Brunswick Heads residents called on their local MP Tamara Smith for a meeting to discuss the fences that Reflections Holiday Parks have erected around the park area where the community planted native cypress pines commemorating the Battle of Lone Pine in WWI, which has been utilised by the community for over 60 years for recreation.
Cypress pine area now off limits
However, when residents and Ms Smith entered the site they say were told by park management that they were trespassing and asked to leave the park.
According to locals in attendance, the behaviour of management was aggressive and Ms Smith therefore called the police.
Responding to questions from The Echo a spokesperson for Reflections has disputed the accusation that their management was aggressive ‘and does not accept the characterisation of the conduct of those involved’.
‘The individuals involved in the interaction felt threatened by the behaviour of the group that entered the precinct. We are increasingly concerned about the impact of ongoing community tensions, including threats and public commentary, on the safety and wellbeing of people working at our Brunswick Heads parks.’
Reflections claim that the area in dispute that they have recently named The Pines Precinct, ‘is within the operational boundary of the Reflections Holidays Brunswick Heads holiday park which has long been used for camping’.
However, prior to Reflections taking over the camp site previously known as Terrace Reserve Holiday Park, Byron Shire Council, as the then Reserve Manager, identified ‘encroached lands were used for “overflow” primitive camping during peak periods (Christmas and Easter) only between 1988-2000. Other encroached lands were simply used by the respective park managers.’
This was for unpowered, tents-only, campsites.
The Crown land is now managed by Reflections who told The Echo, ‘As a Category One Crown Land Manager, Reflections has responsibilities to protect the environment and provide a safe and secure environment for guests and our employees.’
One local who spoke to The Echo about the incident said, ‘Residents are appalled. They want the fencing and locked gates removed. Reflection have offered no evidence of security or safety issues to warrant the high security approach. Fencing is only supposed to be used as a last resort not a first option.’
Consent conditions
Responding to questions from The Echo, Deputy Mayor, Eia Hauge, said ‘unfortunately, as Reflections is a NSW government corporation operating on state-owned Crown land, Council has limited authority to ensure continued public access to this meaningful piece of public land.’
‘What Council can do is make sure Reflections is meeting the conditions of the 2021 Land and Environment Court decision. The decision sets out where camping can occur, and outlines the setbacks and buffers protecting the cypress pines. There may also be pathways for Council to preserve public access through the site’s Plan of Management (PoM), which hasn’t been reviewed since 2014.
‘I am investigating this option and will continue to work alongside community, who have deep knowledge and historical context on this matter. We must keep advocating for local input and local benefit for public land use decisions.’
♦ Tamara Smith MP was contacted for comment.
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