Appeal to Environment Minister Murray Watt to save Woogaroo Forest

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2. Paste into your email browser
3. Ensure to sign-off with your name and address (or include somewhere in the email)
4. Insert your own subject line (keep it simple and authentic)
5. EMAIL TO:  senator.watt@aph.gov.au and minister.watt@dcceew.gov.au

• Let Minister Watt know what Woogaroo Forest means to you. 

Some key facts you may wish to include:

1. Australia has one of the highest extinction rates in the world, driven primarily by habitat destruction.
2. Woogaroo Forest is home to Koalas which are listed as endangered. Habitat clearing is the leading cause of their decline.
3. Woogaroo Forest represents high ecological value, supporting over 1,000 species and is a functioning, intact ecosystem. It is home to threatened species such as endangered Koala and critically endangered Lowland Rainforest. It is also home to other vulnerable species such as platypus, powerful owls, gliders and other regionally significant vegetation.
4. Environmental offsets cannot replicate complex, established ecosystems and often fail to deliver equivalent ecological value.
5. Once this habitat is cleared, it cannot be meaningfully restored within any relevant timeframe.
6. Our environmental laws exist to protect vulnerable and endangered species. 

Dear Minister Watt,

I am writing about the proposed clearing of Woogaroo Forest in Ipswich, Queensland, as I am very concerned about the urgency and significance of this decision.

This decision carries significant weight. Approving the clearing of known habitat in the midst of a well-documented biodiversity crisis will be viewed as a failure to uphold the intent of Australia’s environmental protections.

Woogaroo Forest is one of the last intact natural areas in the region. It supports important habitat for wildlife, including endangered species, and once it is cleared, it cannot be replaced.

This decision will have lasting consequences. Protecting remaining habitat like this is increasingly important, particularly as natural areas continue to decline across Australia.

It is also noted that there is concern within the community about the assessment process, with submissions being managed by the proponent. Given the importance of this decision, it is critical that the process is transparent and that all concerns are independently assessed to maintain public confidence.

Woogaroo Forest presents an opportunity to protect a significant natural area within a growing community. It should be preserved and considered for protection as a conservation area, rather than cleared for development.

I ask that you give this matter urgent and careful consideration and refuse all development proposals to ensure the protection of Woogaroo Forest for generations to come.

Sincerely, 

Dear Minister Watt,

I am writing to express concern about the proposed developments affecting Woogaroo Forest in Ipswich, Queensland.

Australia’s biodiversity decline is well documented, with habitat loss identified as a key driver. In this context, the clearing of intact habitat supporting threatened species, including koalas, is deeply concerning.

There is also broader concern about the cumulative impact of continued habitat loss. Decisions like this are not isolated, and each loss contributes to increasing pressure on already vulnerable species.

It is also noted that there is concern within the community about the assessment process with submissions being managed by the proponent. Given the importance of this decision, it is critical that the process is transparent and that all concerns are independently assessed.

Approving development in an area like Woogaroo Forest would contribute to the ongoing reduction of remaining habitat. Places like this are becoming increasingly rare and represent an important opportunity for protection rather than loss.

In light of the available evidence and the irreversible impact of habitat loss, I ask that you refuse all development proposals and prioritise the protection of Woogaroo Forest as a conservation area for the benefit of the environment and future generations. 

Sincerely, 

Dear Minister Watt,

I am writing about the proposed clearing and development of Woogaroo Forest.

Woogaroo Forest is an important regional habitat that supports over 1000 species, some of which are endangered and critically endangered. Koalas, gliders, powerful owls, platypus and critically endangered Lowland Rainforest all call Woogaroo Forest home. Areas like this are becoming harder to find, and once they are gone, they cannot be replaced.

Australia has one of the highest extinction rates in the world, driven primarily by habitat destruction.  Once this habitat is cleared, it cannot be meaningfully restored within any relevant timeframe. Clearing this forest would contribute to that ongoing decline and reduce the ability of wildlife to survive in the region.

I am also concerned about the reliance on environmental offsets to justify clearing. While offsets are often proposed, they do not replace established ecosystems or the specific habitat values that exist on-site.

Woogaroo Forest represents a rare opportunity to protect a remaining natural area within a growing community. Rather than being cleared, it should be preserved and considered for protection as a conservation area for the benefit of both wildlife and future generations.  

Australia’s native habitat is a public trust and we expect our elected officials to protect it.

I respectfully ask that you give full consideration to the ecological significance of this site and refuse all development proposals to ensure its protection. This is one of the last opportunities to protect a remaining area of habitat in this region, and decisions made now will have lasting consequences.

Sincerely,