Onsite Meeting with Council at the Rogers Reserve to discuss planned burn

Following on from the newspaper articles and facebook controversy (see previous posts). I received a call from the TRC Environment Department Staff, to discuss the plans for the reserve burn and also to let us know about what had been happening behind the scenes with the complaints from the residents on O'Brien Road.  Council were wanting to work with the Friends of Rogers Reserve Group for a positive outcome that we could all be happy with and that will help the reserve with regeneration of some native tree species and also reduce fuel load risks in key areas.

Four of the members of the Friends of Rogers Reserve, attended a meeting on site with TRC council staff on Friday 29th May.  Some of the members who attended from our group are very experienced with both bushland management and fire management so this was very helpful.  We were able to show council the areas of significance that we wanted avoided which included rare orchids, the large fallen tree at the back of the reserve, trees with significant hollows and areas of significant ground wildlife habitat.  The burn will be a cool mosaic burn and we are happy with the plan made with council for the areas that will be burnt. We have also been invited to be on site when the burn happens, which will be towards the end of June, all being well weather wise. 

Further updates to come.  We would like to thank Toowoomba Regional Council for the time taken to discuss this with us in great length and offer their expertise and them to listen to ours.

J, Gray

Friends of Rogers Reserve.

Controversy about the requests to Burn Rogers Reserve

Public Controversy surrounds the requests of members of the public (predominantly residents of O'Brien Road Highfields) for a burn at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields.  The copies of the articles and comments are listed below.  It is disappointing that no one contacted the Friends of Rogers Reserve before these articles went to air, as the group had already been in discussion with the Rural Fire Brigade and Council's environment department about the assessment for selective burning.  There was also some ill-informed comments on facebook from members of the public who felt they could judge harshly the volunteer work we have been doing since January 2014, despite never visiting the reserve, participating in events or taking the time to learn anything about its significance or unique habitat.

More updates to come. I do note that Cr Bill Cahill did contact me to follow up for further information about the environmental management plans for the reserve and other details after the concerns were raised in the council meeting. We must also note that both Cr Cahill and Cr Kerry Shine have been avid supporters of the work the bushcare group has done in the reserve over the years and understand the importance of its preservation.

History behind the naming of Rogers Drive and Motee Crt at Highfields

Have you ever wondered where the Street Names in Highfields for Rogers Drive and Motee Crt came from? Rogers Drive runs behind the Highfields Village Shopping Centre and the Highfields Cultural Centre and behind the Rogers Reserve from Highfields Road through to Polzin Road and Motee Crt comes off Merritt St (from Rogers Drive).
These street names are named after the former owners of this land, Mr & Mrs Charles & Motee Rogers who were well known Toowoomba Musicians and ran the successful Midlands Poll-Hereford Stud on the surrounding land many years ago. They were also part owners of "Rogers Bros" which was one of the largest Milk Vendors in Queensland and a Toowoomba business.
Mr and Mrs Rogers bequested the land for Preserve Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields to the Crows Nest Shire Council after lengthy discussions and agreements, to ensure that this patch of remnant vegetation would be preserved for future generations to come. Mr and Mrs Rogers donated the rest of their land (which is now Highfields Village Estate) to the Royal Flying Doctors Service. They were very generous people. Out of respect for this generous donation and for the memory of Mr and Mrs Rogers we owe it to them as a community, to do whatever we can to continue to honour and preserve this environment and not forget about the significance of this bequest.

Motee Court and Rogers Drive street signs at Highfields, named after Charles and Motee Rogers.