It was a busy 9 days for police in Northern Rivers police districts - real gun, toy gun, bungled bank robbery, stabbing death, two-state police pursuit, domestic violence, police shooting, vehicle crashes whist fleeing, tourist lost in bushland

 

NSW Police News

Critical incident declared following pursuit and crash - Coffs/Clarence PD

Thursday, 12 December 2024 12:30:09 PM

A critical incident investigation has been declared following a police pursuit and crash near Coffs Harbour today.

About 7.45am (Thursday 12 December 2024), police were patrolling the Pacific Highway at Tucabia – about 15km east of Grafton – when they attempted to stop a vehicle due to its alleged speed.

When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated; however, was soon terminated due to the manner of driving.

A second pursuit was initiated a short time later, before the car allegedly conducted a U-turn at Dirty Creek into the path of an oncoming truck, resulting in a collision.

The driver of the vehicle, a 19-year-old man, was treated at the scene by police and NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital in a critical condition.

The driver of the truck, a 50-year-old man, was not injured; however, was taken to Grafton Hospital for mandatory testing.

A crime scene has been established and the scene will be forensically examined by the Crash Investigation Unit.

A critical incident team from Mid North Coast Police District will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The investigation is also subject to an independent review.

As inquiries continue, anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The Pacific Highway at Dirty Creek is expected to remain closed northbound for some time.

Diversions are in place and delays are expected. For traffic updates visit: www.livetraffic.com

Missing hiker located safe - Tweed/Byron PD

Wednesday, 11 December 2024 03:05:35 PM

A missing hiker has been located safe on the state's far north coast.

The 54-year-old was believed to have been hiking at Wollumbin when he was last heard from about 9.30pm on Saturday 7 December 2024.

Police were told that the man spoke with a friend that night, indicating he was lost in the Wollumbin National Park.

When he was unable to be contacted on Sunday (8 December 2024), police attached to Tweed/Byron Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Officers, with assistance from NSW and Qld PolAir, NSW Police Rescue, NSW Ambulance, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, NSW SES, RFS and VRA conducted an extensive search.

Following inquiries, about 12:35pm today (Wednesday 11 December 2024, the man was located on Tyalgum Road, Tyalgum, after walking out of bushland.

He was taken to Murwillumbah Hospital for assessment and treatment for minor lacerations.

Police would like to thank the public and media for their assistance.

Critical incident declared after man shot - Grafton

Wednesday, 11 December 2024 10:56:02 AM

A critical incident investigation is underway after a man was shot by police in the states far north coast this morning.

About 6.30am (Wednesday 11 December 2024), officers attached to the Coffs/ Clarence Police District were called to a park on Ryan Street, Grafton, responding to reports of a concern for welfare.

On arrival, police located and attempted to engage with a man.

The man allegedly approached police and threatened them with a knife before he was shot by police.

The officers immediately rendered first aid until the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics.

The man was airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable but serious condition.

The police officers were not physically injured.

A critical incident team from Richmond Police District will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The investigation is also subject to an independent review.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Man charged over alleged stabbing and pursuit - Northern Rivers

Sunday, 08 December 2024 08:18:59 AM

A man will appear in court today via audio visual link after being charged following an alleged stabbing and pursuit in the Northern Rivers.

Emergency services were called to Ballanda Crescent, Iulka, about 4.30pm yesterday (Saturday 7 December 2024), following reports a man armed with a knife had allegedly forced his way into a home and attacked the resident.

Officers attached to Coffs-Clarence Police District attended along with NSW Ambulance paramedics, but the 58-year-old man died at the scene.

A crime scene was established and inquiries commenced into the circumstances surrounding his death.

A short time later, police attempted to stop a man driving a 4WD ute north along the Pacific Highway.

When the driver allegedly ignored police directions, a pursuit was initiated and continued north from Iluka to Woodburn, where road spikes were successfully deployed by officers attached to Coffs Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.

The ute continued to Uralba Street, Woodburn, where a 41-year-old man was arrested.

