Spit fight: Volunteers furious after bushland removed under cover of Covid lockdown

The Gold Coast City Council is facing a fresh environmental row after more than 40 trees planted two decades ago by volunteers were ripped up at The Spit. This is why.

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THE council is facing a fresh environmental row after more than 40 trees planted two decades ago by volunteers were ripped up at The Spit as part of a new Sand Backpass Pipeline.

Friends of Federation Walk president Lyn Wright and architect Arnold Wolthers who prepared the land management plan for the area will meet area councillor Darren Taylor on Monday in a bid to resolve the dispute.

A 7.8km, $8 million of pipeline will link with the sand bypass jetty at The Spit near the Seaway, and replenish the city’s northern beaches including Surfers Paradise.

Ms Wright who has worked closely with council in the past is furious at a lack of consultation and why options are not being considered to prevent the pipeline veering into bushland instead of continuing along Sea World Drive.

“Why would council send a finality email on August 5 on the Thursday knowing full well the tree and vegetation clearing was to be done under the cover of Covid lockdown early Friday, the next day,” she said. “What does this mean for volunteers planting on the Gold Coast. At no time as part of this project’s four-year planning did council notify Friends of Federation Walk of the removal of trees from Federation Walk.”

Ms Wright said she had been advised by council officers during onsite meetings it would cost $60,000 to move the pipeline.

Cr Taylor told the Bulletin the project was hugely important for the environment, officers had minimised destruction to bushland and appreciated the work of volunteers.

“It will environmentally protect the city’s beaches. I’ve asked for the meeting. Our message is how can we help them moving forward,” he said.

A senior council officer asked volunteers to “appreciate the environmental and practical necessity for this work to proceed in order to provide essential sand replenishment to this city’s northern beaches”.

“As I hope we made clear at the meeting, the care and concern the Friends have for the Spit is very much appreciated. The many years of service to preserve flora and fauna in this area is a fine example of community volunteering,” the officer wrote.

The pipeline goes through a corridor traversing Phillip Park and Hollindale Park which led to city parks staffers working on the alignment, the officer said.

“Through this process we have been able to significantly reduce the number of trees to be removed — our reinstatement methodology is to replace three-for-one of the species impacted.

“We are very mindful the particular trees of concern adjacent to the Sea World roundabout were planted 20 years ago and have significance.

“In line with the concerns expressed to us, various options to avoid removal were examined.

But the reality is that pumping station with all of its attendant infrastructure stretching out from this vicinity cannot be moved.”

Stage two of the project which involves connection of the high-density polyethylene pipeline to the jetty started in May and is scheduled to be completed by November. Four pump stations are needed along the route.

Ms Wright told the Bulletin: “We will request the reinstatement of mature trees as a replacement and that the Sand Backpass pipeline be rerouted away from Federation Walk.”

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