Wallum Brunswick Heads latest: Civil contractor J&M Bashforth & Sons walks off job site

The civil contractor for a massive Byron Shire development has pulled the pin after relentless protest action from “extreme political activists” and alleged “ongoing threats and intimidation”.

The civil contractor for a massive Byron Shire development has pulled the pin after relentless protest action from “extreme political activists” and alleged “ongoing threats and intimidation”.

J&M Bashforth & Sons withdrew from their contract on Friday, as protest action from the Save Wallum group hit fever pitch at the Clarence Property-owned development site at Brunswick Heads.

Chaos at the Wallum development site at Brunswick Heads. Pictures: Save Wallum Group.

In chaotic scenes earlier this month, NSW riot police stormed the site in large numbers to arrest protesters who had chained themselves to machinery.

In February, Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon gave the green light for Clarence Property to clear about 40 per cent of the site for residential development.

He was backed by three other councillors in the vote.

Wallum protests reach fever pitch. Picture: Save Wallum group

Of the 30 hectare site, 18 hectares will be exclusively dedicated to conservation, while the remaining 12 hectares is the residential development footprint. But the protesters claim the project will spell disaster for a number of threatened species.

Project approval was given by the Northern Regional Planning Panel in May last year.

In a statement, Clarence Property CEO Simon Kennedy said that it was “unfortunate” and “disappointing” that the well-regarded civil contractor had backed out of the project.

“Clarence Property confirms civil contractor J&M Bashforth & Sons has withdrawn from its civil works contract on the Wallum site in Brunswick Heads,” he said.

Boiling point at Wallum development site, Brunswick Heads. Picture: Save Wallum group/Facebook

“Clarence Property respects and appreciates the difficult decision the team at Bashforth’s have

made in withdrawing from the Wallum project.

“Where possible Clarence Property prefers to use local contractors to support local jobs and local communities, however the safety of staff and contractors remains paramount.

“Unfortunately, the ongoing threats and intimidation being used by the extreme political activists against local contractors mean some of those jobs and opportunities will now go to contractors from outside the area, discussions with whom have already commenced.”

Mr Kennedy said it was “disappointing that an experienced local civil contractor like Bashforth’s will not be part of what will be an incredible, ecologically sensitive development and we wish them every success for the future.”

Arrests galore after ecowarriors clash with cops at development site

April 17: NSW Police has put the kybosh on a group of unruly protesters who chained themselves to machinery at a Byron Shire development site by making multiple arrests and issuing criminal infringements.

On Wednesday, all hell broke loose at the Wallum development site at Brunswick Heads as works started onsite.

The chaotic scenes resembled something from American author Edward Abbey’s anarchist magnum opus, The Monkey Wrench Gang, which chronicles a group of ecowarriors who set out to destroy construction machinery belonging to a “system” spoiling nature.

That – or FernGully meets Training Day.

Save Wallum group environmental protesters issued a “red alert” call on social media to about 6000 members, demanding support as machinery operators showed up.

In an ironic twist, developers have since released a statement saying works commenced on Wednesday were the start of restoring what will become the project’s 18-hectare conservation area, including the creation of new frog breeding habitats and the installation of fauna hollows.

Protesters in March 2024 at the Wallum development at Brunswick Heads. Picture: Sandra Lundberg

Hundreds of protesters swarmed, along with police, security and construction workers.

NSW Police stated on Wednesday a woman was been arrested after chaining herself to a fence, with several more arrests made.

In a statement from NSW Police, officers from Tweed-Byron Police District were called to the site about 8.30am on Wednesday after reports of the unauthorised protest.

“Police arrested 18 people for offences including, resisting or hindering police, trespassing and wilfully obstructing traffic,” a spokesperson said.

“Five people were given criminal infringement notices and six were served with court attendance notices. Seven people of the 18 arrested were taken to Byron Bay Police Station.

“All were granted conditional bail to appear at Byron Bay Local Court on May 13.”

The group has long been fighting against the already-approved development, with the site home to threatened species.

Several police officers, including marked riot squad officers, showed up to the site on Wednesday. Picture: Save Wallum group/Facebook

In February, Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon gave the green light for Clarence Property to clear about 40 per cent of the site for residential development.

He was backed by three other councillors in the vote.

Of the 30 hectare site, 18 hectares will be exclusively dedicated to conservation, while the remaining 12 hectares is the residential development footprint.

