Olivia Battling To Save The Rainforests
By Brian Blackwell
Superstar 01ivia Newton- John was looking for peace and privacy when she bought a hideaway home several years ago in a beautiful rainforest valley in northern New South Wales. Since then she has fiercely guarded the location of her home. However now, because of the threat posed by housing developers, she is actively involved in a high-profile ‘people power’ movement to save the area and its wildlife.
Olivia, on a private visit to her rural home, says: “This is one of the few unspoiled places left in Australia and that’s the reason I chose to have a home here. I don’t want to live in an area which has been inappropriately developed that’s what I am trying to get away from.” Olivia’s neighbors, who praise her role in helping to stop a proposed housing development, are now urging her to join their campaign to save the region’s endangered koalas. Gillian Walker, a member of the Ballina Environmental Society who lives near Olivia, says: “Olivia is known for her Koala Blue shops in America. I believe we could all do a lot to help the koalas if she got involved with us.”
Olivia’s modest, bungalow-style home is situated close to one of the last remaining pockets of rainforest in northern NSW. It has magnificent views across the valley and towards the ocean. The area is home to potoroos (rat-kangaroos), echidnas (spiny anteaters) and other native animals, plus brown, black and carpet snakes, kookaburras, morepork owls, whipbirds, honeyeaters, parakeets and pigeons. It also contains a sprinkling of eucalyptus, favorite food for the region’s dwindling koala population. Local people have begun a campaign to plant hundreds of trees for the koalas, to establish a ‘corridor’ of eucalyptus so the koalas can travel safely from one area to another.
Olivia moved to her ‘paradise valley’ home near Ballina several years ago and uses it as a refuge to escape the demands of her showbiz career and the hectic pace of life in America. Recently she was named Celebrity Businesswoman of the Year for the enormous success she has achieved with the Koala Blue women’s clothing store chain. There are now 100 Koala Blue stores across the U.S. with annual revenue of more than $45 million. The popular singer and businesswoman spends only a month or two months a year at her hideaway home, usually with husband Matt Lattanzi and their three-year-old daughter Chloe. Friends such as Australian actress Chantal Contouri often stay there.
Olivia was in California when she discovered several months ago that a large housing development was planned in the valley, close to her home. She immediately joined other residents in opposing the proposal. “I was against the development for a number of reasons mainly ecological,” she explains. “The noise from the building of these homes would have disturbed the animals and birds of the rainforest, and they have already been endangered by man’s encroachment. “This is only a small rainforest and it doesn’t need further stress. Then there was the problem of domestic animals disturbing livestock and bringing vermin with them. My objections were echoed by my neighbors, who were also concerned about the proposed roads adjoining or going through their properties.”
Olivia’s personal opposition to the proposal which would have put 52 homes and hundreds more residents into the valley was backed up by a solicitor’s submission on behalf of her private company. In it, she spoke out strongly on behalf of the koalas, warning that close housing settlement would diminish their natural vegetation. She says: “The area is a significant habitat for koalas. While the development application makes provision to leave areas of vegetation for koalas, it cannot guarantee maintenance of the vegetation once title to the lots has passed out of the developer’s hands.” Such was the strength of the ‘people power’ opposition to the project that the Ballina Shire Council, after receiving reports from its own engineering and environmental experts, decided not to issue approval for the project.
But the locals say the real battle has only just started. Fran Newton, another member of the Ballina Environmental Society, says: “Further clearing in this area will increasingly threaten koalas and other species. We are upsetting the balance of nature.” Gillian Walker says the council thinks that because it has enough ‘squares’ on its zoning maps that it’s protecting the koala habitat. Instead the marsupials are becoming ‘imprisoned’ in these areas. “The koalas need to be able to move about, because eucalyptus can become toxic to them at some times of the year,” she says. Although neither Gillian nor Fran has met Olivia, they will ask her to lend her support to the save-the-koala campaign. Says Gillian: “If a viable corridor for the koalas is planted, then Olivia’s land would be needed.”