Abigroup pleads guilty to damaging Bongil Bongil
Media release: 17 July 2008
Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd was fined $3,250 and ordered to pay $1,500 professional costs in Coffs Harbour Local Court today after pleading guilty to damaging vegetation in Bongil Bongil National Park, 15 kilometres south of Coffs Harbour in November 2006.
The Court heard how, as part of the Pacific Highway upgrade, Abigroup's project included moving threatened species plants from the road corridor. On 6 and 7 November 2006, Abigroup's sub-contractors were working on the translocation project in an area immediately adjacent to the Bongil Bongil National Park in heavy rain.
In the process of translocating the plants, the sub-contractors accessed old logging tracks that had been added to the National Park in June 2006. The tracks are being rehabilitated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The use of heavy machinery along the tracks, including a backhoe, combined with the heavy rain resulted in damage to approximately 300m2 of vegetation growing along the track, including Tall Sword-sedge and Narrow Leaved Palm Lily plants.
Although Abigroup was to identify the boundary between the road corridor and the National Park prior to the construction of the road, it had not marked the boundary for the purposes of relocation of the threatened species.
In Court, Abigroup accepted it was legally liable for the damage caused by its sub-contractors and recognised that the failure to identify the boundary between the National Park and the road corridor clearly contributed to the incursion.
The Court accepted that Abigroup began work remediating the site as soon as it became aware of the damage and that the area has now been revegetated.
Department of Environment and Climate Change Acting Director-General, Sally Barnes welcomed the Court's decision saying the community expects our national parks to be respected.
"The message is clear that when working in the vicinity of our National Parks, it is imperative that companies know their environmental obligations," Ms Barnes said.
Contact: Lawrence Orel