20.4 C
Byron Shire
February 6, 2025

Emergency tower works stopped

Latest News

Crossbench and community sector leaders urge parliament to raise income support

Parliamentarians, including many members of the crossbench, have joined community sector leaders in calling on the parliament to raise the rate of income support.

Other News

Back to school – begin the new term with a fresh start

The school year is back in full swing, and with it comes the daily lunchbox dilemma. How do you...

Lismore house occupiers remain past eviction deadline

No eviction has taken place at the eight NSW Reconstruction Authority’s buyback houses in North Lismore, in and around Pine Street, following the deadline for house occupiers to leave by Tuesday, January 28. 

Ocean Shores and South Golden Beach without power overnight

With a temperature that only got down as far as 22º, residents felt the heat last night as power and ceiling fans, dropped out.

Powerful results from joining quantum computing and AI

Researchers have used quantum physics and machine learning to quickly and accurately understand a mound of data – a technique, they say, could help extract meaning from gargantuan datasets.

Rainbow Dragons to compete nationally

Three standout paddlers from the Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club (RRDBC) – Ivy Yap, Brooke Harris and Amanda Mevissen...

Love is in the air at Byron Bay Oyster Bar this Valentine’s Day

Byron Bay, NSW – Celebrate romance this Valentine’s Day with the indulgent Lovebird Banquet at Byron Bay Oyster Bar....

Teales Lookout foliage. Photo James Barrie

MP raises concerns over unique biodiversity at popular lookout

Installation of an emergency services mobile tower on a popular visitor look-out in Wilsons Creek is on hold, after a local NSW MP raised concerns that the area had been misidentified as regrowth.

According to ecologist James Barrie, NSW Telco Authority had begun drilling concrete footings at Teales Lookout, near Boogarem Falls, on Koonyum Range Road in Mount Jerusalem National Park.

Greens MLC, Sue Higginson wrote to consent authority, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), and NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage, Penny Sharpe (Labor) to ask that works be stopped immediately, as she believed unique and rare ecosystems were at risk.

A NPWS spokesperson told The Echo, ‘The matters raised are currently under examination by the NPWS’.

‘No further work on the site is being carried out while these matters are being considered’.

The Echo understands the site was selected for a Government Radio Network (GRN) after extensive testing by the Rural Fire Service (RFS) communications unit, as it gave the best coverage to all the surrounding valleys. 

Rubbish, camping

The location was also chosen because a security camera could be installed on the tower given illegal camping, campfires and rubbish dumped at the lookout.

Ms Higginson said in her letter, ‘These reports suggest that the works being carried out in Mount Jerusalem National Park are undertaken on an at-risk vegetation community, montane heathland, that exists nowhere else in the world’.

‘The main plant in the understory is a clumping sedge that doesn’t occur anywhere else in the whole region…’

‘I recognise the tremendous public importance of enhancing the Public Safety Network, but we must undertake its expansion only with a clear and legal understanding, assessment and approval of the ecosystems we are impacting’.

The NSW Telco Authority, who proposed the tower, was contacted for comment.


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

2 COMMENTS

    • Carex gaudichaudiana-(-Tufted Sedge, Fen Sedge )
      There you go Peter, it is so good you have an interest in the environment, what a shame it isn’t shared by those in the RFS.
      Whose only interest it seems, is how burn more of our wonderful national treasure to please the insurance industry, while not understanding their continual fires are contributing to the highest rate of extinction of species on the planet and creating a much more dangerous, fire prone landscape.
      Hopefully, they can read this and share your new awareness, G”)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Research funded to find solutions for plastic waste

Three pioneering projects have been awarded $1.25 million by the NSW government to tackle plastic pollution through innovative solutions.

Lions Road to be closed (temporarily)

Scenic Lions Road between Standfields Bridge and the Queensland border crossing will be closed to through traffic from Monday 17 February to mid-June while Kyogle Council replaces six culverts damaged in the February 2022 floods.

How to revive nature protection laws?

Following the Prime Minister’s dumping of nature protection laws this week, federal Greens candidate Mandy Nolan says the voters of Richmond deserve better.

Logging stopped in Tasmanian Devil habitat

Yesterday, forest defenders returned to protest and halt logging of ancient forests near Tasmania’s Lake St Clair.