Advertising NSW Northern Rivers
Save Wallum campaigners ready to fight off bulldozers
Save Wallum campaigners ready to fight off bulldozers
By Sarah Waters
Supporters of the Save Wallum campaign ensure there will be ‘a big community presence’ if developers try to proceed with earthworks on the unspoiled coastal heathland in Brunswick Heads.
Byron Shire Council staff will issue the subdivision works certificate for early stage one works to begin on the major and highly controversial housing estate, the developer has named as ‘Wallum.’
Images show koala scratching on large scribbly gums taken at the Wallum site marked for development.
Wallum, or wallum country, is actually, a coastal ecosystem along south-east Queensland, and northern NSW, characterised by flora-rich shrubland and heathland.
Developer Clarence Property Pty Ltd plan to build 124 residential lots, three medium density lots and supporting infrastructure on the culturally sacred and ecologically significant land at 15 Torakina Road, Brunswick Heads.
It is home to numerous threatened species, including nine federally listed Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) such as the critically endangered Swift Parrot and Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail.
More than 5000 people have thrown their support behind the Save Wallum campaign since it started more than six months ago.
Campaigners have spent countless hours combing through environment and planning laws to try and stop what they call a ‘zombie development’ which was approved due to a loophole in NSW planning legislation.
The proposal for the Wallum housing development was approved by the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) in May 2023.
Save Wallum spokesperson and local ecologist James Barrie said the development did not reflect current environmental or cultural concerns and requirements.
At last week’s Byron Shire Council meeting he told councillors if they approved the subdivision works certificate, they were perpetuating known, incorrect information and allowing destruction of a precious environment.
“Corrections by expert (independent) ecologist David Milledge need to be heeded in detail and the plans updated to include the statutory requirements for the threatened species concerned,” he said.
Mr Barrie said Eucalyptus Signata at the site had been previously misidentified as Eucalyptus Racemosa.
“Significant koala feed trees have not been identified in the plans.
“We still don’t know the actual number of koala feed trees to be removed.
“This demonstrates the basic information that was requested, can’t be answered from the expert reports.
“So how can a VMP (vegetation management plan) address impacts on threatened species such as the koala when we don’t even know the number of koala feed trees to be removed,” he said.
Mr Barrie also slammed the developer’s ‘revised froglet management plan’ and stated there was no scientific evidence that artificially constructed frog ponds have ever worked.
Hundreds of community members were present at the meeting, voicing their disapproval – as they have done for months – about the development.
Councillors went into deadlock with four voting in favour to approve the subdivision certificate and four against.
After hours of debate, Mayor Michael Lyon used his casting vote to determine the matter, voting in favour of approving the application.
The ecologically and culturally significant Wallum heathland
Mr Lyon said he had made it ‘crystal clear’ from the beginning that council were limited in their power as the Northern Rivers Planning Pannel (NRPP) had already approved the development.
He said it would be better to have discussions with the developers about preserving parts of the site rather than ending up in court and potentially coming out with nothing.
The early stage one ‘ecological rehabilitation works’ certificate for the subdivision to start was subject to discussions to clarify some potential errors including, the VMP being updated.
Councillor Peter Westheimer, who was against the subdivision certificate being issued, asked ‘how much are the community willing to risk for Wallum.’
“I’d say a considerable amount,” Mr Westheimer said.
“Risking that the council has to go to court and the council will have costs, that’s just the way it is.
“I’ve been involved in lots of these issues since the early nineties, and it takes guts for the community, and it takes energy … but the community can win.
“Let’s look at some of the terms being thrown around in the environmental management plan, we have a ‘habitat translocation plan’ a ‘revised froglet management plan’ these terms are increasingly dystopian.
“They are all about humans trying to manage an environment which they want to destroy but trying to make themselves feel better along the way,” he said.
Supporter of the Save Wallum campaign Maria Lloyd said she and many others were left ‘really disappointed’ by the decision.
“We really hoped council would step up and support the community,” Ms Lloyd said.
“We’ve had incredible community support for this issue for months, council have received thousands of emails from members of the public.
“The issues of the environmental significance of the site and cultural values of the area have been brushed aside in favour of negotiations with a developer who has shown no respect for the area,” she said.
The Northern Rivers Times was unable to contact the developer before this story went to print.
But they told ABC they rejected claims from Save Wallum that environmental and cultural assessments carried out were inadequate.
Clarence Property’s managing director Peter Fahey has stated they have been rigorous and recent and gone through all the processes set out by the state government and the council.
A follow up on the developer’s comments will be in next week’s edition.
