The clearing of land at a 128ha property at Glengarrie Road on Mount Tomewin over the long weekend has raised the concern of local residents.
The Echo online has been told by concerned observers that the site is mostly untouched, virgin rainforest and wet Sclerophyll forest and that no logging has ever occurred on much of the parcel due to the inaccessibility of the terrain. They have also raised the issue of Indigenous sites and history on the land.
The lot went up for auction on 4 December, 2020 and local residents have said that they believe it was bought by Zac Efron. However, at the time of printing The Echo was unable to confirm this as the real estate and the vendor both declined to comment.
It is understood from locals, who asked not to be named, that the contract has yet to be completed and that the work was not carried out by the current owners of the property.
Stop work order
Tweed Shire Mayor, Chris Cherry , confirmed with The Echo online that a stop work order was placed on the property yesterday afternoon. An inspection of the site is scheduled for Wednesday, 3 February, 2021.
Unbelievable qhat the government can do if they want to.
They don’t care about the isaland off the coast that’s 80% national park in the Barrier Reef were the Chinese kick the locals off plus blocked the airport,boat ramp and flattend the beach with excavators that the turtles nest etc.
Different strokes for different folks.
Disgraceful how Australia government don’t do the same things to all these areas.
Another virgin rainforest [128 ha] at Mount Tomewin check-up. Good to hear there’s
a ‘stop work’ order ongoing.
This property at Tomewin has one of the last best examples of uncleared old growth forest on private property in the Tweed. For too long developers have used the approach of doing illegal work first then copping the (often measley) fine later. It’s a working model for them. I can only imagine how many threatened species they bulldozed in that rainforest country. So disrespectful. They deserve a serious fine and a clean up work order to regenerate the cleared area.
Perhaps the new owner will consider protecting the forest in the long term with an in perpetuity conservation agreement to prevent such evils happening again. https://www.bct.nsw.gov.au/conservation-partners-program