THE TWEED SHIRE %.2/,-%.43 Volume 2 #10 Thursday, November 5, 2009 2010 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 Fax: (02) 6672 4933
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[email protected] 12–13 www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Heavy fine for Aladdin Sane comes home tree massacre Luis Feliu many threatened trees, including those marked with the tape, had been A contractor for a controversial cut and poisoned. proposed new township at Bilam- The court found that Rawson’s bil Heights who chopped down and actions were deliberate and that he poisoned over 1,200 trees, includ- acted in reckless disregard of infor- ing many threatened species, has mation, advice and warnings from been fined $135,000 and ordered to one of the environmental consultants complete 200 hours of community that at least some of the trees he had service. cut were threatened species. Chillingham farmhand Lance Raw- son pleaded guilty in the NSW Land Warnings ignored and Environment Court to seven Rawson also ignored warnings charges under the National Parks and from a Tweed Shire Council ranger Wildlife Act and was convicted last that the cutting of trees on the prop- week with one of the largest penalties erty may be contrary to the law. ever handed down in the state for The court’s chief judge, Justice such offences. He was also ordered to Brian Preston, said ‘the conservation Murwillumbah races on Melbourne Cup day was full of action, fun and fashion. Race 5, the Casella Wines Yellowtail pay professional costs of biological diversity is a common