WA landowner fined for breach of Heritage Act

A Western Australian landowner has been fined $2000 after being found guilty of breaching the state’s Aboriginal Heritage Act after he built an access bridge at his property without seeking approval.

Tony Maddox built a crossing over a tributary of the Avon River — a site associated with the Rainbow Serpent on his property near Toodyay, east of Perth.

Mr Maddox had originally pleaded not guilty when the case went to trial in February last year, saying he had “never in his entire life” heard of the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

After an original crossing was damage deform flooding he used a contractor to help concrete the crossing.

He was prosecuted under the 1973 Heritage Act.

Mr Madixx was ordered to pay $5000 in costs and given a spent conviction.