As the drama unfolded between police and protesters at the Wallum Development in Brunswick Heads yesterday, people were drawn to the site by the red alerts sent out by the Save Wallum organisers.
Ocean Alley guitarist Mitch Galbraith came to the site to support Save Wallum. ‘I’m here to support the possums and to support everyone at the Wallum site – because they’ve moved an excavator in here.
‘I’m here to try to raise awareness and I’m going to put out a call to arms so that we can get some more people down here to stop the next stage, because, it’s not over.’
Hoping Ocean Alley fans will visit Wallum
Galbraith, who lives in Suffolk Park and whose parents live in Mullumbimby, said he was hoping his fans, near and far will get on board with the actions. ‘There’s one excavator in there and there’s someone up the tree right behind me. It’s really peaceful and a nice vibe and quiet down here, but we need some more numbers on the ground so that we can stop the next wave of machinery.’
Galbraith says he has been visiting the site once a week or so. ‘I get busy travelling, but during the week I get a chance to come down and chat to all the possums and just tell them that we support everyone. The community spirit down here is out of control, and that’s what it takes to preserve these places.
Sue Higginson MLC
Greens’ MLC Sue Higginson was also on the site yesterday. ‘What we are seeing at Wallum is a courageous community standing up for environmental justice in the face of political and legal failure,’ said Ms Higginson.
‘Courageous community members are engaging in legitimate protest and non-violent direct action at Wallum in protest of the impacts that will occur to Matters of National Environmental Significance if the development proceeds.’
Ms Higginson said the community is calling for the Federal and State Labor Governments to use their powers, powers that could ensure critical habitat for threatened species is protected. ‘Resistance to this development is growing, not shrinking. After day one there were a few arrests made and then the machines left the site.
‘The community is resolved and the Greens and I will continue to support communities that are fighting to keep people and the environment safe from developments that are destructive and that have no social licence.’
Clarence Property is cooperating with police
Clarence Property say they are cooperating with police in relation to ‘illegal and criminal activity’ at its Wallum site in Brunswick Heads.
CEO Simon Kennedy said illegal and criminal activity had been ongoing at the site and in the neighbouring Bayside Brunswick community since February.
‘The level of police presence speaks to the seriousness with which this matter is being treated,’ he said. ‘It’s important to Clarence that locals, our staff and contractors can go about their daily lives and lawful business in a safe and uninterrupted way, and we will continue to work with police and do what we can to ensure this is possible.’
‘It’s a great cause’
Mitch Galbraith says he hopes the Ocean Alley fans and supporters can put their weight behind Save Wallum. ‘Our fans can log on to savewallum.com, and if there are any fans that are in the local area, I’d really strongly encourage you to come down here – there’s lots of friendly people down here and we’re all here for the same cause. It’s a great cause. And we really do need people’s feet on the ground, even just to come down and walk around and show up.
‘Just showing up and showing your support would be amazing.’
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