He was taken to Lismore Hospital for assessment, before being taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with murder, predatory driving and police pursuit-not stop-drive dangerously.

He was refused bail and will appear via audio visual link today in Parramatta Local Court.

Man charged over alleged DV and pursuits in Northern NSW

Saturday, 07 December 2024 07:18:56 AM

A man will appear in court today after being charged over an alleged domestic violence incident and a number of police pursuits in the state’s Northern Rivers.

On Sunday 17 November 2024, Richmond Police District commenced an investigation following an alleged domestic violence incident.

An arrest warrant was issued for a 22-year-old man.

Officers will allege in court the man engaged in pursuits on Monday 18 November 2024, Monday 2 December 2024 and Wednesday 4 December 2024 in a bid to avoid arrest.

About 5:45pm yesterday (Friday 6 December 2024), the 22-year-old was located traveling south on the M1 Motorway, Tweed Heads in a four wheel drive.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, a pursuit was initiated, before being terminated due to safety concerns.

A short time later, the four wheel drive exited the motorway at Minjungbal Drive, Banora Point and allegedly collided with a sedan which was stopped at traffic lights, pushing the stationary vehicle into a marked police car travelling in the opposite direction.

The 22-year-old man allegedly abandoned the four wheel drive and forcibly removed a male rider from a moped, before driving off.

The man allegedly drove at police vehicles on the M1, before falling off the bike and attempting to run from the scene.

He was arrested by officers and taken to Tweed Heads Police Station and charged with:

• Reckless grievous bodily harm (DV);

• Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous;

• Negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm);

• Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period;

• Drive conveyance taken wihtout consent of owner;

• Use class A vehicle with unauthorised number plate affixed;

• Police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously;

• Destroy or damage property;

• Not give particulars to other driver;

• Assault with intent to take/drive motor vehicle - Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous;

• Police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously;

• Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty

He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 7 December 2024).

Appeal to locate men wanted on warrants - Coffs-Clarence Police District

Friday, 06 December 2024 06:03:46 PM

Please note: Images of the wanted men are available on Coffs-Clarence Police District’s Eyewatch social media site.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate two men wanted on outstanding arrest warrants by Coffs-Clarence Police District.

Richard Carey, aged 37, and Dray Riley, aged 26, are wanted on outstanding warrants for domestic violence offences.

Officers attached to Coffs-Clarence Police District are conducting inquiries into their whereabouts.

Richard is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm-180cm tall, of solid build, with black hair and facial hair, and blue eyes.

Dray is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm-180cm tall, of thin build, with black hair and facial hair, and brown eyes.

Anyone who sees the men is urged not to approach them but to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Man charged after allegedly pointing gun at officer - Tabulam

Friday, 06 December 2024 10:40:33 AM

A man will face court today after he allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a police officer following a pursuit in the state’s far north east.

Officers attached to Richmond Police District attempted to stop a car due the alleged manner of driving in Tabulam about 3.30pm yesterday (Thursday 5 December 2024).

When the male driver allegedly failed to stop, police initiated a pursuit.

The driver stopped in Alice and when an officer attempted to arrest the man, he allegedly pointed a loaded pistol at the officer.

The officer discharged his Taser and the man was arrested.

During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly located and seized drugs, cash, ammunition and magazines, a balaclava, large machete and other drug paraphernalia.

The 24-year-old man was taken to Casino Police Station and charged with 17 offences:

> Police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly

> Possess unauthorised pistol

> Possess unauthorised firearm

> Possess loaded firearm public place

> Use, supply, acquire, possess stolen firearm or part

> Use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention

> Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority

> Assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm

> Intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm

> Hinder or resist police officer in execution of duty

> Supply prohibited drug

> Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period

> Drive while licence cancelled

> Custody of knife in public place

> Two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime

> Two counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle).

He was refused bail to appear at Casino Local Court today (Friday 6 December 2024).

Police will allege in court the pistol was stolen from a business in Armidale in September 2024.

