Conservationists say the species' plight is the 'flagship' example of the failings of 'all levels of government', but developers insist their project complies with strict environmental conditions.
Now conservationists have raised concerns that the $1.5 billion SkyRidge housing development on the Gold Coast puts almost half of the region's greater glider population at risk of extinction."It might not seem like much when you take it as a one-off, but when you look at the cumulative impact of all these developments removing little populations of greater gliders here and there, you're talking about really substantial decline.
"These greater gliders that exist in the western section of SkyRidge will be pushed, they will be displaced, into surrounding bushland that consists of some council reserves that are protected," Ms Lovegrove-Walsh said."But these reserves are not big enough to maintain a viable population of greater gliders and, because they're small, it means they have a lot of urban pressures around them as well.
The spokesperson said land clearing occurred "under the strict management protocols and direction of Queensland government permitted fauna spotter catchers who undertake pre-clearance surveys, are in attendance during clearing works, and are involved in the post works outcomes for all native fauna".To offset habitat loss, the SkyRidge spokesperson said a "26.6ha green spine conservation corridor with a minimum 100m width" would run through the estate.
The SkyRidge spokesperson said 77 nesting boxes would also be installed to mitigate the loss of mature hollow-bearing trees, which form the bulk of the greater glider habitat.But Ms Lovegrove-Walsh, who founded Friends of Nerang National Park, said she had been installing similar artificial hollows or nests in the park about 5km north of SkyRidge with mixed results.
"If an animal such as the greater glider is listed as vulnerable or endangered after the development application is approved, then there is no retrospective enforcement that has to happen."
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