Wetlands ripped up

By Bridget Brady
BIRDLIFE at Warneet is at risk as illegal motorbike riders tear up the wetlands.
Tooradin resident Steve Smith has pleaded with those who have damaged the precious wetlands to stop immediately, and think about the harm they have caused.
Mr Smith said riders had ignored signs that prohibited bikes or other vehicles from entering the wetlands and “chopped up vegetation by the roots”.
He said animals and their habitat would be disturbed by the riders.
“I’ve seen that many different types of animals in there that you just don’t see anywhere else,” Mr Smith said.
“I just think they don’t realise the damage they’re doing because the way the shire is now there is more and more land going under development for housing and this is kind of the last bushland that’s left. They’ve got to learn to respect it,” he said.
Mr Smith has often repaired fences that people had broken to enter the wetlands through a private property entrance.
“It is definitely a respect thing.”
The land is believed to be owned by a number of parties, including some privately owned and some by Casey Council.