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 add a whole lot of enjoyment to your life. $ Bonus 5,000 furniture package for all settlements by 30 June 2012. Furnished display units available for viewing. Call (02) 6670 4000 or visit tricare.com.au TRI11075_TE_HP_88x260 <echowebsection=Local News> Local News Lightforce Computers Supporting Local Mac Users Since 1992 Leda a repeat o ender inquiry found iPads, iPods & Accessories... in Stock! Sta reporters An inquiry which triggered Tweed Shire Council’s sacking in was critical of activi- ties on Leda’s huge Kings For- est property which apparently went unpunished by authori- ties, including the pro-devel- opment council. Available in Black or White Inquiry head Maurice Daly iPad: 16 GB • 32 GB • 64 GB –Wifi or Wifi 3g Starting @ $574. said in his report that the De- All iPods in Stock! 160GB Classic Silver or Black partment of Environment out- New Touch in White or Black & Multi-Coloured Nanos lined concerns about the coun- cil’s failure to take steps to stop ‘illegal clearing’ of the site. 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. Authorised Reseller cerns.’ The officer told him that cil had been sacked, it had It dismissed the evidence Authorised Service Provider Prof Daly cited evidence while Leda might argue exist- come to his attention that given by one of the o cers as Authorised iPad Reseller from a senior departmental of- ing use rights, it didn’t detract similar clearing work was con- ‘completely at odds with the cer who discovered that Leda from the fact that the drainage tinuing. facts.’ Lightforce Computers was draining wetlands and had works were likely to adversely Neither the council nor the ‘Central to the inquiry’s nd- 3/84 Centennial Circuit in the Arts & Industry Estate felled up to native trees dur- impact on the wetlands eco department could say if any ings detrimental to Leda has Byron Bay 02 6685 8796 • See Website for easy Directions ing an on-site inspection. systems by ‘signi cant changes’ action was later taken against been the false, misleading and hrs: m-fri 9-5 • sat 9-1 www.lightforce.com.au * Apple Beating prices are for cash/EFT - excludes CC Service Fees, Apple sales, refurbs, etc. He also released an email to the hydrology. the company but Leda has damaging evidence given by In an addendum to his sec- slammed Prof Daly’s com- the department,’ the unauthor- ond report, Prof Daly released ments and attacked one of the ed document claimed. • Accredited high quality care in a Northern Rivers home environment Family Day Care • Supported by the largest scheme Inquiry likely into Leda’s complaints – mayor in NSW Mayor Barry Longland says an Mr Bulford examined grievances but equally our • Flexible hours independent expert is likely complaints by the former planning sta have their own to be appointed to examine owner of Kings Forest, Narui, story to tell,’ said Cr Longland • Childcare benefi t available whether Leda’s complaints against the council’s former ‘Our planners have their • Become a carer and work from about council planning sta chief planner David Broyd, own version of their deal- home have any validity.