Government Department Questioned ovre Alleged North Coast Illegal Land Clearing

Thursday, 10 June 2004 10:00

An alleged illegal land clearing incident on the NSW north coast has sparked calls for an inquiry into the incident and the performance of the region's Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR).
The call by peak NSW environment group - Total Environment Centre - follows apparent endorsement, by the Grafton based DIPNR, of the bulldozing of coastal forest at Corindi, despite evidence that it should have been stopped.
"The land in question was mapped as mature forest, it was in the coastal zone where few land clearing exemptions exist. It contained Aboriginal scar trees and had recorded threatened species. Yet we understand DIPNR deemed it suitable to allow the clearing to continue by stating it was all regrowth," said TEC Director Jeff Angel.
Between 10 and 30 ha of coastal forest were bulldozed over several weeks before the clearing was stopped. And then it took the local Coffs Harbour Council to bring it to a halt under a Tree Preservation Order. Clearly something has gone badly wrong with the regional department that is meant to be protecting native vegetation," said Mr Angel.
"We want to know how and why this has been allowed to happen. Why was it left to the local council to take the appropriate action. Is this the only incident where this has occurred, or are there more on the North Coast?"
"We need an urgent inquiry into the matter and we have initially sought a response from DIPNR's Director General. This case has state-wide significance and we hope the end result will be a stronger and more capable regulator that ensures native vegetation is protected," said Mr Angel.
For more information contact Jeff Angel or Fran Kelly on 9299 5599/5680
 

For further information

Contact
:
Fran Kelly - Coastal Campaigner
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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:
http://www.tec.org.au/