‘ATTACK’ DINGOES SPARED
GOLD COAST BULLETIN
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
AN iconic 130-year-old fig tree inside the Australia Fair Shopping Centre was cut down and removed.
Arborists moved in to remove the grand old tree, which had stood four times longer than the shopping centre.
Australia Fair was built in the 1980s and the tree was retained as the centrepiece of the food court.
The original builders insisted the tree be preserved, but new owners Yu Feng Pty Ltd said it was dangerous and had to be removed.
Traders claimed the tree was being removed as part of a redevelopment to increase the number of stores at the centre.
“That tree is a landmark,” said one trader, who did not want to be identified. “It’s called the Fig Tree Food Court – now they’re removing the fig tree? It’s been there about 100 years.
“We love the tree, but there’s nothing we can do. If we speak out, we could lose our lease. They’re planning to increase the number of shops, that’s what this is about.”
Local resident Glenda Giordano said there would be a public
outcry if the fig tree was replaced with shopping facilities.
“If the tree is dying then the centre is doing the right thing ... but if it’s not then I hope they get their karma back,” she said.
Area councillor Dawn Crichlow confirmed Australia Fair was upgrading and was preparing to introduce a “major new tenant”.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Environment and Resource Management said it was powerless to save the iconic tree.
TWO dingoes that attacked a boy on Fraser Island last month will not be euthanised.
A Department of Environment and Science statement said rangers were closely monitoring the two dingoes responsible for attacking a boy on the island on February 4.
“In response to the attack, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has closed Wathumba campgrounds, Teebing (Wathumba Spit) camping area and Wathumba Rd until July 1 to prevent human/wongari (dingo) interactions,” the spokesman said
“Closely monitoring the wongari is in line with the Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy and part of QPWS’s commitment to ensuring the safety of everyone who visits the island.
“People are reminded to be wongari safe and not to feed or interact with the animals as this may contribute to their habituation and may have consequences.” *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. In Search of the Northern Lights based on 19 January 2023 departure and Viking Homelands based on 17 April 2023 departure. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 29 December 2020 and 31 March 2021 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit vikingcruises.com.au.
THE first vaccines produced in Australia will roll out in just over a fortnight, while workers from the Pacific will be part of a “pre-travel quarantine” pilot to boost COVID-hit sectors.
National Cabinet met on Friday, agreeing to boost capacity at the Northern Territory’s Howard Springs quarantine facility but state quarantine caps will be unchanged.
Health Department Secretary Brendan Murphy confirmed the first of 50 million AstraZeneca doses to be produced in Victoria would be administered from March 22.
“The value of having onshore production cannot be underestimated. Every country in the world is depending on international supplies (and) they’re seeing them come slowly,” he said.
It comes after Italy blocked a shipment of 250,000 doses of the vaccine, saying Australia’s low case numbers and death toll made it “not vulnerable” to COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the move was not unexpected, but underlined the value on vaccines produced onshore.
“That’s why we’ve … ensured we have our own domestically produced vaccine, and we’re one of few countries that have done that. That has given us sovereignty over our vaccination program, which I think is incredibly important.”