Dozens of protesters blocked three entry points to the Wallum development in Brunswick Heads this morning as fencing contractors moved in to section off the cul-de-sacs leading into the site.
Protesters said they had information that there would be fencing going in today.
One local women, Sherrie, parked her car on the road blocking a fencing contractor from leaving the site on Torakia Road.
Sherrie said she was protesting as the fencing contractor, on behalf of the developer, had fenced several vehicles inside the development area, locking them up from access by their owners.
At one point security got the vehicle open and attempted to move it physically but they were unable to budge it.
The contractor who was working for ReadyFence, was very annoyed and said he just wanted to get on with his work. Sherrie and the others on the site said they were getting on with their work – saving Wallum.
This morning’s work on behalf of the developer was to fence off three areas, at the terminus of Torakina Road, Omega Circuit and Kingsford Drive.
The plan was a three-pronged effort at partitioning off what security said were private roads. Protesters said they were under the impression the area was all on public roads.
One security guard said that police had been called but as there was a lot happening this morning with the floods, he wasn’t sure if they would be able to attend.
Sherrie said her action today was part of a plan by protesters to protect Wallum. ‘I’m a passionate planet connector and stand up for human and animal and environmental rights.
‘We’re trying to prolong any works happening here because there’s work going on in the background on our side, to stop any works happening here full stop. And until that happens we don’t want any fences or any other works going on here. We’re trying to slow the process.’
Though the discussion between protesters and security was tense, it was peaceable and Sherrie said she was happy with the exchanges with security. ‘They’ve been really good. Really, really good. This morning they’ve been straightforward and honest.’
Sherrie said she had no plans to move her vehicle. ‘I’ll stay here until I’ve discussed with the other crew here on site and when I and they feel comfortable, I’ll move the van on – but I strongly feel leaving the van here is holding up the process for the fencing company and they won’t be back here in a big hurry.’
Sherrie said this morning’s blockade was also a message to any other businesses who would support the developer at Wallum. ‘Hold off – don’t do it. You are going to be money out of pocket.’
James from Safety Fence Australia here ! If the developers gave me the call to fence of Wallum I would of told them to shove it !
Well done peoples,and actually call Work and Safety as the fence is 1.8 metres high as allowed in Qld and in New South Wales it is supposed to be 2.1metres high and without the wire sticking out of the top as its dangerous to children and can be climbed very easily !
It doesn’t conform to New South Wales Work and Safety standards !
Why are you using people’s misfortune to advertise your fencing company?
Furthermore, why do you think insighting people to make claims against your competitor is a fair business practice?
I live in this area and I for one don’t Wallum destroyed !
The unfortunate part about my business is seeing development in places that should be untouched and preserved !
I have knocked back projects in the past as it was going against my own concise including fencing the Metgasco Bentley Coal Seam Gas site !
Well done for having the integrity and willingness to say NO to such disastrous developments.
Yes, we all need money. Yes, we’re all suffering from COL crisis.
However, things will only get worse the more we take from our dwindling natural resources.
This development is short sighted, and any contractors involved should back out now and plan how to make up for their missed work.
We will not back down. There will be no development at Wallum Bayside Brunswick Heads.
What misfortune? The misfortune of the developers having to deal with protestors? Is it unfair to point out that your company values are more in line with a particular group of customers? Your meaning virtue signalling is ugly Mark.
Thanks James for letting local contractors and consultants know that Safety Fence Australia don’t know the fencing requirements. Under AS468.4 2022 Temporary Fencing, temporary construction fence panels need to be min 1800 high.
Thanks James for raising that the fencing contractor is in breach of NSW laws and your timely advice to parents to watch their children as the fencing may be dangerous if the kids climb on it – I appreciate that you raised that you have credentials to make your statement – thanks for keeping a community watch on non compliant developers
John, it’s not, the temporary fence complies with AS4687 at min 1.8m high. Don’t believe everything you read on the echo or savewallum.
I Don’t think too many save Wallum supporters are going to be in the market for fencing any time soon, but other developers reading this may be … you might have just lost yourself some business.
Hats off to the protectors, well done. What a huge achievement, standing strong n holding the space. Sherrie, you give me hope for the future, thanks. Is Pliebersek really meaning that we have to accept the 20+ year old zombie DA’s, 300 of them in NSW? Meaning the learnings from the fires n floods etc doesn’t count. Seems the ALP hasn’t listened to Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General saying in 2023: ‘ No more bottomless greed of the fossil fuel industry n their enablers. ‘
Writing from a truly local perspective I hope this signals an end to the protest. When the development is finished (admittedly a while away yet) people will be left wondering what all the fuss was about because 60% of the Clarence Property is not being built on. That’s the land that mostly features in the Wallum website but never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
The original 2018 Stage 1 development mostly stopped illegal camping, illegal dumping and severely restricted the motorbikes and 4wd’s tearing up the land.
There is hardly any of this type of eco system left in Byron Shire. You might think it is okay to destroy almost half of what is left but many people find that unacceptable. Also you have not considered the impact that developing 60 percent would have on the remaining 40 percent.
Agreed, be interesting to see how many of the protestors end up living there. Keeping in mind they already currently live somewhere that was undeveloped once too.
Bunch of tossers, protesters that is 😁
May I invite you to visit our Tea house for near the round about in Bayshore Debbie, so we can have a chat and you can meet some of these protesters/Wallum protectors? This is hugely diverse bunch of people from all walks of life, origins, age groups, socio economic backgrounds, education, identities, & I don’t believe we deserve to be slurred under one label. Come & spend a bit of time walking through Wallum so you may grow to appreciate it’s beauty & uniqueness, & understand why the community at large don’t want it bulldozed & turned into luxury housing. There are literally thousands of people supporting the protection of this biodiverse eco system.
Grub contractors using the chance to kick the competition in the guts, nice one. Looks like Maleny did when the woolies came in. Hope you guys have luck there ultimately here the woolies got built and honestly we all shop there now for the prices because of the cost of living crisis. Regardless love to see people standing up for their community and environment. These big companies don’t care about Australia. We do.
Why is it always the weirdo hippies that have nothing better to do that protest? Don’t these people have jobs? Or are we all paying for their centrelink payments while they get in the way of taxpayers? Those contractors were hired to do a job. They aren’t the ones that bought the land and git approval for development. The protest will achieve nothing.
As someone who is gainfully employed, yet volunteers my free time at Wallum, I can guarantee you pretty much all people down there are employed. People actually left their jobs for this action. Because they know the value of this movement.
Your comment does nothing but demonstrate your lack of understanding of this movement and the people involved.
Believe it or not, these people are protecting this land for you and your family, for generations to come.
So you can be as rude, uninformed, and dismissive as you want, but really, you are just proving your disconnection to what’s really important.
If your so.keen to save the plante for animals and humans have you vehicle crushed and your home bull bulldozed. Then get rid of everything you family worked so hard to proved a home and food on the table for you. Then the last piece of what the industrial world has supplied for you, your cloths burn them get ride of them. Now to protect the animals don’t eat them and no don’t eat the vegetation that’s around you that would be destructive to animal survival.
Spoken like a true colonialist
Bravo