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Byron Shire
August 29, 2026

Protecting remnant Gondwana species at Grandpa’s Scrub today

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Community and experts are uniting this afternoon to protect what they say is remnant Gondwana species at Grandpa’s Scrub.

Organisers of today’s event say the Coffs Harbour Pacific Highway Bypass route has been a contentious issue as competing interests of agriculture, community and environment attempt to find an outcome.

They also say that the final chosen route has strongly favoured the local blueberry industry. It has been chosen to the detriment of the community and will have an irreparable impact on some of the last remaining areas for endangered ecological communities including remnant Gondwana rainforest. 

If the proposed route is built through the area known as Grandpa’s Scrub, the community in the area and their supporters say several species could cease to exist completely because of the failed biodiversity offset process that has been followed.

Today, globally recognised expert on Gondwana Rainforests Dr Rob Kooyman will be assessing and cataloguing the area. He will be willing to make statements about his findings as he completes his work.

There will be an at Grandpa’s Scrub, adjacent to 133C MacKays Rd, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450.  In attendance will be Sue Higginson MLC, Gondwana Expert Dr Rob Kooyman and local conservationist Dave Wood.



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