Every member of council staff who signed off on the desecration of this scar tree should be demoted a pay grade.
The Daily Examiner, 22 December 2018:
The removal of an
Aboriginal scar tree in Grafton has resulted in a $300,000 fine for Clarence
Valley Council.
The judgment was passed
down on yesterday in the Land and Environment Court of NSW, prosecuting the
council for the destruction of the registered culturally modified tree that
stood on the corner of Breimba and Dovedale Streets, Grafton.
The offences occurred in
two increments, in 2013 with a severe lopping that “exacerbated the decline in
the health of the tree” and the complete removal of the remaining trunk in
2016.
The council potentially
faced fines up to $1million for its actions.
The news provoked a
backlash against the council on social media.
Ratepayers were
disgusted at the thought their money would be used to pay the fine and court
costs.
Many wanted the
individuals who made the decisions that led to the tree’s removal to take on
some of the costs of paying the legal bill.
The Daily Examiner will
present more on the scar tree findings and reactions from Clarence Valley
Council and the Aboriginal Lands Council in a special report next week.
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