Black Swan Lake: Protesters chain themselves to fence to stop filling of lake
A number of people have been arrested after protesters stormed the gates and ran into the construction site at Black Swan Lake this morning. SEE THE GALLERY
Council
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UPDATE: Three people have been arrested after the protest this morning at Black Swan Lake.
A man and two women were removed from the worksite at the back of the Bundall equine centre after they ran through the opened gates.
Police said they would be charged with trespassing and breaching the peace.
None of those arrested were associated with local environment groups.
The young man was know as a professional agitator for animal rights and described by friends as a “grassroots activist”.
“This lake belongs to everybody, it belongs to our children, not a corporation,” he said, before being removed by police.
Several trucks with fill entered the gates after 10am. Drivers had been kept waiting for more than two hours.
The protest began before 7am. By 10.15 there were more police on site than lake supporters, who left after the arrests.
It comes after police had successfully negotiated with about 50 residents who had staged the protest, with residents agreeing to unlock themselves and let the trucks in.
The front gate to the lake was cleared just after 9am, with residents vowing to continue their protest at council during this Friday’s full council meeting.
Police first ensured the site was safe before allowing the trucks to enter.
EARLIER:
Police have begun negotiating with the protest group at Black Swan Lake as trucks arrive at the site.
Three police officers are talking to protest leaders after more than 50 people stood at the gates to stop any trucks from entering the Bundall site.
At least a dozen residents have chained themselves to the front gate of the work site.
It comes as about 15 people have chained themselves to the front fence at the Black Swan Lake construction site.
Police have told the protesters it’s an unlawful assembly.
Trucks are currently lined up about 50 metres from the gate with their engines still running.
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The lake supporters started arriving and began chaining themselves to the front gates of the work area just before 7am.
Wildlife Queensland Gold Coast president Sally Spain said: “It’s a coalition of concerned people. They were here before 6.40am.”
Asked if she was concerned about what might happen, Ms Spain replied: “I’m concerned for what is happening here, public property is being taken and destroyed in the process and an alternative exists whereby an overflow car park can be built on property next door.”
Police are yet to arrive. Trucks which are dumping fill are due before 8am.
“The community has had enough,” Ms Spain said.
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