Apr/May 2005 - Barung Landcare

A View To Kill ForTURKEY TANGENTIAL by Spencer ShawA few millions years ago on the African plains, our early hominidancestors knew the importance of keeping a look out for the bigtoothy predators that saw them as a potential breakfast, lunch ortea.Later still, our more recent ancestors knew the importance of aclear view of the surrounding countryside when it came to shoringup the fortifications of their village against the marauding bunchof blokes from down the valley.Whether we realise it or not, our appreciation of a good ‘view’ isa deeply ingrained part of our psyche and very much a part ofwho we are.However there is a dark side to this love of the ‘view’ and it isbecoming more and more evident as a cause of environmentaldegradation, particularly on the coast and closer to home here inthe hills. The last 50 years or so has seen a boom in real-estatewith a ‘view’. A clear view of the ocean or a clear view from a hillis worth serious dollars. A culture has evolved that is so busytrying to get away from itself that for some people the need toown a view of somewhere else becomes pathological and it’s ourlocal native vegetation that becomes the victim.If you’re thinking I’m being a touch dramatic and wondering aboutmy point of view (sorry, couldn’t resist slipping that one in!),consider this tale. A friend and fellow tree-planter was engaged toplant some trees on a client’s property. As soon as these treesbecame established they were poisoned, by a person one can onlyassume to be a pathological view seeker. Trees were replantedand re-poisoned, and eventually security cameras were fitted totry to catch the perpetrator. This may sound an extreme examplebut unfortunately I could list many a story like this one.The view psychosis reaches its pinnacle on the coast and all toooften the frontal dune vegetation such as coastal she-oak(Casuarina equisetifolia) and coastal banksia (Banksiaintegrifolia) are either removed, poisoned or butchered – toimprove ‘the view’.The other insidious impact of the view psychosis is its effect onrevegetation efforts. All too often with coastal plantings the ‘views’… continued on page 11BARUNG LANDCARE ASSOCIATION INC.2004/2005 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEPresidentLin FairlieVice PresidentHeather SpringSecretaryKate FraserTreasurerPatricia BruntonCommittee Members Eric AndersonBob HallBridget SparkesClayton StokoeJohn WightmanMALENY WOOD EXPO STAFFCoordinatorsMim CoulstockHeather SpringMarketingJuanita AndersonGraphicsPenny SmithBARUNG LANDCARE ASSOCIATION INC.STAFFCoordinatorsMim CoulstockKatrina ShieldsNursery ManagerWayne WebbAssistant Nursery Manager Cali SalzmannContracting Services Coordinator Jolyon FroudeReveg & Habitat Officer Greg SmyrellSustainable Solutions Officer Jackie MontgomeryNursery TraineeJake Smith-MoloneyAdministration Officers Angela ToddJuanita AndersonBarung Newsletter Editor Eve WitneyThe CODLine EditorEve WitneyButterfly GuruBob MillerFarm Forestry AdvisorsAshley SewellLaurie CapillIf undeliverable please return to:Barung Landcare17 Bicentenary LaneMaleny QLD 4552Print Post ApprovedPP 440524/00004SURFACEMAILPOSTAGEPAIDAUSTRALIAph 07 5494 3151fax 07 5494 3141barung@sun.big.net.aubarungreveg@big.net.aubarungadmin@big.net.aubarungnursery@big.net.aubarungcontract@big.net.auwww.barunglandcare.com.auinfo@malenywoodexpo.comwww.malenywoodexpo.comPrinted by GLASSHOUSE COUNTRY PRINTING, Turner St Beerwah - ph 5494 6011