MEDIA RELEASE 28-10-02

MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREENS SENATOR BOB BROWN VISITS GULLY SITE

Senator Bob Brown of the Australian Greens will visit the Gully to give support to the community protest to save the last inner city bushland areas in Brisbane.

On his busy schedule Senator Brown will make time to visit the site of the protest, which has used tree sits and other non-violent direct action techniques to stop the destruction of valuable community bush land space.

The community, so far has slowed the clearing of trees on the site in its attempts to stop an unwanted and unsustainable development that will destroy a landmark community asset if allowed to proceed.

The community is firmly putting blame on council who failed to secure the site for public use despite widespread community opposition to the Clembury Pty Ltd development.

‘People simply want the land to be purchased for public use’ said Brendon Radford member of the Gully Action Group ‘The council have claimed that they have done all they can but this simply isn’t true. Council had ample opportunity to purchase the land but have failed to recognize the cultural importance of the area. The developer must also take some of the blame for this situation because their greed has pushed the price of the land to unreasonable amounts.’

Development began last Thursday and since then the community has shown great resolve to stop the development using direct action techniques to lock on and sit in trees.

‘Its appalling that the planning system is so corrupt that it cannot allow for communities to define their own future and provides no mechanisms for opposing unsustainable and unwanted development.’ 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.

10am Sunday 27th OCTOBER 18 BRYDON ST HIGHGATE HILL

For details/ interview call Brendon Radford on 0415 927 378

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