Yesterday a large group of ‘anti-Wallum development’ protesters walked onto the site at the end of Omega Circuit, to surround two trees, one known as ‘The Mother Tree’ and one known as ‘The Grandmother Tree’, to welcome back to ground level two ‘possums’ (the affectionate name for tree protectors) and to escort the next shift up into the branches.
Spokesperson for the Wallum protesters, James Barrie, said about 200 people entered the space and protected the possums. ‘They surrounded the tree to help the peaceful uplifting of a new possum into the branches.
‘They need to be changed over in order to get supplies and rejuvenate. It’s a lot to be up there for an extended period of time,’ he said.
In the name of ecology and sacred lands
‘The community got behind that transfer in the name of ecology and sacred lands.’
While the transfer was taking place, at least two security guards were on-site, warning people that they were trespassing and yelling out that police were on their way.
Once the transfer was complete they asked the crowd to evacuate the site, which they did.
Bassi who lives in Mullumbimby, and Natalie who is from Tyalgum, have been in the two main trees since Wednesday – both were happy to be on the ground again but were also overwhelmed by the show of community support after four days of isolation.
Very at home in the tree
Natalie said she felt very at home in The Mother Tree. ‘I feel so fresh after that experience. Just so full of gratitude, so full of love, and just so much support from everybody here and so much empowerment. We were up there to save them. I feel so comfortable up in a tree but I’ve never been up in a tree like that like – harnessed. I could go exploring because I was securely held on.’
Bassi said it was very beautiful in The Grandmother Tree. ‘I really felt connected to nature and I was at home. It was beautiful just to sit there and see all the insects crawling around the tree and different little birds coming to visit.’
Natalie said her experience with the security guards on the site was mixed. ‘Some were really nice and some weren’t so nice. Some made me feel quite comfortable and some made me feel very uncomfortable.’
The protesters plan to stay until plans for the development are squashed – both possums said they would definitely volunteer to go up into the trees again.
It’s a pity the photographer didn’t manage to get all 200 in the picture.
Seems like the great unwashed just need a cause around here. Something to focus what’s left of their brains. One minute it’s a sculpture that they don’t like, then it’s 5G, then it’s Covid mandates, now it’s a bit of land with some frogs on it. And they wonder why they can’t afford a house. Jesus. Get a job.
Agree!
You really have no idea what you’re on about. Look into this matter a little deeper to understand exactly what’s at stake here. These activists are on the right path and indeed are upholding a Federal mandate by protecting this ecologically sensitive land against rapacious development. It’s a shame that we have reached a point where people need to protest to ensure national guidelines on habitat protection are adhered to!
If you looked into this matter properly you would know that the land being built on is not heathland or wilderness it’s just been slashed regularly for at least the 20 years that I’ve been walking there, makes no sense .
obviously, Brian did a survey o the 200 attendees – so he knows their background . .
Would this “large group” gladly give up their individual right to housing for some possums to move in? Such a predicable and pointless reaction by the said 200. It will be 100 next week and eventually some of them will buy a block or two!
This land is advertised as for ‘investment properties’, so no, not housing as such. Most of the protectors own their own homes, and have had long lives in professional work. Some have qualifications in Environmental Science. Some have experience in various protection actions at disputed sites Australia wide and have seen the success that can be achieved by drawing attention to serious issues, that otherwise would have been ‘slept walked’ over in the paperwork processes of ‘business as usual’. It is strange that after all the years that actions have saved places and spaces that many enjoy today, vindicating the worth of taking action. Yet there are still those who click into automatic mode of generalised labeling of ‘all’ protestors as unemployed youth which is rarely the case.
If there is so much knowledge and experience there why are they continuing to spread such lies about land that is obviously ( look at google maps) not pristine . The lovely photos are of areas not in danger
Jill, there are no lies being spread. I am a photographer that has contributed images of the heathland on the FB page. All these images are of the areas which are endangered from being destroyed by this development.
The only difference between yourself and those of us that think for ourselves is the degree’s of seperation to a greater truth which scientificly is undisputable.
What makes Wallum so very special is that there’s only 1% of this ecology left in our region and it’s already home, to 26 endangered species.
This Heathland is truly a remarkable place, have you been there ?
It has such deep significance to Our Origional People and to pretty much most of our Community.
Im so sorry you feel to follow a narrative that is purely based upon financial gains in place of Preservation upon all fronts.
Unfortunately that is just not true, any of it. Social media has a lot to answer for .
Check the facts before spreading it around.