A Byron Bay residents group has welcomed the conviction of the organiser of a doof party late last year at Tallow Beach which was shut down by police and park rangers.
The organiser pleaded guilty to two charges over the illegal event and was fined $8,000 in Byron Bay Local Court yesterday.
Byron Shire Council’s legal services coordinator, Ralph James, said around 200 ‘doofers’ had trampled and rubbished the ecologically sensitive area which contained threatened fauna and flora.
The young man was not named in the council press release, which also noted that another young man had been been convicted and fined $750 after having pleaded guilty to being in attendance at the same doof party.
The Friends of Tallow Creek said they hoped the conviction and fine would deter others from similar acts of environmental vandalism.
The party was held last November in the national park adjacent to Tallow Beach.
Friends spokesman Dailan Pugh said the fine was ‘small’ for the environmental harm caused, including, ‘trampling the nests of bee-eaters and pardalotes in the dunes, scaring away the migratory shorebirds, polluting the estuary with excrement, and leaving broken glass and cigarette butts buried in the sand.’
Mr Pugh, who caused a stir when he singled out for blame just one nationality of attendees at the doof, said he also hoped doofer’s fine of $750 ‘alerts everyone who attends these doofs that they share in the culpability’.
‘Also the organiser of the doof at Cosy Corner last Saturday night was given an on-the-spot $3,000 fine by police, which hopefully will become a regular punishment,’ he said.
‘The problem is that with such a regular turnover of tourists and students we are constantly faced with new arrivals.
‘Friends of Tallow Creek calls upon tourist and student accommodation providers to provide an induction for their customers to stop this continuing.
‘Tourists and overseas students trashing our national parks for their fun can not be tolerated any longer.
‘Our wildlife are under increasing threats due to a plethora of other activities, we can not allow them to be driven out of their remaining refuges in our national parks.
Mr James said council and national park rangers were called to the beach doof party to help police following many complaints by residents.
‘Erected at the site were a marquee, DJ equipment and lights. There were at least 200 people in attendance. Most were consuming alcohol. Plus, there were up to six bonfires lit with wood obtained from the national park,’ he said.
‘Police seized the equipment and shut the party down.
‘The partygoers trampled the sensitive dunes and left rubbish, including broken glass. Plus there was a high fire risk and a total fire ban in place.
‘National Parks are environmentally sensitive areas. They are not locations to hold parties.
‘This young man has learnt the hard way that it is far better to hold an event in an approved venue.’
National Parks and Wildlife Service manager Sue Walker urged locals to report illegal activity in the parks.
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