A Bethungra farmer has described "looking over the fence with horror" over the past several months, as corporate and federally-funded bulldozers took to the centuries-old trees beside his property.
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Owner of the Junee-bordering home known as 'Deakin', Ashley Hermes has spent 20 years cultivating his property as a mixed farming venture.
A certified sustainable farmer, Mr Hermes has previously received funds from the Commonwealth and state governments to help him "plant, protect and enhance native vegetation remnants" on his land.
"The countryside is classic farming, grazing country with a scattering of magnificent old gum trees and native cypress trees," Mr Hermes said.
"These trees provide livestock with shade and native birds, and animals with habitat."
Included in the property's biodiversity is the endangered superb parrot and squirrel glider, creatures Mr Hermes believes stand the risk of further displacement from the actions of his corporate neighbours.
Purchased late last year by Viridis Ag, the neighbouring plot of 75-hectares is known as Englefield Plain.
It has historically also been used as a mixed farming enterprise.
But now, a spokesperson from Viridis confirms, the site will be converted into a cropping system for use in the production of canola and wheat.
The venture has also attracted a $100 million dollar investment from the Commonwealth's Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).
The CSIRO has also indicated it will collaborate with Viridis in developing farming methodologies on the site.
Since bulldozing began at the beginning of the year, Mr Hermes said he has witnesses evidence of wildlife displacement.
"I did notice a large number of birds fighting in my yard, clearly because they have lost their homes," he said.
"It's inconceivable to me that that amount of land clearing wouldn't lead to wildlife displacement."
A spokesperson for Viridis readily admitted to the bulldozing of native trees on 5.5-hectares on the land in the past two months.
But Mr Hermes and other neighbours claim the clearing has taken up more than a couple hundred hectares in entirety.
Under the stipulation of its Local Land Services licence, Viridis has committed to conducting regenerative activities on at least 61-hectares of the remaining land.
"Viridis Ag is also guaranteeing future habitats by committing to a long-term, dedicated conservation area of 61ha on the property, which will be set aside and not farmed," the spokesperson said.
As part of that work, up to 3,500 new trees - 11 varieties of shrubs and four varieties of native trees - will be added to the land.
But Mr Hermes sees the loss of hundreds of century-old trees as "a national disgrace", that contradicts the agency's commitment to sustainability.
"These trees have been there for generations, to think that they can be replaced overnight is madness," he said.
The spokesperson also said that efforts would be expended to improve the bio-diverse health of the creek that runs along the outer edge of the farmland.
"[Viridis Ag] is also carrying out further sustainable regeneration activities at Englefield Plains, including the rehabilitation of a permanent creek running through the property, to maximise habitat biodiversity for fauna and flora," the spokesperson said.
"This further activity is beyond what is set out in the Local Land Services certificate it has been granted."
In the past six weeks, Mr Hermes has been approached by senior staff at Viridis Ag and even offered the opportunity to collaborate in the creation of a bio-diverse corridor.
Yet he said he has been unsatisfied with their response to his concerns.
"To suggest that you can replace a 200-year-old tree with a handful of seedlings is an insult to my intelligence," he said.
"Is this really how we want to end up? Bulldozing trees to maximise productivity, no matter what's lost in the process?"
When contacted for further comment, a spokesperson for the Murrumbidgee Local Land Services said:
Approvals by Local Land Services for land management under the Land Management Framework are made according to the requirements to balance economic and environmental outcomes.
The Framework was developed after extensive public consultation and is designed to give landholders more flexibility on farm whilst protecting valuable environmental assets at a landscape scale.
This outcome is being facilitated by the new Land Management Code, delivered by Local Land Services and through record levels of $240 million investment into a private land conversation program being managed by the BIodiversity Conservation Trust.
Any concerns about land management requirements can be reported to the NSW Environment Line on 131 555.