This article is written by Pamela Collett from Friends of Callum Brae.
Are you in love? If you are a member of a group in the ACT Conservation Council, then you are in love with trees, birds, and bush. We embrace our responsibility to the land where we live, while remembering Always was Always will be Aboriginal land.
Friends of Callum Brae Nature Reserve protect our amazing heritage by opposing the multinational funeral services company InvoCare’s plan for a destructive, unnecessary private crematorium complex on the boundary of the Callum Brae Nature Reserve. The site of InvoCare’s proposed development (Block 1, Section 3 Symonston) adjoining the Reserve, has the same critically endangered trees and environmental value as the Reserve.
Callum Brae Nature Reserve (location: Narrabundah Lane near Mugga Lane intersection, Symonston) is one of the largest, best-connected and most diverse areas of critically endangered Yellow Box–Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland remaining in Australia. Callum Brae Nature Reserve is one of the few places where the ecological gradient from natural temperate grassland – Box-Gum woodland – to dry open forest exists.
InvoCare’s proposal will destroy over 100 trees. The noise, light, Co2 emissions and traffic expected during the construction AND the operation of InvoCare’s private crematorium complex on its boundary will negatively impact the key wildlife corridor that links Callum Brae Nature Reserve to Mt Mugga, Red Hill and Isaacs Ridge and will degrade the adjacent Callum Brae Nature Reserve.
We appreciate the ongoing support of the ACT Conservation Council and member groups in this crucial matter relating to the responsibility of the ACT government to protect critically endangered habitat and connectivity to wildlife corridors.
We urge the ACT Government to incorporate this environmentally crucial site, Block 1 Section 3 Symonston, into the Callum Brae Nature Reserve.
For updates on this ongoing struggle, contact us at callumbraefriends@yahoo.com. Website www.callumbraefriends.org
