Stradbroke Island land set to be revegetated after controversial clearing

A 2000sq m prime piece of pristine bushland on North Stradbroke Island has been bulldozed to make way for a “dream home”.

An investigation into how a Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation staffer was allowed to clear a slice of pristine bushland at North Stradbroke Island’s Point Lookout to build a “dream home” must be launched, a federal MP says.

About 2000sq­ m of bushland behind Point Lookout – which featured trees thought to be 200 years old – was allegedly razed by a QYAC employee earlier this year.

The picturesque bushland, owned by Seqwater and behind the million-dollar mansions of Point Lookout, was cleared without warning – with only a painted Aboriginal flag left standing above the felled trees.

The unexplained land clearing has fuelled the growing frustration of residents, who are forced to comply with Redland City Council town planning laws.

Several island sources say the land was cleared by a QYAC employee, who is understood to have planned to build a home on the site.

Cleared land at Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island. Picture: Hayden Johnson

However, Seqwater said it “was aware of the vegetation clearing” on its land and was now working to revegetate the site, however, it is unlikely anybody will be prosecuted over the clearing.

“Seqwater’s key focus is on the revegetation of this land and is co-ordinating with both state and local government agencies, as well as the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation to achieve this,” he said.

“While we understand QYAC is not responsible for the land clearing, it is taking the lead to work with Seqwater to ensure the cleared land is appropriately rehabilitated.”

Federal Member for Bowman Andrew Laming called for an investigation into why the bushland was cleared and said complaints to state government ministers “have gone unacknowledged”.

Mr Laming said a 30-tonne excavator was brought in “to clear a slice of paradise for a QYAC (employee) who wanted his Point Lookout dream home to have a water view”. “This is not what 60,000 years of Indigenous custodianship should look like,” he said. “Just weeks after the incident, the exact location was listed for Indigenous freehold. It is like the (employee) had access to the maps before everyone else.”

In August, QYAC chief executive Cameron Costello said rogue clearing was “not legal”.

“We don’t encourage and consent to any traditional owner just going out and clearing land,” he said.

Mr Costello on Monday said the Point Lookout site was recognised as Native Title land and said it could be cleared.

He did not comment on questions about who cleared it.

Native Title, which was granted in 2011, gives QYAC and the Quandamooka people the right to occupy and use resources on state land.