“I just climbed it; it must be safe” says Australian sit-in protestor.
A sit-in has begun atop the 47 metre high heritage-listed Jimna fire tower in an effort to stop the Government demolishing the landmark structure.
Jimna Fire Tower Action Group spokesman Dave Wright climbed the tower – between Nanango and Maroochydore – on Monday and said he would stay there as long as it took for the Government to promise to save the structure.
The Primary Industries forestry department sought to demolish the tower in 2006 to save on costs.
After protests from Mr Wright’s group, the department proposed the following year to do repairs before handing the tower to the Kilcoy Shire Council. It rejected the offer because of concerns about upkeep.
Mr Wright said he hoped his sit-in would prove as untrue as the Government’s claim the tower was unsafe.
“This is a total fabrication. I’ve just climbed it and it’s fine,” he said. “I’ll stay up here as long as it takes … the Government to acknowledge its heritage obligations.”
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