THE TWEED www.tweedecho.com.au Volume 4 #12 Thursday, November 17, 2011 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 FESTIVAL 2011 [email protected] [email protected] p.9 CAB 21,000 copies every week AUDIT LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Ell named over ‘shocking’ illegal clearing
‘Once discovered, with legal pres- on the Kings Forest site through a Upper House Greens MP Cate Faehrmann says suspicion has turned to sure and the assistance of compliant state wetland claiming it was merely consultants, he has managed to obtain ‘drain clearing’ (see page ). the developer as the one responsible for excavating Blacks Creek and retrospective approvals under dubi- On both occasions his claims and removing trees along its banks despite its protected status. ous excuses and loopholes.’ excuses were accepted by Tweed Shire She cited an instance at Mr Ell’s Co- Council. Sta reporters consultants, and senior council plan- was illegally cleared at Pimpama. baki Lakes development where Leda Ms Faehrmann asked whether the ning sta and government agencies, ‘As well as the recorded conviction cleared a stand of old-growth scribbly recent clearing within the Cudgen Billionaire developer Bob Ell has been including National Parks and Wildlife for illegal clearing, Bob Ell has a rep- gum and then had a consultant state Nature Reserve was a repeat o ence. named in parliament in connection Service (NPWS), which has been in- utation for getting away with many that the trees were dangerous to hu- ‘Is it an example of a develop- with ‘a shocking case’ of illegal veg- volved in a prolonged investigation other instances of native vegetation man health. er clearing vegetation from pub- etation clearing within the Cudgen into the clearing since it was reported clearing and habitat destruction,’ she She said on another occasion he lic land with the highest level of Nature Reserve. in July, but has remained tightlipped said. excavated a section of Blacks Creek continued on page Upper House Greens MP Cate ever since, despite repeated requests Faehrmann says suspicion has turned from he cho for comment. to the developer as the one responsi- Ms Faehrmann told parliament an Fingal Head Coastcare honoured ble for excavating Blacks Creek and onsite inspection revealed that about removing trees along its banks despite metres of vegetation had been its protected status. cleared within the nature reserve She says if guilty, the property mo- on the banks of the creek, the creek gul should be hit with ‘the most severe dredged and soil spread across the penalty available’ to act as a serious cleared bank ‘in agrant de ance of deterrent. its status as a habitat for threatened species. Scathing attack ‘ e vegetation removed also rep- In a scathing attack, Ms Faehrmann resents the loss of . hectares of said Mr Ell and his Leda group had what may be an endangered ecologi- a past history of illegal clearing and cal community, swamp sclerophyll used intimidation and bullying tactics forest on coastal oodplains, which against people to get their way. is protected under the NSW hreat- She said a dossier which Leda se- ened pecies onservation ct ,’ lectively leaked to the media recently she said. named people it considered hurdles Ms Faehrmann said it was apparent to their two satellite cities planned for the work was undertaken by one or Kings Forest and Cobaki Lakes. more machines entering from Leda’s ‘It is understood that some people Kings Forest property, which provid- were targeted simply because they ed the obvious access to the adjoining made submissions during the public reserve. consultation process,’ she said of the She said the former state govern- -page dossier containing claims of ment gave Leda approval for , an anti-development conspiracy. homes to be built on the Kings For- Fingal Head Coastcare members are celebrating a The group has been operating for over years, e document was given to coun- est site, despite its high conservation statewide award for rehabilitation work. The group won regenerating local dunes and forests. Ms Bolton said cillors and government MPs last value, strong community opposition a Community Involvement Award at the NSW Coastal the Fingal group could be one of the oldest dune care month following a public outcry over and the developer’s history of illegal Conference last week. groups in NSW. the extent of the clearing in the nature vegetation clearing. In the picture above Rosie Lomas, vice-captain of ‘Fingal Head has also been shortlisted (which means reserve adjoining the ,ha Kings Ms Faehrmann said in November Fingal Head Public School, who has worked with Fingal we’ve won a place) in the NSW Northern River Keep Forest property, as reported by he the Gold Coast council obtained Head Coastcare for six years, takes a breather on the Australia Beautiful Awards in the categories of Com- cho. court orders directing companies headland as Coastcare president Kay Bolton and vice- munity Involvement (of course) and Overall Clean Beach e dossier contains sweeping al- owned by Mr Ell to revegetate major president Kate McKenzie look on. Challenge,’ she said. legations against Greens councillors, portions of a ha holding which ‘We’re very happy with the award,’ said Kay Bolton. Photo Je ‘Oops a Daisy’ Dawson Life is about enjoying every day! With 2 bed units from $265,000 you can
