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Feathers fly over protected parrot

Posted on July 8, 2009, 5:05pm and updated on July 9, 2009 at 7:59 am

The fight to extend the historic Port MacDonnell Cemetery has reached flashpoint with Grant district mayor Don Pegler warning he will drive the bulldozer and risk jail to clear native vegetation at the site.

Anger has erupted over news the State Government will only allow a 0.13ha (10 metre) extension of the cemetery, despite a six-year battle by Grant council to have the rules changed.

Council wants to extend the small historic cemetery — gazetted since 1870 — into adjacent council-owned scrub by 0.567ha to accommodate the community’s needs for the next 15 years.

But the government and the Native Vegetation Council are concerned about the impact on the orange-bellied parrot and and other bird species that live in the adjacent scrub.

At council’s full meeting on Monday night, a fed-up Mr Pegler launched a scathing attack on the Native Vegetation Council and Environment Minister Jay Weatherill over the long-running saga.

“I will drive the bulldozer and they can put me in jail; I am prepared to do it. I don’t want staff doing it,” Mr Pegler warned.

“It is like telling them in Adelaide they have to close all their cemeteries and put them all at Two Wells.”

Mr Pegler claimed yesterday the situation must be resolved and it would be “over his dead body” that the cemetery could not be extended because of ludicrous rules.

“All we are asking for is a small extension to allow families to be buried with their forefathers,” he said

Mr Pegler said the situation was ridiculous given the sewerage system, which extended into native vegetation at Finger Point, was three times larger than what council was proposing at the cemetery.

He said the government had also suggested it would only allow the tiny extension if council agreed to “over-the-top management conditions” of the site.

Meanwhile, Cr Alan Hill described the matter as serious for local communities.

“People should be allowed to bury their loved ones within their communities. It is an absolute insult to the community of Port MacDonnell,” Cr Hill told Monday’s meeting.

“I think this is an absolute disgrace.”

Cr Sage joined in the chorus of anger over the situation.

“It is time to step up and push and send a letter of protest,” he said.

In a letter to Grant council, Mr Weatherill said that native vegetation at the Port MacDonnell cemetery had been assessed as significant intact vegetation that supported high species diversity and provided habitat for at least six bird species of conservation significance, including the nationally endangered orange-bellied parrot.

Despite council lobbying for many years to have cemeteries exempted from native vegetation rules, Mr Weatherill said he would not support such a move.

The minister said he would allow only a 0.13ha increase at the site if council focused on weed control at the cemetery and addressed the issue of future expansion.

Council will invite Mr Weatherill to visit the site and discuss the situation further.

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Comments

One Response to “Feathers fly over protected parrot”

  1. Richard Ferguson on July 8th, 2009 7:30 pm 1

    This is green power gone mad. I have lived and worked in this area for the last 20years and have not sighted one orange bellied parrot.

    It’s about time politicians started to look after people as well as the environment. It is not right to deny families of loved ones buried at the Port Mac Donnell Cemetery not to be buried with them.

    This is an important part of families identity and history of which we are so proud of.

    I just wonder where our local member is when you need him. Rory, this is your opportunity to fight for what is right for the people of Port MacDonnell and district as a former Chairman of the Grant Council.

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