Urgent action needed for tree clearing at Mount Lofty

This environmental travesty is unfolding as we speak at Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills. A developer has cleared countless stringy bark trees and other precious native vegetation while the state government has stood idly by and allowed it to occur. As a passionate conservationist and as the state’s Shadow Environment Minister, I’m calling for the Labor Government and Environment Minister Susan Close (who repeatedly failed to adequately answer questions about this in Parliament) to step up and take urgent action: ⁣⁣⁣⁣

• Immediately initiate any court action necessary to prevent the developer undertaking further activity (including commencement of any construction works) on this site ⁣⁣⁣⁣
• Immediately direct the Department for Environment and Water to fulfil its legislative responsibilities to protect our precious natural environment, including answering questions posed by the media rather than hiding behind a cloak of secrets and silence. What approvals did they give? What action have they taken? When did they first find out that illegality had occurred? Why the delays?⁣⁣⁣⁣
• Immediately provide the Native Vegetation Council with the appropriate resources to undertake a high level investigation which can lead to enforceable action. ⁣⁣
• Immediately seek answers from Adelaide Hills Council regarding their involvement in this matter. What approvals did they give? What action have they taken? When did they first find out that illegality had occurred? Why the delays?⁣