A PLAQUE commemorating the achievements of the Rosewood District Protection Organisation (RDPO) now hangs on the wall in the Uniting Church Hall.
It was unveiled during the final meeting of an organisation that was formed 22 years ago.
The group’s President Ursula Monsiegneur and the secretary and treasurer Paul Dowdle were given the honour of revealing it to fellow members.
The RDPO was formed in 2001, with the aim of challenging the impact of open cut mining in the immediate vicinity of the Rosewood township.
The organisation grew from there to become an advocate broadly for sustainable development in the area, championing the preservation of native flora and fauna, and supporting like-minded groups and communities impacted by development applications.
“Unfortunately, the group could not attract adequate membership numbers despite best efforts over several years,” Mr Dowdle said.
“The combined effects of increasing insurance costs and limited spare time available among the shrinking membership meant a decision to wind up the organisation was taken mid 2023.
“Over its history RDPO successfully challenged several large regional mining development proposals, advocated for improvements to underway mining activities, influenced improved coal haulage safety and Inland Rail routing proposals.
“We worked closely with all manner of businesses, community members, community groups, and the three levels Government.
“As late as 2023, RDPO was instrumental and successful in working with Ipswich City Council in a court action to oppose the use of mining voids at Ebenezer as landfill sites and seeking for closed mine sites to be rehabilitated in line with post-mining environmental obligations.”
Other achievements include conducting more than 200 catered nature walks, running numerous community information sessions, facilitating meetings between development proponents and the community, and documenting local flora and fauna for research purposes and future reference.
“While recalling RDPO successes during the plaque unveiling and luncheon, it became clear that without RDPO efforts, there would very likely be open cut coal mining from Rosewood High School down to Ashwell and beyond, and between Ebenezer and Mount Mort to the South of the Toowoomba railway line,” he said.
“A number of local roads would also have disappeared, and many rural properties would now be little more than large holes in the ground.
“The Bremer valley and remnant Rosewood Scrub areas as we know them, would be nothing like they are today and there would be risk of additional mining voids being targeted as landfill sites with all the environmental, social, and amenity issues associated with them.”
He said the hope was future generations would be inspired to follow in RDPO’s footsteps and fight for the amenity of the Rosewood area.