The Federal Environment Department said Clarence Property had been notified of its obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Oils ain’t oils but this is a good one.
By Samantha Elley
Ken Ellis knows about liquor and now he is delving into the world of a finely made coffee.
His store Liquor Legends, located at 426 Ballina Road, Lismore doubles as a general store now with a coffee van.
“We had originally opened between 10am and 10pm with the general store and liquor sales,” said Ken.
“But we got feedback that the general store needed to be opened earlier.
“We are in a prime spot, where people can drive in and drive out and we discussed doing a drive through coffee.”
A popup coffee van in the forecourt of the property was the solution and as a nod to the previous business, Shell, who ran it as a petrol station, it is known as the Good Oil coffee cart.
“We are just pouring a different type of liquid,” laughed Ken.
“We are now doing coffees, toasties and selling bread, milk and juices direct from the van, from 7am Monday to Saturday.”
Ken is a long, black coffee lover himself, so he knows the blend he has picked, is a good one.
coffee van 2 with barista Niki Edwards
“I have mates in Sydney who own a coffee roastery called Three Pence Roasters and I went to them for advice when setting up the van,” he said.
“They ended up helping me so much, I decided to sell their coffee blend Dark Carnival through the van.”
With two new baristas, Phoenix Holloway and Niki Edwards, feedback so far has been positive, but Ken puts that down to the first 500 coffees being free.
“That will run out pretty soon,” he said.
“What really surprised me was, with our Byron Bay cookies, the numbers of those being sold went up.
“I guess people expect to pay for their coffee and when it is free, they decide to buy something to go with it.”
There are plans in the pipeline to expand their food offerings with a food van on Thursday and Friday nights as well.
“It could be a great little mix, where you grab dinner and a bottle of wine from the store on the way home,” said Ken.
Ken doesn’t stop there as he’d like to test out a loyalty coffee card where a drinker could earn points to redeem a bottle of wine and he’d also like to include the community fund-raising idea.
“When we first opened the store, we did a fundraiser barbeque for the Byron Wildlife hospital,” he said.
“They came and cooked a barbeque on the Saturday afternoon, and we provided the sausages and bread while they got the proceeds.
“Our hope again is to find more community groups to fundraise for their cause and to get a bit more connected to community.”
For more local Lismore news, click here.
Advertising NSW Northern Rivers
The annual Bizzy and Jomanda Brahman sale will be held Saturday 7th September 2024, 11am at the Grafton Saleyards.
The annual Bizzy and Jomanda Brahman sale will be held Saturday 7th September 2024, 11am at the Grafton Saleyards.
Advertorial
Bizzy and Jomanda Brahman Studs have a long-standing history in the industry of breeding quality stud and commercially focused Brahman bulls and Females in Northern NSW.
In recent years the sale has had great support from interstate clients whilst remaining committed to local and repeat buyers in Northern NSW, South down to Kempsey and the tablelands.
Bizzy Brahmans will be offering an excellent line of 17 Brahman Bulls, 4 polled and 13 horned. Presenting in good healthy condition and with the temperament, natural thickness, topline and carcass qualities Bizzy bulls are known for. Stud proprietor Innes Fahey says, He is happy with his breeding program he has focused on over the last 3 years. ‘We have worked hard to promote our brand and showcase what we believe are good, practical cattle and we believe they will be an asset to any breeder’s operation whether it’s for a Stud operation or commercially breeding F1 replacement heifers or steers for the weaner markets’.
The annual Bizzy and Jomanda Brahman sale
5 Registered red Bizzy Brahman heifers have also been selected this year to be offered at the sale.
Bizzy Brahmans invites any current clients and any new clients to discuss their breeding and marketing options with Innes and we welcome you anytime to our property ‘Rocky Creek’ to visit and inspect our heard.
Jomanda Brahmans has a high-quality line of commercially focused horned and polled bulls on offer this year. These bulls possess great eye appeal and carcass qualities and are all back by a strong set of EBVs to help customers select the right bull for their herd. In recent times, we’ve taken the steps to start collecting data on birthweights and gestation length to help give our customers more information about calving ease and fertility traits.
To accompany our bulls, we have a classic line of Jomanda females. Backed by our ever-consistent cow families that produce year after year for us. This year will be offering PTIC females as well un-joined heifers.
This year the Bizzy and Jomanda Open day at their respective studs will be held on Sunday 25th August 2024. A great opportunity to inspect the sale bulls and females in a relaxed environment.
The sale will be conducted by agents Donovan Livestock and Property, Grafton and George and Fuhrmann, Casino. StockLive Elite will also be taking bids online for the day.
For more rural news, click here.
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