Tweed Shire Council (TSC) is facing growing criticism over a proposal that would protect large exotic trees - including camphor laurel - under its draft Development Control Plan currently on public exhibition.
Camphor laurel is recognised by the NSW Department of Primary Industries as an invasive weed, with long-standing advice that it should be controlled and progressively removed. That advice applies regardless of whether land is public land, zoned rural, residential or conservation.
NSW Farmers' Far North Coast Branch chair Craig Huf said the proposal sought to protect trees that were doing extensive harm to the landscape.
"These are trees that cause massive environmental damage and stand to ruin the scenic amenity of the Shire," Mr Huf said.
"Every year, these large camphor laurels produce vast quantities of seed, which are widely spread by native birds and they remain as permanent seed factories, reinfesting surrounding land year after year."
Mr Huf estimated Tweed landholders incur a cost of around $4.3 million each year in lost production, spraying, managing and attempting to contain camphor laurel infestations, a cost that continued because of the constant growth of new seedlings from mature trees.
"The answer lies in opening up pathways for the commercial harvesting of camphor laurel, allowing mature trees to be removed at scale rather than left standing as permanent seed sources," Mr Huf said.
"If Council was genuinely focused on environmental outcomes, it would be investing in ways to help commercial operators remove camphor laurel, not protecting it."
