The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 38.36 – February 14, 2024

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YOU DON’T WIN ENVIRONMENTAL BATTLES BY FOLLOWING LEGAL ADVICE The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 38 #36 • February 14, 2024 • www.echo.net.au

Prepared to save Wallum

‘Mandatory’ pesticide spraying deferred at Bruns pod village

Paul Bibby

Hans Lovejoy

ozens of locals are preparing to take non-violent direct action (NVDA) to save the Wallum heathland in Brunswick Heads from development, after Byron Council signed off on subdivision works to begin at the fragile site last week. As the dust settles following a dramatic Byron Council meeting, members the Save Wallum community say they are ready to stand in front of the bulldozers in order to protect the site and the threatened native species that live there. ‘I have huge hope, because the community is getting very organised,’ one of the leaders of the Save Wallum campaign, James Barrie said.

Flood-affected residents have had a last-minute reprieve by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, who had planned to spray controversial pesticides at the Bruns pod village. The pod village, located near Simpsons Creek on Tweed Street, is one of three in Byron Shire. The Echo was contacted by concerned residents, claiming that many residents were probably unaware, and that the notice given was insufficient.

D

Clear game plan ‘We have a really clear game plan. Part of that is calling on the community to get involved in any way they can, including through direct action, because that is what is going to get this thing called off.’ There are a series of NVDA trainings taking place that will help the community to act safely if they choose to take direct action. This may well be needed, as the Clarence Property Group now has planning permission and final sign off to clear about 60 per cent of the 18-hectare Wallum site in order to create 124 residential lots and associated roads and infrastructure. Approval for the development was provided by the Northern Region Planning Panel in May last year. This followed concept plan approval from the state government back in 2013 – a plan

Heilpern examines frogs, fertility, toads and drugs ▶ p8

Neurotoxins

As soon as the slim councillor majority voted to give the Wallum developer their construction certificate on Thursday, Alyssa joined other activists to protect Wallum from the bulldozers. Photo Eve Jeffery that many refer to as a ‘zombie DA’ because it sat in the shadows while the environmental protection landscape evolved around it. It was only after last year’s approval that people such as Mr Barrie became aware of the development and its environmental and cultural consequences.

Major movement From small beginnings, the campaign to save Wallum has grown into a major movement, as evidenced by the 250-plus locals who gathered at the Byron Council chambers last Thursday to implore Council to join them in the fight. While Council could not stop the development because it was not the consent authority, it did have

Kambo and ayahuasca inquest continues ▶ p13

some capacity to temporarily halt the bulldozers by denying Clarence Property a subdivision works certificate. However, with Clarence Property already commencing legal action against Council for deemed refusal of the application, and legal advice indicating that Council had few grounds to further delay the process, there was a push within Council to sign off on the subdivision certificate as soon as possible. While this was ultimately the outcome of last week’s meeting, it was far from a foregone conclusion. As scores of placard-carrying Save Wallum supporters watched on, frequently offering their opinions from the gallery, two distinct camps battled it out for more than

On one side sat councillors Sarah Ndiaye (Greens), Duncan Dey (Greens), Peter Westheimer (Independent) and Cate Coorey (Independent). They argued that the environmental reports provided by Clarence Property to support their subdivision works certificate, and the development as a whole, were significantly flawed and should be challenged, even if Council was ultimately unsuccessful in Court. Councillors Westheimer and Ndiaye moved that these reports should be investigated prior to Council approving the works certificate. ▶ Continued on page 2

Get the scoop on some great local biz ▶ p16

For the love of Byron ▶ p17

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four hours with the final result only decided by the mayor’s casting vote.

Evenly split councillors

Their main concern was that the neurotoxins proposed for use are banned in Europe, and will impact not just the pods, but could reach the nearby waterway. A Reconstruction Authority spokesperson told The Echo they have postponed the pesticide spraying to consult with residents and look at other options. A time frame for when that would occur wasn’t provided. One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, says she is recovering from cancer, and is still being treated. She said, ‘I want to live a toxic-free life. I have a water filter, and eat organic food’. She told The Echo she brought in worms from her flood-damaged property to start a garden and has cultivated flowers which attract bees. ‘I eat herbs and veggies from my garden at the pods’. ‘These toxins kill worms and bees,’ she says, ‘There is no way they can’t guarantee it won’t enter waterways’. ▶ Continued on page 5

Mandy makes a motherhood statement ▶ p23


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