Man charged after allegedly threatening staff with toy gun - Ballina

Friday, 06 December 2024 08:42:09 AM

A man has been charged after allegedly threatening bank employees on the states far north coast yesterday.

Police were told about 11am (Thursday 5 December 2024), a man entered a financial institution on River Street, Ballina, and allegedly threatened staff before showing an employee what appeared to be a firearm.

The man left and walked across the road to another financial institution where it is alleged he again threatened staff before showing the employees what was believed to be a firearm.

There were no reports of injuries.

Officers attached to Richmond Police District attended and arrested a 36-year-old man a short distance away on River Street, Ballina.

Police searched the man when they located a toy gun.

The man was taken to Ballina Police Station and charged with two counts stalk / intimidate intend fear physical harm.

He was refused bail and appeared before Ballina Local Court yesterday (Thursday 5 December 2024) and is now bail refused, to appear before the same court on Thursday 23 January 2025.

Man charged over alleged pursuit - Far North Coast

Wednesday, 04 December 2024 12:51:03 PM

A man will face court today charged over an alleged pursuit on the Far North Coast yesterday afternoon.

About 2.10pm yesterday (Tuesday 3 December 2024), officers attached to Tweed/Byron Police District were alerted by Queensland Police that an SUV – which was allegedly driving dangerously - had entered NSW near Tweed Heads and was being driven south along the M1.

NSW Police intercepted the SUV a short time later on the M1 at Cudgera Creek and attempted to stop the vehicle.

When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated, continuing south where road spikes were deployed.

The tyres deflated and the vehicle came to a stop on the M1 at Wardell where a 31-year-old Queensland man was arrested.

He was taken to Lismore Police Station where he was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously, learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester, class A motor vehicle exceed speed greater than 45km/h - estimated, drive vehicle under influence of drugs, refuse or fail to submit to breath test, and refuse or fail to submit to breath analysis.

He was refused bail to appear before Lismore Local Court today (Wednesday 4 December 2024).

HOUSING 2024 STATE OF PLAY: All renters deserve to live in a safe, healthy and energy efficient home. But do they?

 

In November 2024 the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) in partnership with Anika Legal and Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC) released a 23-page report entitled "Too Hot, Too Cold, Too Costly: Victorian Renters Pay the Price for Energy-Inefficient Homes".

Although this report is principally based on small group research conducted in one Australia state, the housing circumstances it describes are common to many towns and villages across the country, both in metropolitan and regional areas.

It should be noted that although the report appears to address private rental situations, it is not unknown for renters in government subsidised social housing to experience health & safety issues relating to a lack of energy efficiency built into dwellings they rent and/or experience delays in receiving needed repairs to the rental property.

The following excepts are drawn from the first 15 pages of the report.

How can we make it easier for people who rent to keep their home warm in winter and cool in summer? How can we make sure that the cost of energy isn’t excessive for people who rent?

All renters deserve to live in a safe, healthy and energy efficient home. Recent quantitative research has highlighted how rental homes with poor energy efficiency cause harm.

Up to 40% of households renting in Australia experience energy hardship, threatening their financial stability, health and housing security.

A national survey by Better Renting found that three in four renters in Australia are cutting back on heating and cooling to reduce energy costs. Only 22% of renters in Victoria have adequate ceiling insulation in their home, and 38% described their home as being too cold "almost all the time" in winter.

This report looks closely at the experiences of a group of renters in Victoria. Anika Legal, in partnership with Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC), provided financial counselling and legal advice to renters. This research investigated the experiences of these clients in terms of energy inefficiency in their rental properties, as well as the impacts on health and financial wellbeing resulting from inefficient energy use. The research also examined renters’ understanding of their rights, knowledge of complaints pathways, and experiences of dispute resolution.

Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) provided an independent analysis of findings, jointly reported here, in collaboration with Anika Legal. 

Overall, the results tell a targeted story of the challenges people face enforcing their rights as renters. There is a clear link between energy efficient homes and decreasing cost of energy use. However, the incentives for a landlord to make a home energy efficient do not go far enough to adequately protect renters. As one of our renters posited, a car needs a roadworthy. Why doesn’t a house?.....

