Gold Coast businesses fed up with being robbed of their day’s takings are fighting back.
They’re banning hoodies in an effort to deter would-be bandits.
Gold Coast businesses fed up with being robbed of their day’s takings are fighting back.
They’re banning hoodies in an effort to deter would-be bandits.
MEDIA RELEASE
Sunday 19th June, 2011
A rare and endangered 100 year old tree is under threat from the owners of the Castle Glen liquor outlet.
Castle Glen are building a mock castle on the Tamborine Mountain tourist attraction known as Gallery Walk which receives 1.3 million tourist a year. The company has already cleared the block of one of the last remnants of the original rain forest on Gallery Walk.
Castle Glen are now threatening to fell a 30 metre tall Black Booyong tree that has graced the Mountain for over 100 years. It’s one of only seven such trees left on the Tamborine Mountain Plateau. Local naturalist Will Buck says:
“It is a beautiful specimen, a real feature of Gallery Walk and it is irreplaceable. The Booyong provides a home for a host of other bird and insect life and it flowers prolifically every 5-8 years.”
Local councillor Derek Swanborough contacted the General Manager of Castle Glen who claimed they had Council permission for the destruction of the mature, endangered Black Booyong. The General Manager referred the matter to the Castle Glen Board. When Cr Swanborough then contacted the owner, he said his pleas to save the tree fell on deaf ears.
The tree reportedly straddles the boundary of the council footpath and Castle Glen’s property so the legal position is unclear. No notice was given to the local traders and residents of the proposed destruction of the tree.
The Scenic Rim Regional Council are sending a compliance officer to inspect the situation on Monday morning. Locals fear the tree may be cut down before the compliance officer arrives and want a stop work order placed on the Black Booyong tree immediately.
The tree felling contractor has already caused significant damage to the tree’s canopy before he stopped work on the tree late on Friday.
Local groups have mounted a tree watch to protect the tree by “whatever means become necessary”.
Police have been notified as have all of Tamborine Mountain’s environmental and natural history groups. Facebook sites on Tamborine Mountain are spreading the news of the tree’s immanent destruction.
More on: http://www.tamborinedailystar.com/Home/Local/tabid/194/ArticleID/807/Unique-Gallery-Walk-Tree-Under-Threat.aspx
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Cr Derek Swanborough – 0447 206 006