The weather played its part as close to 200 people enjoyed an afternoon at the Le Bons Bay domain as the community’s newly formed Le Bons Bay Conservation Trust celebrate the purchase of the Old Wharf Road property along with donors and supporters. The huge achievement of raising $450,000 in a year was only made possible due to the generosity of the previous owners the Gordon Family who, having owned the property for fifty years, fully supported the venture. They rejected larger offers from developers and agreed on a reduced purchase price and long settlement period to enable this project to come into being.
The Trust plans to place a covenant on the land, eradicate weeds and pests, and help it regenerate. In the words of Hugh Wilson, who spoke at the event regarding natural regeneration, ‘Nature will do it all for you’.
After formal speeches and a slightly re-worded rendition of the song ‘This land is your land’ led by the renowned ‘Brittenden boys’, the Le Bons Bay community upheld their well-known reputation for great hospitality and kai by serving an amazing luncheon to the large crown with seamless ease.
It was then time for guests to tackle the river crossing to visit the land itself for the unveiling of the new sign. Most opted to wade through the river but some travelled in style via tractor, with ‘luxury’ seating set up it its trailer!
The Rod Donald Trust was delighted to support this project with a $10,000 contribution, and donations flooded in from over 600 donors, some from as far away and England and America, to make this project possible. We look forward to seeing the old road upgraded into a public walking track and the long-term goal of creating overnight accommodation for walkers and trampers come into fruition.