Clamping down on illegal clearing of vegetation

Monday, 21 December 2009 06:10

The last Council meeting was held on 8 December with a whopping 67 agenda items. A key decision of that meeting makes it easier for Council officers to prosecute people who have breached local laws for vegetation and managment and have illegally cleared vegetation. Disappointingly, Council has only ever issued warning letters and has never taken a vegetation clearing matter to Court. From now on, the CEO will be able instruct Council's solicitors to initiate legal proceedings against a person who has wilfully or unlawfully damaged vegetation. Fines ranging from $50,000 to $85,000 can be imposed. This decision complements another recent Council decision to erect "shame" signs in front of any beachfront areas where coastal vegetation is deliberately damaged by people wishing to improve their waterfront views.