Our renters reported living in energy inefficient and faulty homes

Most of our renters told us that the energy efficiency of their homes was ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.

They cited critical structural faults hindering the overall energy efficiency, examples included holes in the roof, gaps in floorboards, single pane windows, and draughty doors.

Additionally, several renters found major faults within their air conditioning units, electric water heaters, gas pipes and/or plumbing system. Some renters reported damage to key facilities in their home including a broken toilet valve, shower screen and fence. One renter said that their home had numerous faults and even lacked necessities including a front door lock, security gate/screen, kitchen exhaust fan and smoke alarm....

Our renters believed that the poor energy efficiency of their homes, combined with unrepaired faults, directly contributed to the increase in their energy and water bills. Our renters were concerned about their ability to clear existing debts and cover any future increase in energy and water prices.

Our renters and their households experienced significant negative impacts due to poor energy efficiency and faults in their homes

Our renters reported that poor energy efficiency resulted in a range of negative impacts on their household. Of these impacts, financial costs and health and safety concerns were the most significant.

Our renters often felt that they had to choose between turning on the heating during colder weather or enduring the cold to save money. When our renters did turn on their heating, they often felt stressed about how they would cover the additional cost to their energy bills. This resulted in these renters experiencing a lower sense of wellbeing and feeling disempowered and insecure in their current living situation. When our renters did not turn on their heating, they reported feeling concerned about the physical and mental health impacts associated with being cold all the time....

In addition, our renters were concerned about the health and safety risks posed by faults including leaky water and sewerage pipes. For instance, several of our renters were worried about the presence of mould in their homes and others identified the safety risk of puddles around water leakages. One renter even recounted an experience where their young son was hospitalised after slipping in a puddle of water that had leaked from a bathroom tap. These risks caused renters to feel anxious over the health and safety of their household.

Further, another renter reported experiencing negative impacts including stress, anxiety, relationship tension and less time to enjoy leisure activities. These impacts occurred after the renter had endured major gas leaks for several months....

Our renters are picking up the slack when landlords don’t act

Our renters often prefer to fix the problem themselves

When encountering a problem with their home, our renters tend to contact their friends, family, community workers, or often find a way to fix the problem themselves. Our renters take it upon themselves to purchase repair materials, appliances and other household products to regulate temperatures inside their homes, incurring out of pocket expenses for these improvements.

For example, several of our renters opted to purchase cheap standing heaters, fans, new blinds, and/or electric blankets. In other cases, one renter chose to seal gaps to prevent cold draughts, while another decided to patch holes in the roof....

Our renters are concerned about rent increases

Many of our renters are concerned that even basic improvements made to a property might lead to an increase in rent. One renter shared an experience where a neighbour’s rent was increased despite the landlord having already received a reimbursement for the property to be improved in line with minimum standards....

Our renters are aware of power imbalances, and this can influence their actions

Our renters recognised the power imbalance between themselves and their landlords, understanding that landlords control both rent prices and the security of their tenancy. This precarious dynamic often left renters feeling powerless and influenced the extent to which renters were willing to engage with their landlords. One renter expressed that they did not want to draw attention to themselves or remind their landlord of their presence. This sentiment was echoed by another renter who preferred to manage any repairs themselves to avoid potential retribution from their landlord.....

The full report can be read and downloaded at

https://anika-clerk.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Too_Hot_Too_Cold_Too_Costly_-_December_2024.pdf

Near chlamydia-free, genetically diverse & unique Koala community found in Fernbrook area of northern New South Wales

 

Yahoo! News, 9 December 2024:

Australian wildlife researchers have made an incredibly rare discovery in the bush that they've branded "such an exciting result" for koala conservation.

Thanks to assistance from a "poo-sniffing English springer spaniel" named Max, a new community of koalas at Fernbrook, inland of Coffs Harbour, has been found that appear to be both chlamydia free and genetically different — an "increasingly rare" feat in NSW......

"More surveys need to be done, but it appears these koalas at Fernbrook are very special. They can still breed and produce future generations with higher climate resilience."

