MULTI-MILLIONAIRE Griffith businessman David Bartter has come under fire from neighbours and is being investigated by authorities for alleged illegal land clearing on his sprawling farm.
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Mr Bartter, who with brother Peter established poultry giant Bartter's before selling up in 2009, has allegedly bulldozed a vast tract of virgin mallee bush on his "Kurrajong Park" property in recent days.
Neighbours surrounding Mr Bartter's 70,000-plus acre holding, north of Myall Park, claim similar wholesale clearing has occured on other Bartter properties and have lodged a barrage of complaints with the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA).
The Wilderness Society has also objected to the clearing and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage is investigating the claims.
Mr Bartter's neighbour Rodney Guest said the work had knocked out critical wind breaks and "stripped bare" important wildlife habitats.
"This sort of thing gives all farmers a bad name as land-clearers," Mr Guest said.
"We just can't see how he could be given permission to do this.
"Us local farmers are all upset about it and we've had a meeting with him (David Bartter) and given him an opportunity to stop, but he's refused."
It is believed Mr Bartter has been given a permit to clear a 10-metre wide strip for a firebreak and water pipleline, but neighbours claim a far wider area has been wiped out.
Mr Bartter declined to comment on the issue to The Area News, simply saying: "They've told you everything; I'm not interested in responding."
A spokesman for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage confirmed a compliance officer had been to the property and was investigating whether illegal clearing had occured.
