Save Wallum activists took to the heathland last Friday afternoon after it was reported a tractor was on site slashing at the Bayside Wallum Estate site near Brunswick Heads.
The site was approved for 127 residential lots and three small medium density sites by the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) in May 2023. Following the approval a group of locals have started the Save Wallum group in Septem- ber and have been highlighting the range of threatened and endangered species that are on, or access, the site.
As a result of community action the developers, Clarence Property, have been asked to self refer under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) due to the potential significant impact on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES).
According to wallumbrun- swick.com.au, the ‘premium land estate’ will see almost 18 acres (60 per cent of the site) rehabilitated for flora and fauna habitats. However, the Save Wallum groups say that ‘The housing subdivision proposes to clear and fill about half the site, removing scores of old growth scribbly gums and swamp mahogany trees, key habitat and feed trees for species such as koalas and glossy black cockatoos’.
Threatened species The Save Wallum group say that the ‘nationally and state-listed protected species on the site will not be able to co-exist with the planned development’.
‘Not only are the glossy blacks and koalas at risk by the development, two spe- cies of endangered frogs and a range of other threatened species and ecological com- munities also live, feed and travel through this critically important area,’ said James Barrie, coordinator of Save Wallum.
When community mem- bers came onto the Wallum Estate site the tractor ceased work and police attended the scene. Police were quick to de-escalte the situation and seek confirmation
from the activists that they would remove themselves from the site if police asked the developer to cease any further action on site until the conclusion of the EPBC investigations to which they agreed.
The community campaign to Save Wallum has grown
to over 4,100 members and seeks to have the area gazet- ted as a conservation reserve.
Clarence Property were asked for comment but did not respond prior to going to print.
If the protesters prevent the developers slashing won’t the area become a fire risk?
Exactly. I’ve spent the week on my tractor slashing for my elderly neighbours, for that very reason, and if someone tried to protest me, I’d drop to first gear and keep rolling. Obstructing fire threat reduction is being the threat to public safety, so it would be defence of self and others.
Sometimes Christian, it is better to say nothing and be thought an idiot, than to open your mouth and confirm it.
Cheers, G”)
Just stop oil protestors!
I suggest that the Echo do a fact check re glossy blacks and koalas, the development will not impact on either. Also Clarence Property are leaving safe areas for the frogs, why would they name the area WALLUM if they were getting rid of the frogs?
It’s all a bit late, guys. The DA application including images of the site and street layout was reported on in the Echo years ago. And now, when the work is about to start, you’re protesting? I have nothing to do with this development, but all over the country we need more housing and this is the very definition of NIMBYism. If you lot had genuine concerns for this little frog, you might have spoken up sooner. As it is, it’s not like they’re clearfelling miles of coastline, it’s a very small addition to Bayside.
One can only imagine the bark shanties and hollow logs these amazing protesters must live in. One gets all warm and fuzzy thinking of them donating their abode to the first nation’s people.
No !
I have been digging around and found out that the private ecologist for the zombie DA from AWC now works at Byron Council!
(won’t mention any names)….something very fishy going on here, should be a full investigation on this, did anyone know this?
It was all good to destroy the bush for your houses but not for anybody else
When a fire goes through, charge them all with attempted manslaughter and property damage.
Good on you all for stepping in before its too late. Wallum is a refuge for wildlife. They can take their ugly housing development elsewhere. The NR has had enough over influx the past 3 years !
Have you been supporting the immigration of ‘refuges’ over the past 20+ years?
Good on you all for stepping in before its too late. Wallum is a refuge for wildlife. They can take their ugly housing development elsewhere. The NR has had enough influx the past 3 years !
Well its a very successful free marketing campaign for the developers century 21… i wonder if the “activists” were constipated… opps compensated?