.....

Why is it so significant to find both chlamydia-free and genetically diverse koalas in NSW?

Surveys by Max and the team from Canines for Wildlife showed that the broader koala population in Coffs Harbour and Bellingen has low levels of chlamydia and high genetic diversity overall.

Genetic diversity enhances a population's ability to resist diseases and in koalas, a lack of it makes them more susceptible to infections.

Urban development, agriculture, and deforestation have broken up koala habitats into smaller, scattered patches, limiting their ability to travel and find unrelated mates. Koalas often remain in isolated areas, leading to a reduced genetic pool and increased inbreeding over generations. The Fernbrook results "have conservationists celebrating" and calling for a "halt to logging in state forests" that contain vital koala food and habitat trees. While the group of 10 koalas in Fernbrook are on private properties and are not threatened by logging — the wider population around Coffs Harbour is.

Canines for Wildlife were recruited to survey for koalas across 115 sites in the Coffs Harbour and Bellingen areas, ranging from coastal regions to the Dorrigo Plateau nearly 1,000 metres above sea level.

"We learned this population is healthy, has high genetic diversity and relatively low levels of chlamydia. So this is a really important population. If we’re going to save koalas we need to wrap healthy populations like this in cotton wool and protect them," Blanch said.

"It beggars belief that the tree homes of koalas continue to be knocked down and destroyed. Logging should stop right now in the area being assessed for the Great Koala National Park and in plantations where koalas live."

What's next?

A total of 109 poo samples were collected in 2022-2023 and sent for genetic testing at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Lynn Baker from Canines for Wildlife said this new colony must be protected.

"For a koala researcher this is such an exciting result," she said. "We knew the koalas at Fernbrook looked different. They are a lot furrier and darker in colour than their compatriots on the coast. They look like cold weather koalas.

"But if this is a genetically different and a chlamydia-free group then it’s important that they are protected. There are not many areas left in NSW that have distinct groups of [healthy] koalas.

"The burning question is are these koalas isolated to the habitat on these properties or are they connected to other chlamydia-free koalas that we haven’t sampled yet?"

Canines for Wildlife is hoping to do further surveys in the areas surrounding Fernbrook to help answer the question.

Since 2001, koala numbers in the state have decreased by 33 per cent to 61 per cent, driven by habitat destruction, climate change, disease, and urbanisation. The devastating 2019–2020 bushfires alone killed at least 6,400 koalas.

Read the full article at https://au.news.yahoo.com/incredibly-rare-discovery-in-aussie-bush-by-sniffer-dog-like-striking-gold-040624856.html

In 2024 homelessness in Australia "is no longer confined to the most vulnerable, with the housing crisis forcing working families into homelessness"

 

"AIHW’s published monthly SHS statistics suggest generally growing, rather than declining, agency caseloads at the national level over recent years. From Figure 5.10, however, it can be seen that rates of change have varied substantially across Australia. In the four years to 2023-24, the average monthly caseload increased most markedly in Queensland (46%) and Western Australia (30%). Even in Victoria, at the lower end of this ranking, average monthly caseloads were 2% higher in 2023-24 than in 2019-20."

[UNSW City Futures Research Centre & Homelessness Australia, Australian Homelessness Monitor 2024, p.91]

 

Medianet. media release, 9 December 2024:

Rough sleeping surges as homelessness crisis worsens: New report

UNSW City Futures Research Centre

9 December 2024

Rough sleeping has surged in Australia according to a landmark report into homelessness launched today.

Australian Homelessness Monitor 2024 has revealed a 22% increase in people experiencing rough sleeping in the three years to 2023-24, nationwide. In New South Wales, rough sleeping has surged by 51% since 2020, largely driven by an increase in regional communities.

The deepening housing crisis is the major driver of worsening homelessness, with the number of people citing housing affordability stress as the main reason they need homelessness services having increased by 36% in the three years to 2023-24.

