Victory - The Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve has been saved!

The Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields has been Saved from any form of destruction thanks to 8 Toowoomba Regional Councillors. 

I am very happy to announce that yesterday Toowoomba Regional Councilors voted against the plan (Option A) by TRC’s Infrastructure staff to put a foot path through the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields, choosing instead our preferred option (Option B) to build the whole path on the roadside footpath precinct.

Eight Councilors voted for Option B after considering the extensive amount of public support for the reserve, and the large amount of information supplied to them through our campaign and through the Rogers family.  Only two councilors opted to vote for Option A.  We are very thankful to the 8 Councilors for choosing to vote for Option B that ensures the path will be kept exclusively on the footpath precinct and will not encroach on the endangered ecosystem in any way.  Option B also ensures that no trees or undergrowth will be cleared from the reserve and ensures that tree roots will not be damaged in the footpath area, which will be prevented by the building of small retainer walls and fences.

Toowoomba Regional Councilors agreed again (as was mentioned in the initial vote in January 2014), that a Management Plan for the reserve would be advisable. This management plan will involve local residents, the Rogers family and members of the "Friends of Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve" working with TRC to ensure that the endangered ecosystem is preserved.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who signed the initial petition, who sent emails, texts and letters to Councilors, who offered support, advice, assistance and knowledge of their particular fields to all work together to achieve this positive result.  The 8 Toowoomba Regional Councilors need to be commended for making such a positive decision.

In other news, we can confirm, based on a news report by High Country Herald journalist Miles Noller, that the rumored road widening for O'Brien Road, Highfields to 4 lanes, (which would result in mass tree-clearing and land loss within the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve), is something that is planned to occur within 10 years as advised by Mike Brady, General Manager Infrastructure Services Group, TRC.  This is a serious issue that will need to be addressed in the near future.

I  wish that I could thank everyone who has been involved in this petition individually.  I have been inspired by the caring people of this community and the Toowoomba Region who have shown what community spirit is all about.  Your kind words, advice, encouragement and support will not be forgotten. Your respect for Mr and Mrs Charles & Motee Rogers and this generous gift they have given to our community is truly heartwarming.  Thank you again,

Kind Regards,

Judi Gray
Petition Organizer
rogersreserve@yahoo.com.au
www.rogersreserve.blogspot.com