely on studies like the ones done for the Powerlink project, which are clearly limited and fashioned in a way to deliver a pre-determined outcome,” she said.

“If we don’t act now, the only phascogales future generations will be able to see will be stuffed ones in museums.”

PAGE, also known as People Advocating Green Energy, is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to promoting sustainable ways to meet the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs, and to working constructively with the Queensland Government and its agencies to do so.

The group led the development of a viable non-network alternative, which includes significant ‘bankable’ demand management initiatives and scalable, local renewable solar-thermal generation with storage capacity, plus real employment opportunities for locals through the creation of green jobs.

Community members had up to 15 May to submit a response to the 1900-page draft EIS released for Powerlink’s proposal, prepared by paid consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Australia.

On 7 May, PB announced that people also had until 29 May to submit supplementary or supporting information, provided that they submitted a response noting the kind of information to be supplied later by the original closing date (15 May).

To read PAGE’s submission or to learn more about proposed alternatives and the campaign to date, visit PAGE’s website at www.saveeumundi.org or email contact@saveeumundi.org

The WILVOS provide a volunteer, 24-hour wildlife rescue phone service, covering an area from Gympie to Caboolture, and out to Kenilworth and beyond. All enquiries, including emergencies, can be directed to 5441 6200.

Ends.

Note to editors:
•    Photo caption (Phascogale 2.jpg) – Jenny Tsilfidis (left) and WILVOS committee member Donna Anthony with the Phascogale specimen
•    The Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) is a small, nocturnal, arboreal, carnivorous marsupial. It is mostly grey, with a black, brushy tail. Phascogales are shy, occur in low densities and forage over a very large home range (female 20-70 ha, males 100 ha), which means only small populations can exist in quite large areas of habitat. They nest in tree hollows, mate in late autumn, and females give birth to up to six young, depending on environmental influences. Males die after the breeding season, in their first year. Females only live 1.5 years, usually dying before the next breeding season, further highlighting the need to support healthy populations and protect habitat.

The Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) is a small, nocturnal, arboreal, carnivorous marsupial. It is mostly grey, with a black, brushy tail.

Jenny Tsilfidis (left) and WILVOS committee member Donna Anthony with the Phascogale specimen