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He said the department spoke of its numerous submis- sions to both council and to Leda identifying the natural, scienti c and cultural values of the land and advising that it had issued interim protection The banks of Blacks Creek in Cudgen Nature Reserve, adjacent to the Kings Forest development orders over the site. site, have been illegally cleared and replanted with exotic grasses. Inset: Weathering the storm: ‘Despite this, the department billionaire developer Bob Ell, pictured at the Cobaki site just after his concept plan for the massive had become aware of further subdivision was approved late last year, has been named in parliament in relation to the clearing. Why Buy from Lightforce? actions involving draining • We Beat Apple’s Prices Everyday* of sensitive wetlands and the outlining another o cer’s con- more than photographs o cers who gave evidence. • Large iPad & iPod Stock on Hand clearing of threatened species cerns about the activities sent taken on the site showing In its dossier sent to the • Apple Authorised Technicians habitat,’ Professor Daly said. to the council chief planner, fallen koala-habitat trees, and council last month, Leda on Staff for Fast, Reliable Service ‘ e department suggested Noel Hodges, who later quit bulldozers at work in wetland claimed that Prof Daly had delays on the part of the coun- his post and worked as one of areas. never bothered to obtain evi- cil in dealing with their con- Leda’s consultants. He said even a er the coun- dence from the company. 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Councillors are all in favour majority of Tweed councillors Last week council gen- of a process to bring about supported someone from eral manager Mike Rayner a resolution to Leda’s claims. outside council taking a look met with local government That may well involve third- at both sides of the argu- minister Don Page in Sydney party mediation.’ ment. to give council’s side of the Cr Longland said he didn’t TWEED 4 Park Street Tweed Heads He said he expected current dispute with Leda. believe the department’s Phone 07 5536 1865 a former departmental Mr Rayner reported to Independent Hearing and LISMORE 150 Laurel Avenue Lismore bureaucrat or retired council councillors that his meeting Assessment Panel, similar Phone 02 6621 6437 Serving the Community since 1980 general manager to conduct with Mr Page was ‘produc- to that which replaced the ‘A division of Northern Rivers Childcare Services Inc.’ the probe, rather than the tive’. disgraced Wollongong City inquiry being undertaken Later that same day, Council planning unit, was by the Department of Local representatives of Leda also the appropriate body to carry ATTENTION HOME OWNERS, FARMERS, Government. visited Mr Page to voice their out the mediation. The investigation could be concerns about ‘green’ bias by Leda’s regional manager GARDENERS, POOL OWNERS AND similar to the probe into planning sta . Reg Van Rij refused to com- Tweed Shire Council planners Mr Longland said any ment on reports that he LAWN LOVERS by NSW Planning Depart- inquiry would hear both sides wants Tweed shire planning ment investigator Robert of the story. sta removed from the ap- Bulford. ‘Leda believe they have provals process. Ell named over blatant illegal clearing continued from page land and environment courts that can be written o as just conservation protection con- as just another cost of doing another cost of doing business.’ fident that it can persuade business? Ms Faehrmann said parlia- and intimidate the authorities ‘If it does transpire that this ment should consider chang- NSW state rebate has ended, however into bestowing retrospective clearing is a repeat offence ing the law to ensure that for best prices contact Duraplas. approval should they be chal- then the most severe penalty developers with a history of lenged?’ she said available should be imposed. non-compliance with planning ‘Is it another example of a It should be a penalty that acts and environment laws are pre- 400 Tweed Valley Way Murwillumbah developer treating the risk of as a serious deterrent for a cluded from further develop- www.duraplas.com.au 02 6672 6977 litigation in Australia’s various wealthy developer and not one ment approvals.
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