🌳 Unlawful land clearance in East End may be for quarrying, not farming

The Department of the Environment (DoE) and the Department of Planning have expressed concerns over an after-the-fact land clearing and excavation application in East End. The area, off the Queen’s Highway, was partially pristine shrubland and forest, and the departments suspect the clearance may be for quarrying rather than farming, as claimed by applicants Joanna West and Linett Smith. The work appears to have continued even after an enforcement notice was issued in June last year.🌲

The site is close to the Salina Reserve and part of it was environmentally sensitive primary dry shrubland and dry forest habitat, within the blue iguana geographic range. The DoE visited the site in October 2023 and found that more land than the two-acre plan submitted to planning had already been cleared, and work was continuing. The DoE has urged the Central Planning Authority (CPA) not to grant this after-the-fact application, stating that the ongoing clearing and excavation represents an unauthorised quarry and not a simple land clearing exercise.🦎

According to the DoE, the approach of clearing and commencing site works before planning permission is granted and before consulting agencies had commented is extremely worrying. It removes any opportunity to provide constructive comments and feedback on best management practices, the retention of ecologically valuable flora or mitigation measures to protect the environment, including protected endemic species such as the blue iguana. The DoE recommended the application be refused.🚧