Council enters guilty plea | Gatton News | Local News in Gatton

LOCKYER Valley Regional Council has finally admitted it was in the wrong when it cleared an internationally recognised fauna habitat.

In Gatton Magistrates Court yesterday council pleaded guilty to interfering with a habitat for protected bird species.

The issue created a stir last April when Lake Apex Island in Gatton was clear-felled, destroying an area recognised as one of the most significant egret roosting sites in Australia and several bird species.

The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) investigated and the council was charged with “tampering with an animal breeding place being used by a protected animal.”

Yesterday’s court mention was the second time the matter had been heard before the court, with no representatives from either Lockyer Valley Regional Council or DERM making an appearance.

Magistrate Bruce Schemioneck said the court received a faxed letter from both parties requesting a six to eight week adjournment.

Mr Schemioneck said the court also received a written plea of guilty from Lockyer Valley Regional Council.

He set the matter down for sentence on April 13 in Gatton Magistrates Court. The council faces a fine up to $165,000.

Lockyer Valley mayor Steve Jones said the first he knew council had pleaded guilty to clearing the island was after he was contacted by media yesterday.

“From a personal point of view I believe council as an entity is not guilty and should not have been charged,” Cr Jones said.

“But the problem is that we have four councillors that think we should be, but I don’t think rate payers should have to foot the bill for someone else’s mistake.”

Cr Jones said that late last year, three councillors, including him, walked out of a council meeting discussing who was responsible for clearing the island.

“The decision to plead guilty is based on four councillors who are happy to support a guilty plea and there are three councillors, myself included, who believe we should not plead guilty,” Cr Jones said.