Evidence of tree clearing allegedly destroyed at former Riverlands Golf Course in Milperra

A developer has been captured allegedly destroying evidence in an ongoing illegal tree clearing investigation on Milperra’s controversial former Riverlands Golf Course.

The alleged destruction of evidence in an illegal clearing investigation on the former Riverlands Golf Course will be investigated.

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A DEVELOPER has been captured allegedly destroying evidence in an ongoing illegal tree clearing investigation on Milperra’s controversial former Riverlands Golf Course.

The Express has obtained images showing workers chipping felled trees along the eastern bank of the Georges River.

It flies in the face of a joint Canterbury Bankstown Council and NSW Office of Environment and Heritage investigation into alleged illegal clearing on the wetlands, launched earlier this month.

Residents say they woke on Thursday morning to the sound of heavy machinery moving onto the former golf course.

Images show trees being chipped as an excavator sits nearby.

A council spokeswoman confirmed officers had visited the site and determined “the trees may very well be an ecologically endangered species”.

“Photographic evidence and aerial imagery was provided to support our investigations,” she said.

Council and OEH officers will visit the site today to formally investigate.

An OEH spokeswoman said clearing an endangered ecological community without an approval carried a maximum penalty of $220,000, or two years imprisonment, or both.

The photos, taken on the opposite riverbank in the Wurrungwuri Reserve, show workers feeding branches into an industrial wood chipper while an excavator sits nearby.

The crew seemed relaxed as they worked, with a slab of beer and hookah handy. One man even tried fishing.

Sydney environmental group Total Environment Centre campaigner David Burgess slammed the action.

OEH and council were already investigating illegal clearing claims on the site. Pictured are some felled trees on the site.

He said the wetlands were “environmentally significant” and were a “vital link with adjoining areas of bushland”.

Developer Statewide Planning currently has an as-yet undecided proposal to level a quarter of the 82ha bush block in preparation for roads and development.

The Express contacted Statewide Planning for comment but they could not be reached.

The site has been the focus of numerous development applications since it was first sold 30 years ago.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment is preparing to rezone a section of the site for intense residential development, with the potential for duplexes, schools, religious buildings and even hospitals.