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 MEDIA RELEASE
25-10-02 SAVE THE GULLY PROTEST ENTERS ITS SIXTH DAY Local community members continue to use ‘tree-sits’ and ‘lock-ons’ to stop the destruction of trees in a 1.9-hectare bush land site in Highgate Hill. Today more than ten people have secured themselves in trees and several people are locked on to devices at the base of a tripod. Yesterday the safety of the site was clearly called into question when several police officers were filmed being hit by a falling tree. ‘The police are claiming that they are maintaining a safe site’ said Brendon Radford member of the Gully Action Group ‘This is clearly not the case and it is only a matter of time before someone is severely injured. Several of the people in trees are at great risk due to the proximity to tree felling. The site should not be operating under these appalling safety conditions.’ The construction
company has clearly shown that it is negligent to safety concerns in
its attempts to clear the site quickly. With concerns over the potential
for asbestos there is little faith that due care will be taken in the
removal of fill from the site. Testing must be done now before further
work proceeds. The ‘Gully’, as it is known, is frequented by up to 70 species of birds and provides vital habitat for other animals and plants. ‘This is just another example of how the local community is being sacrificed at the hands of developers’ says Brendon Radford member of the Gully Action Group, ’places such as the ‘Gully’ are symbolic of the area and provide important community spaces for people to get in touch with nature. Its important to have bush land in the inner city as a way of encouraging people to appreciate these kind of habitats whilst providing essential ecosystem services’. The community is calling on the council to stop the development as it is not in line with community values in the area and will significantly reduce its cultural and environmental sustainability. The community will do whatever it takes to stop the development. 6AM Friday 18th OCTOBER 18 BRYDON ST HIGHGATE HILL For details/ interview
call Brendon Radford on 0415 927 378 |