The threat of homelessness now looms for a broader swathe of the population, including more employed Australians, the report found, with the proportion of employed persons among those receiving homelessness services having increased from 10.9% to 15.3% over the five years to 2022-23.

Services offering emergency support are struggling, with most homelessness agencies reporting “significantly increased” numbers of people seeking assistance in the past year and a 12% rise in monthly caseloads since 2019-20. Demand for help that exceeds capacity to respond is forcing agencies to cut back on help in preventing - as opposed to relieving - homelessness.

Intensifying rental market pressure that makes it harder to find people new homes has also caused the average duration of agency support for clients to balloon, rising 44% in the five years to 2022-23. More than three-quarters of homelessness services (77%) found it significantly harder to secure housing for clients in mid-2024 compared to the previous year.

People are undergoing harsher experiences of homelessness before gaining support. The number of new clients who were already homeless before seeking support increased 9% over three years 2023-24, and now exceeds 10,000 per month.

“Rental affordability stress has deepened to such a degree that more people are being forced into situations of severe instability and rough sleeping,” Professor of Housing Research at UNSW Sydney and lead report author, Professor Hal Pawson said. “Median rents have increased 51% since the Covid-19 pandemic and there has been only a marginal expansion of social housing.”

“Many support agencies are at a breaking point. Staff are operating in a completely clogged system. People exit support services into the same homelessness they were trying to escape.”

While welcoming Rent Assistance increases and commitments to social housing investment by both federal and state governments, Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said much more must be done to address what has become a homelessness emergency.

“Homelessness is no longer confined to the most vulnerable. With the housing crisis forcing working families into homelessness, this should be a wake-up call for action,” Colvin said.

“Funding for homelessness services has failed to rise to meet demand and the whole system is buckling under the pressure. Governments need to take immediate action and deliver an emergency homelessness investment so that when people reach out for homelessness support there is someone there to help them.

“We particularly need investment in homelessness prevention so we can stop people becoming homeless in the first place, as well as investment in world renowned Housing First programs to stop people cycling in and out of homelessness.”

Key findings:

• Homelessness providers report a 12% rise in monthly caseloads since 2019-20




• Rough sleeping increased by 22% nationally over the three years to 2023-24, as measured according to the flow of new clients logged by support agencies




• More than three-quarters of homelessness services (77%) found it significantly harder to secure housing for clients in mid-2024 compared to the previous year




• Increased demand for services has resulted in longer support periods, with the median duration of service support rising by 44% in the five years to 2023




• Housing affordability stress as the main driver of homelessness increased by 36% in the three years to 2023-24




• The proportion of employed people accessing homelessness services rose from 10.9% to 15.3% in the five years to 2022-23




• The fastest-growing cohorts within the population affected by homelessness over the past six years have been older people persons aged 55-64 (up by 15%); persons aged 65+ (up by 31%)

Notes on study methods

The underlying research involved a novel analysis of specialist homelessness services data to dissect the flow of newly homeless people being assisted by agencies each month. By comparison with established approaches, this arguably provides a better indication of the incidence of the problem in terms of changes over time.

The research also included:

· In-depth interviews with 18 key stakeholders (government and NGOs) across all eight Australian jurisdictions

· In-depth interviews with council staff and other local stakeholders in three case study LGAs

· Online surveys of 173 specialist homelessness services agencies and 167 councils, nationally

· A policy document and website review on recent homelessness and social housing policy developments

2024 NSW Street Count showing the 2023 distribution of rough sleepers on a single night.

 

Notice to Readers, Saturday 7 December 2024

 

North Coast Voices will not be posting for the next two days due to illness.  

Hope to be back by Tuesday, 10 December 2024.

Apologies to our readers.

22 arrests and counting in forest defenders fight to stop logging in Bulga State Forest since 1 October 2024

 

Forestry Corporation of NSW resumed logging in the Bulga State Forest, west of Comboyne in the Mid-North Coast region of New South Wales', in early October 2024.

Since then 22 forest defenders, including Knitting Nannas, have been attested in the state forests.

Here are just three of these defenders......

