- Target:
- Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Region:
- Australia
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) have planned a clear zone clearing project on the Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road. The width of clear zone clearing will be 13 metres on either side of the road for a distance of some 30 kilometres. The clearing is due to start in February 2015 and will take three months to complete.
The stated reason for this clearing is for safety reasons to prevent motorists hitting a tree in the event that they run off the road. This seems to be an excessive measure that has not seriously considered alternative options such as providing barriers along roads. Other fixed and rigid structures such as light poles, signs, power poles, culverts and embankments will still be in place.
The impact of this tree clearing will be a substantial loss of habitat, mortality of nesting birds in tree hollows, mortality of sugar gliders, possums and other animals that use tree hollows, and the aesthetic impact that a road without trees will have.
The Austroads Guide to Road Design suggests that a road safety barrier is a preferred treatment for hazards such as running off the road. TMR have opted for tree clearing as their preferred method for dealing with this hazard. Perhaps it is the most cost effective measure but from a community amenity and environmental point of view this option is not supported.
We, the undersigned, call on the Department of Transport and Main Roads to cancel the planned clear zone clearing project on the Rockhampton - Yeppoon Road due to start in February 2015.
We further require TMR to consider alternative measures such as erecting barriers and to consult with the local community on measures which would provide an adequate level of safety, aesthetics and have a minimum impact on the environment.
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The Stop tree clearing on the Rockhampton - Yeppoon Road petition to Department of Transport and Main Roads was written by BirdLife Capricornia and is in the category Environment at GoPetition.