• Visit Redland City Council
16 °c
Redland Bay
17 ° Mon
15 ° Tue
Sunday, July 6 2025
Redlands Coast Today - News from Redland City Council
  • Community
    • Get the Facts
    • Environment
  • Planned Burns
    • Disaster Management
  • Business
  • Budget 2025 – 26
    • Budget 2024 – 25
    • Budget 2023 – 24
  • Archive
  • What’s On
  • NewslettersSubscribe
No Result
View All Result
  • Community
    • Get the Facts
    • Environment
  • Planned Burns
    • Disaster Management
  • Business
  • Budget 2025 – 26
    • Budget 2024 – 25
    • Budget 2023 – 24
  • Archive
  • What’s On
  • NewslettersSubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Redlands Coast Today - News from Redland City Council
No Result
View All Result

Court ruling confirms native vegetation clearing was illegal

5 February 2024
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A

Land clearing on East Coast Road, Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedInEmail

Redland City Council considers the illegal clearing of native vegetation is a serious environmental offence and is not accepted on Redlands Coast.

This was confirmed by His Honour Magistrate Ross Mack’s decision in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today in favour of Redland City Council.

Magistrate Mack found the defendant, Darren Burns, guilty of illegally clearing land at East Coast Road, Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah in 2020.

You may also like these stories

Harbourside celebration to launch NAIDOC Week on Redlands Coast

Harbourside celebration to launch NAIDOC Week on Redlands Coast

27 June 2025
Redlands Coast village centres set for further activation

Council sponsorship supports community events

25 June 2025

The Court fined Mr Burns $20,000 plus costs and ordered him to revegetate the land.

Magistrate Mack found that the State Government planning laws were applicable to the land and the clearing of native vegetation, carried out by Mr Burns, contravened section 162 of the State Planning Act.

The Court did not accept the defence that being a native title holder, Mr Burns was exempt from State Government Planning Laws and Council’s Planning scheme.

The Court also acknowledged the clearing of native vegetation, in this instance, was not consistent with a traditional customary practice.

Council acknowledges and respects that a native title determination exists over the land, however it brought this court case solely to address the unlawful clearing of that land.

Council takes the unlawful clearing of vegetation seriously and will continue to hold all persons accountable for the illegal clearing of vegetation.

Today’s court decision should be a warning for those considering the clearing of trees that you must have the relevant approvals and/or permits in place prior to commencing the removal of trees, particularly native vegetation.

Every year, Council receives a large quantity of complaints about potential illegal tree clearings in areas across the city.

While a large quantity of the complaints are unfounded and with the majority of property owners doing the right thing, unfortunately there are occasions when compliance action is required.

Compliance may include enforcement action, revegetation orders and, where significant, prosecution proceedings in the Magistrates Court.

Tags: Land clearingNorth Stradbroke Island

Related Stories

Funding supports six arts projects on Redlands Coast
Arts

Funding supports six arts projects on Redlands Coast

2 July 2025
Repair works ensure safe access to island foreshores
Community

Repair works ensure safe access to island foreshores

2 July 2025
Community consultation opens on draft transport strategies
Roads and transport

Community consultation opens on draft transport strategies

30 June 2025
Waft a stench! Mangrove smelly season pongs again
Environment

Waft a stench! Mangrove smelly season pongs again

27 June 2025
Load More
Redlands Coast
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Patchy rain nearby
16 ° c
88%
5.8mh
22 c 13 c
Mon
21 c 10 c
Tue
Redlands Coast Today

Redland City Council acknowledges the Quandamooka People, the Traditional Owners of the land, waters, winds and seas of Redlands Coast. We acknowledge the Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here.

Connect with Redland City Council

  • Archive
  • Privacy and Legal
  • Right to Information
  • Contact Us

Except where noted, content on this site is licensed under Creative Commons.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Community
    • Get the Facts
    • Environment
  • Planned Burns
    • Disaster Management
  • Business
  • Budget 2025 – 26
    • Budget 2024 – 25
    • Budget 2023 – 24
  • Archive
  • What’s On
  • Newsletters

Except where noted, content on this site is licensed under Creative Commons.