ECHO, 4 December 2024:

Knitting Nannas Dominique Jacobs (60) and Helen Kvelde (73) yesterday became the 21st and 22nd people arrested protesting the logging of Bulga State Forest, west of Port Macquarie. They had attached themselves to the giant tree killing machine known as a harvester.

Both Nannas are active in protesting the lack of action on climate change and are deeply dismayed that the most effective carbon capture and storage technology on the planet, mature forests, are being destroyed at taxpayer expense.

Dom Jacobs said, ‘I’m a grandmother and a wildlife carer. I’m terrified about the future my grandkids face and what is happening to the wild creatures and wild places. We are losing so much that is perfect and wonderful on this planet and I’m really worried about what will be left for those who come after us.

‘As a wildlife carer I get to know those little creatures intimately, they have personalities, they are very susceptible to stress. The thought of them in their beautiful forest homes with trees crashing around them and all the noise of the machines, I can’t imagine their terror.

‘We humans, we take everything. We need to leave something. We need to leave some places be,’ she said.

‘I want to do everything I can. I want to do something that has real impact. Stopping the chopping of glider and koala homes is a good way to spend a day.’

Increasingly fed up

Helen Kvelde said, ‘I feel like I’ve been fighting this war for 50 years and I’m getting more and more fed up. The powers that be aren’t listening, not to the people or the scientists. Climate chaos is here now, it’s happening all over the globe and governments, logging and fossil fuel companies are still acting as if there is no tomorrow.

‘I’m bewildered at the lack of action. I’ve been to so many rallies and marches, signed petitions, written letters but it feels like we are just going through the motions. As Greta Thunberg said all we get back is bla bla bla.

‘Our governments are full of hot air and empty promises. They say they see climate change as a serious threat and that there is a biodiversity crisis, but their actions suggest they think it’s a joke or it’s not real,’ she said.

‘It’s like I’m watching the Lorax play out in real life. It was a story where in order to get rich, all the trees were cut down, and the land was left a dirty stinking wreck.

‘I’m hoping that our action today gives kids hope and encourages others to do the same. I’m a bit frightened but I also feel that desperate times require desperate measures,’ said Ms Kvelde.

Both women agreed that forests like Bulga are vital for threatened wildlife, saying that we need to respect and care for all those big trees, not just for their intrinsic right to exist and live in peace, but because they defend us from the most dangerous threat of all: climate chaos.

Save Bulga Forest, media release, 15 October 2024:

John Seed OAM, attached to logging machinery
in Bulga State Forest, 15th October 2024

John Seed, founder of the Rainforest Information Centre and the Deep Ecology Network was arrested today for attaching himself to logging machinery in Bulga forest.

John, now in his 79th year, says he had a transformative experience in the rainforests of north east NSW during the Terania Creek protests in 1979.

“The forest spoke to me. Working to keep the trees standing was the best use of my short time on this amazing jewel of a planet, so far the only one of its kind that we know of in this galaxy.

“It’s 45 years since I was FIRST arrested for the forests (and for which I subsequently received an OAM after the Wran government turned the forest where I was arrested into the Nightcap National Park – now on the World Heritage list along with the Grand Canyon and the Serengeti).

“I believe the Bulga Forest will also find its way into National Park and World Heritage status once this government wakes up. Then tourism will earn orders of magnitude more than the vandalism that we’re currently trying to stop.

“There’s been no proper assessment of the damage done by the 2019/20 fires. We don’t know how many trees and animals died, how many hollow habitat trees were lost. The most basic element of the precautionary principle is that if you don’t know, stop making things worse.

“Climate chaos is barrelling towards us. We need to stop making the damage worse and focus on earth repair and building resilience. How can we have hope for a future for our kids and grandkids if our governments insist on destroying the planet’s protection mechanisms,” he said.

In 1995 John was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his services to conservation and the environment. Through his work over the decades, the Rainforest Information Centre has supported communities in PNG, the Solomon Islands, Cambodia, Ecuador, India to defend their forests, through direct action, establishment of protected forest areas, reafforestation programs or funds for litigation.