Federal Court denies permanent injunction, allowing Brunswick Heads housing project to proceed

A Federal Court ruling on Friday refused Save Wallum Inc's application for a permanent injunction against a 124-lot housing scheme at Brunswick Heads in northern New South Wales. The decision follows a temporary injunction imposed in 2024 that halted work and was extended for a week to let both parties assess the judgment. Save Wallum spokesperson Luciana Bowen described the outcome as "incredibly disappointing" and warned it undermines confidence in national environmental protections for species such as the Mitchell’s rainforest snail and Wallum sedge frogs.

Developer Clarence Property Group, led by chief executive Simon Kennedy, said the judgment vindicates its plans and that it is ready to start stage one, including the creation of 36 artificial frog ponds, as early as 5 pm on September 14. The project, approved for 124 homes on 12 hectares of a 30-hectare site, has faced opposition since 2013 over concerns for endangered koalas, glossy black cockatoos and other vulnerable fauna.