Project approval was given by the Northern Regional Planning Panel in May last year.

This latest action comes after an exclusive NewsLocal report last week, where neighbouring residents of the adjacent Bayside Brunswick estate slammed “30 free camping strangers” from the Save Wallum Group. It was claimed they had taken over their “once peaceful” neighbourhood.

The “nonviolent” protest group set up camp at the end of Torakina Rd, the scene of the fracas on Wednesday morning.

Videos and photos uploaded to the Save Wallum Facebook page on Wednesday morning show a large police presence and scores of protesters crowding construction workers and third-party security.

Police attempt to stop protesters from approaching machinery in one video.

In another, a woman who had chained herself to machinery is picked up by her legs and arms by two police officers, and taken from the scene.

One protester issued a “red alert”, urging as many people as possible show up and ”lock down” machinery.

Jenna Fur wrote: “URGENT serious RED ALERT. Machinery in Wallum NOW! Leave work! Come now!”

Angie Darling added: “Please know that as you are arrested your condition of bail will be that you cannot return to the site. Don’t use up all of your reserves in one day. Lock on to critical machinery but don't waste bodies on unnecessary arrest as you WILL BE NEEDED for a lot longer than today.”

The Wallum development site at Brunswick Heads. Picture: Save Wallum

“Lock onto those diggers on the back of trucks before they are unloaded. Get chains onto everything and place yourself as awkwardly as possible in a place that is hard to access. Just one person or two ppl (sic) are needed per machine. Don’t waste your arrest today if it’s not TO STOP A MACHINE … LOCK ON TO THEM!!”

Samuel Miles wrote: “We will save this beautiful land blood sweat or tears love to everyone please come join the fight as soon as you can bugul beach gurruma (sic) much love and respect.”

Protesters slammed what they called an “unnecessary” number of police, including riot squad officers.

One person spoke of “dozens of cop cars” while another added there was “30 plus police here”.

Clarence Property CEO Simon Kennedy.

Clarence Property CEO Simon Kennedy said it was a “shame” protests resulted in “serious police numbers needing to be called in”.

“What we’ve always said is that any illegal or criminal activity – which has been an issue at the site – is a matter for police,” he said.

“Ultimately, we need the police to resolve it if our contractors are put in a difficult position.”

Mr Kennedy described blockades used by protesters as “militant”.

“It feels like some of them (protesters) have a bigger, more politically motivated agenda,” he added.

Clarence Property issued a statement on Thursday saying it had commenced regeneration works in what will become 18 hectares of conservation land on the site.

Works being undertaken were approved under the early ecological works certificate issued by council in February.

Clarence Property’s Simon Kennedy said the works would initiate the repair of ecologically degraded areas within the project’s conservation zones, as well as begin the creation of new frog breeding habitats in the approved locations, and the installation of fauna hollows.

“The masterplan and engineering for this project has been amended over several revisions, including decreasing the development footprint by six hectares, to consistently reduce environmental impacts and improve the plan we inherited when Clarence Property purchased the site in 2021,” he said.

“Part of Clarence Property’s ecological enhancements included the decision to create 50 hollows using a best-practice methods to offset the 20 that will be removed during construction.”

Mr Kennedy said the management plans created for Wallum by Australian Wetland Consulting

included rehabilitating areas that have been degraded by motorbikes and four-wheel driving over many decades.

“Guided by our ecologists, we’ve taken a holistic approach to consider management of vegetation extent and condition, weed invasion, feral and domestic animals, corridors and linkages, and the water cycle,” he said.

“We will clean-up and rehabilitate 18-hectares of the highest quality ecological habitat that has been damaged by illegal camping, dumping, riding and driving, turning these areas into conservation corridors to be protected in perpetuity.

“Works will include replanting more than 300 trees as offsets from the development footprint, while protecting the existing 10,000-plus trees.

“Enhancing this area and protecting it in perpetuity will give it the best chance of thriving for future generations.”

Clarence Property will also install site access and causeways, while conducting weed control and general maintenance which is much needed around the existing homes at the Bayside Brunswick estate.

Mr Kennedy said the rehabilitation and habitat creation works would not compromise its ability to make potential changes to existing plans, should they be viable.

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Originally published as Wallum Brunswick Heads latest: Civil contractor J&M Bashforth & Sons walks off job site