Black cockatoo in Melbourne Zoo Photo: Tim Williams
A South East landholder will have to cough up $119,000 for destroying native trees which provide critical habitat to bird species such as the endangered Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.
The Mount Gambier Magistrate’s Court last week handed down the penalty for the offender’s “deliberate disregard” of the Native Vegetation Act by clearing about 275 native trees including red, pink and blue gums.
Following a Native Vegetation Council (NVC) assessment in 2003, the landowner’s application for clearance was refused based on the trees’ importance as a critical provider of habitat for a variety of bird species.
NVC presiding member Dennis Mutton said the case was particularly upsetting because the land clearance application by the previous landowner was rejected and ignored.
“This ruling was then placed on the contract for sale for the buyer to note,” Mr Mutton said.
“The trees cleared provided food, shelter and nesting sites for wildlife and were likely to be in excess of 200 years in age.
“This destruction represents a significant setback to wildlife conservation in the South East.”
Mr Mutton described the court ruling as as important message that illegal clearing of native vegetation would be followed through and action would be taken.
The NVC will now seek a court order for the reinstatement of vegetation lost.