Residents in the Congo Bingi area are pleased that Council’s road designer Geoff Armstrong and his team have taken on board their concerns about the endangered Greater Glider when forming plans for sealing the final section of Congo Rd Sth.
“We’re delighted that Geoff and his team have taken these environmental issues to heart and listened to our concerns. They’ve committed to retaining some trees meaning the canopy will connect from one side of the road to the other and that’s a big win for gliders - especially the locally endangered Greater Glider.” said Gillianne Tedder of the Bingi Residents Association.
However, there are still some important decisions to be made. Residents are concerned about safety issues and the proposed speed limit of 80kms p/hr though the National Park and are meeting to discuss the issue on Saturday. Walkers, cyclists, wildlife and visitors to the Bingi Dreaming Track regularly use this section of road.
Last time a section of Congo Rd south was sealed the canopy no longer connected above the road and many big, old, healthy, tall trees were felled as the road was widened.
“This makes it really difficult for the gliders to move about to feed and breed - and our gliders are a pretty special case as the Congo Bingi area is one of only two locations in Australia where the Greater Gliders have an endangered status.
Our population of gliders is recognized at Government level as needing special care. It’s at risk of extinction due of a range of threats, including loss of big old hollow bearing trees and habitat fragmentation by roads, so we’re pleased the council has taken the time to identify and protect 4 hollow bearing trees along the road.
All gliders depend on hollows in trees for breeding and it takes 100’s of years for hollows to develop, so retaining old trees is crucial.”
Picture of mature Greater Glider in large eucalypt tree in the Congo area.
Photography, Gillianne Tedder.
