A push to introduce stronger protections for the Tea Tree Lake north of Broken Head is being headed by Byron Bay-based Nationals MLC Ben Franklin along with local Arakwal leader Delta Kay.
They met on Tuesday with NSW planning minister Rob Stokes at the lake to ask it be placed on a list of the state’s most sensitive lakes.
Mr Franklin said, ‘Tea Tree Lake is a stunning part of our local environment and has deep significance to Aboriginal culture, particularly to the Bundjalung women.’
‘I asked Minister Stokes to personally visit the area, listen to the arguments about why the lake should be protected and see for himself the spectacular beauty of our region.’
Mr Franklin says including the lake in the list of sensitive lakes under the Coastal Management SEPP would mean that the 5.25-hectare lake would be protected as well as its entire catchment area.
‘When that is combined with its high conservation value, including significant native plants and animals, rainforests and wetlands, it would be absolutely appropriate to place it on the list of sensitive lakes across NSW.’
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