Newly obtained photos, allegedly taken at Redbank, reveal the tragic impact of land clearing on native wildlife, showing a dead baby galah found in the hollow of a felled tree. While distressing, we have decided to publish these images to highlight the brutal reality for animals that rely on old-growth trees for shelter and breeding. The Hawkesbury Post has not been able to verify that these photos were taken at Redbank in North Richmond in 2021.

This particular incident is far from isolated; it starkly illustrates the irreversible damage land clearing is causing across the Hawkesbury and New South Wales. Trees with hollows, like the one pictured, can take over a century to form, providing critical shelter for a range of native animals, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. Once felled, these trees leave animals homeless and vulnerable, often resulting in injuries or death as their habitats are destroyed.

Currently, developer Redbank is cutting down 158 trees along Grose Vale Road in Grose Vale. Yesterday, the Riot Squad was deployed when community members peacefully protested the destruction of the wildlife corridor, holding placards to voice their opposition.

One resident who contacted the Hawkesbury Post today said she and many others who live in Redbank are appalled by the developer’s actions. 

“I’m eating my breakfast outside right now, and all I can hear are birds calling and trees being chopped to pieces. I just watched a flock of cockatoos fly overhead, alarmed and calling, trying to land in nearby trees,” she said.“I hope someone is checking for wildlife before they cut these trees down, or at the very least, that they are present to help any animals in the process.”

As Redbank workers continue to destroy the Grose Vale wildlife corridor today, another developer, Monterra Holdings, is seeking approval to clear an additional 133 trees in nearby Kurrajong. The Land and Environment Court will hold a site meeting on February 10 at 67 Kurrajong Road, where residents are encouraged to attend.

Environmentalists have long called for urgent, and stronger protections against land clearing. They say current planning rules have failed to safeguard the environment, and governments are not acting to close the loopholes that allow developers to raze native habitats across the state. With each tree that is cut down, native species are being driven closer to extinction.

Below are more photos of the felled trees, allegedly at Redbank which show the dead baby galah in the hollow at the trees felled by bulldozers.