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.’
Please protect this special place.
About time. I wrote a letter to council about this about a year ago…it’s probably not In their jurisdiction… as I never got a reply. I suggested a discreet sign close to the water’s edge- not on the beach side ,(where even more people will discover it than already have).The sign idea was to point out that this is a sacred women’s site for the Aralkwal people and that usage and behaviours there be accordingly respectful .In recent years,it’s become less and less of a silent,retreat place…it’s good to.share but not with noisy groups, screaming kids,fires, illegal camping,rope swings etc Not in this pristine and sacred environment please. There are other places to go.