Save Wallum protesters Angela Banovic and Maria Lloyd fail bid to re-enter ‘sacred fire pit’ near Bayside Brunswick site
Protesters have failed a bid to regain access to a “sacred” fire pit bordering a housing site in the Byron Shire – after they allegedly chained themselves to equipment to prevent construction.
Police & Courts
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Two protesters have failed a bid to regain access to a “sacred” fire pit bordering a housing site in the Byron Shire – after they allegedly chained themselves to equipment to prevent construction.
It comes after several protesters from the Save Wallum group found themselves in a local criminal court recently over offences relating to a particularly heated protest on Clarence Property’s Bayside Brunswick development site at Brunswick Heads.
In April, NSW riot police stormed the site to arrest protesters, including Angela Banovic, who had allegedly chained herself to construction machinery.
Clarence Property were ordered in early July by the Federal Court of Australia to cease work onsite.
The Save Wallum group announced it had been granted the injunction, with the case going to Sydney court for a hearing in February next year.
The two protesters have now lodged a bail condition variation application at Byron Local Court to remove the rule they must not go within 500m of the development site.
Banovic, 33, from Suffolk Park and Maria Elena Lloyd, also 33, from Ocean Shores, faced court this week.
Banovic pleaded not guilty to entering enclosed non-agricultural land and entering into inclosed lands without a lawful excuse.
Lloyd pleaded not guilty to remaining on enclosed land without a lawful excuse and she pleaded guilty to hindering police. However, the facts are in dispute.
Banovic’s alleged offences took place in April and May at the development site and Lloyd’s alleged offences occurred in June at the same location.
At court on Monday, Save Wallum protesters’ go-to lawyer Cassandra Bennett said the Save Wallum movement was focused on fundraising ahead of the federal court case.
“A very large fence erected at the location shows where the boundary is,” she said.
Ms Bennett said the protesters now gather on council-owned land.
Banovic and Lloyd have friends who live close to the development site and the pair wish to have the 500m condition lifted so they can visit those residences, she said.
Police prosecutor Brett Gradisnik said these friends were also involved in the Save Wallum campaign and argued the women could make arrangements to meet in an alternative location.
“Everyone has a right to protest if they are following the law,” he said.
Magistrate Karen Stafford said the application did not identify why the women wanted to attend the “sacred fire pit”.
“Or why they can’t do an art class somewhere else, 500m away,” she said.
“All I gather is they actively want to be involved in the protest.”
Ms Stafford said her decision was not based on her view of the development and if the application was granted, she would be concerned the alleged offences would continue.
It is reasonable for the women to be bound by the proximity condition, she said.
The applications were then refused.
Banovic’s case was adjourned for a hearing on March 25 and Lloyd’s case was moved to February 4 for hearing.
Banovic took to Facebook after court proceedings to express her grievances, stating she was passionate about protecting the sacred land.
“The whole purpose of the Save Wallum campaign is to literally save Wallum … It’s a shame I’m not able to visit my beautiful friend’s homes who live within that zone,” she wrote.
“I won’t be able to attend any of the incredible community events being held there. I truly miss this beautiful patch of land. I miss my friends. I miss visiting the sacred fire.”
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