The Northern Rivers community is being called back to Wallum this Saturday, 8 August, at 12 noon for the opportunity to stand together at the Brunswick Heads site at the end of Omega Circuit, Bayside.
From midday, Traditional Owners, campaigners, scientists, volunteers, local residents and supporters will gather to share updates, reconnect and acknowledge what has already been achieved through almost three years of determined community action.
Save Wallum organisers say this is an important moment to be present, not only for those who have worked at the heart of the campaign, but also for people who have followed from afar, recently moved to the region or have wondered how to become involved. People do not need to have previously volunteered or attended an action to take part.
‘This gathering is an opportunity to come to Wallum, meet the people who have cared for and defended this place, and experience the strength of the community that has formed around it,’ a Save Wallum spokesperson said.
August delivery of Wallum judgement
‘The Federal Court judgement could be delivered this month. Wallum’s future remains unresolved, and this may be one of the most important times for our community to come together.’
The afternoon will provide an opportunity to hear the latest campaign updates, meet Traditional Owners and members of the Save Wallum community, acknowledge the efforts of volunteers and supporters, and stand together as the Federal Court judgement and other decisions approach. Indigenous artist Oral Roberts has collected artworks from various Bundjalung artists that will be on display and for sale.
‘For the more than 10,000 people who have supported the effort to protect Wallum, recent months may have seemed unusually quiet. Behind that quiet, however, three important processes have been continuing, each capable of influencing the future of the culturally and ecologically significant land,’ said the spokesperson.
The first is Save Wallum Inc’s Federal Court case concerning Clarence Property’s proposed residential development. A three-week Federal Court trial began in February 2025. Closing submissions were delivered in May 2025, and the Court reserved its decision. The judgement is expected in August.
The second is a Traditional Owner-led application under section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984. The group is requesting permanent protection of the Wallum site due to its cultural significance.
The third refers to contradictions regarding the development application (DA). Save Wallum’s questions regarding the interpretation and application of condition B4 of the original NSW development consent, directed to both the Byron Shire Council and Clarence Property, remain unanswered.
Attention vital
Together, these processes mean the future of Wallum remains unsettled and public attention remains essential.
‘Come and meet the carers of Country and community who have helped make this one of the Northern Rivers’ defining environmental campaigns,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Whether you have been with the campaign from the beginning, supported quietly from home, or are only now discovering what makes Wallum so special, this gathering is for you.
‘Save Wallum continues to showcase the enormous and unyielding capacity of the local community to collectively activate and come together as volunteers, united by a shared love of place.
‘The Northern Rivers has a long and proud history of championing the environment, from Terania Creek to Bentley. Save Wallum has now become an iconic campaign of national significance, reigniting that tradition of community-led environmental action.
‘The waiting may feel long, but the achievements have already been significant. There may not be another gathering like this before the Federal Court delivers its judgement. This is the moment to reconnect, become involved and show that the community is still here.’
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