Why an Aussie bloke fined $25,000 by his local council thought he was 'doing the right thing'
A Western Australian man who was fined $25,000 for clearing native trees on his property and council land without approval has argued the gardening works were done for the benefit of endangered animals.
Craig Wilson Donohue faced Mandurah Magistrates Court on May 7 charged with carrying out development in an area subject to a local planning scheme.
Mr Donohue pleaded guilty for clearing and substantially trimming native bushland on his Forrington Heights property and part of the Shire of Waroona's road reserve.
The trimming, which took place in late 2024, spanned an area of at least 1,000sqm of bushland which had been deemed an environmentally sensitive area.
Mr Donohue claimed he was trying to 'do the right thing' by removing fencing and barbed wire from the area as he believed it presented a 'danger to native animals'.
He also argued the invasive cottonbush, poisonous nightshade and South African weed watsonia had taken over the area and blocked native fauna from flourishing.
But the council's prosecutor told the court his actions would have long-lasting and significant impacts on the protected area, the Mandurah Times reported.
The Shire of Waroona claimed Mr Donohue's mechanical trimming and hot burning - an intense fire over an extensive area - had impacted the natural habitat of several endangered plants and animals.
Council argued the marri and banksia trees, which are the natural foraging habitat of the black cockatoo, split open and died due to the heat of the fire.
Native shrubs and ground covers were also substantially trimmed and cleared.
While the prosecution accepted Mr Donohue's actions were 'somewhat inadvertent' they argued he should have received clearance from the council.
On her ruling, Magistrate Leanne Atkins told Mr Donohue there would be a significant penalty for his actions as he failed to seek the appropriate approval.
He was fined $25,000 and was ordered to pay $1,500 in costs to the council.
In accepting the decision, Mr Donohue pledged to sow 200 plants over the course of two years to help with re-vegetation in the affected area.
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