Wednesday 23rd July 2025
“No Wildlife Spotters Present During Tree Clearing at Walamere Development Unacceptable” Says Protect Trees Toowoomba
Toowoomba, QLD — Community concern is growing after the Protect Trees Toowoomba campaign, part of the Darling Downs Environment Council, reported the clearing of mature, hollow-bearing trees today at the Walamere development site in Highfields—without the presence of wildlife spotters.
Local witnesses observed the clearing and claim there were no qualified fauna spotters or wildlife carers present as heavy machinery removed large mature trees known to provide critical habitat for native animals.
“Not having planning protections in place to preserve old-growth trees is already a serious oversight,” said campaign coordinator Ahri Tallon. “But allowing their removal without even requiring wildlife spotters to be on site is unacceptable. It shows a reckless disregard for native fauna.”
No strict conditions requiring spotters had been imposed by TRC, however given the clearing of hollow-bearing trees, a fauna/spotter catcher and Species Management Plan are required under the Nature Conservation Act.
Although the clearing is not undertaken with a formally mapped koala habitat area, it’s indisputable that the area serves as koala habitat with koala occurrences within the patch in the last several months. In other developments/infrastructure projects (both private and undertaken by TRC) that also cleared similar habitat, Council has required that a koala spotter be present. This begs the question as to why no FSC were present during this clearing instance.
The cleared trees reportedly included hollow-bearing specimens—vital shelters for owls, possums, gliders, and parrots—raising concerns about the fate of animals that may have been inside.
“These trees are not just plants. They are homes—carefully chosen and built over time by native wildlife,” Tallon said. “Removing them without proper care or oversight risks causing direct harm and death to vulnerable species.”
The Protect Trees Toowoomba campaign is now calling on the Toowoomba Regional Council to explain why conditions requiring on-site wildlife monitoring were not imposed as part of the development approval for Walamere.
“This was a chance for council to show leadership and apply the very basic standards of environmental care. They failed,” said Tallon.
The group is urging council to:
-
Investigate whether spotter-catchers were required and present on-site,
-
Implement conditions requiring wildlife protections for all future developments involving mature or hollow-bearing trees,
-
Review protections for habitat trees across the region.
For further comment or interviews:
--
Ahri Tallon
Coordinator
Darling Downs Environment Council
0455 619 454
info@ddec.org.au
Recent Comments