By Iris Ray Nunn
“When does the healing start”?
This is the question that local bush regenerator Nadia de Souza Pietramale is sincerely asking the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and those of us who live in the Byron Shire who have done nothing to stop the continual aerial spraying of toxic pesticides on our beautiful coastal dunes over the past decade. “First we mine the dunes, then we introduce Bitou Bush to stabilise the dunes, then we spray toxic pesticides from the air to stop the Bitou bush because it has taken over the native flora habitat, then we deal with the side effects of the poison on our health and the health of the fragile ecosystems in the area sprayed. So I ask, “When does the healing start?” says Nadia.
Any day now, till the 16th of August, a NPWS helicopter will drop a herbicide made by Do Pont, Melsulfran Methyl 600, from the sky onto the front dune strip of 7 km of land, from Belongil Creek to the North of Tyagarah Nature Reserve. As part of this operation, Tallow Beach Cosy corner and Cape Byron State Conservation Area Light House cliffs, also will be aerial sprayed. Out of respect for the Byron Shire Chemical Free Land Care, initiated in 2010 by a group of locals, NPWS wont spray the last 4.5 hectares that runs up to the dog beach track, at the Brunswick Surf Club. Why? Because, out of this whole site, 90% of the Bituo Bush has successfully being removed and followed up by hand with only a small group of people working a leisurely 3 hours a fortnight, during the past 3 years. This area was on the schedule to be sprayed by Crownland on the 2009 aerial spray.
“I ask the Government, let the community take care of the problem. Let’s us take back our power of knowledge from the toxic pesticide corporation giants into our power of healing the land with our bodies” says Nadia.
The Bitou Bush Crowning technique, what involve lopping the Bitou to a half metre stamp and then disconnected it from the roots, with a per of loppers, only took a few minutes to explain to a group of concerned locals on Wednesday.
“It took four of us about three minutes to completely remove one Bitou Bush that was at least two metres high and two meters wide,” said indigenous man Jarmbi. He is the nephew of Ngarakwal Elder Uncle Harry Boyd. “I’m driven by Spirit to care for Country. My Ancestors came to this place for thousands of years. They are telling me to stand up. I feel the old people helping us. I know how sacred the land is and our Ancestors want us to take care of it. Spraying it with poison and risking the health of the water-ways, the wallabies, pippis, crabs, eagles and snakes that live in these dunes, does not sit right with my Spirit. We have to stop it. I am thankful to good people like Nadia and her mentor Ellen White. They are here to teach us; me, my friends and our children, a way in which we can remove the Bitou safely whilst coming together as a family, learning about nature, connecting to Country and finding bush tucker. The opportunities of strengthening community should always be taken into consideration. This is another one that should be taken seriously. Who knows, we may be able to redirect the money we’ve been giving to the chemical companies all these years, back to our kids to work with Country! Now we just need to help NPWS change their attitude to dealing with the weeds and work together with them. We see this as a new way that works without chemicals and that also will be healing the land”.
Momentum is growing in the Northern Rivers for non-violent direct action to take place immediately in the Tyagarah Nature Reserve.
All concerned residents please contact Jarmbi on 04005 306 83 to find out ways in which you can become involved in these peaceful actions.
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