In what appears to be a pragmatic response to community pressure, the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday reported[1] that the NSW Government has not committed to stage 4 of the F6 motorway which would have resulted in 60 ha of Royal National Park being bulldozed.
The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) welcomes the reprieve from the proposal – originally rejected in 2004 by the NSW Labor Government – but calls on the Government to commit to permanently protecting the entire Royal National Park from development.
Alix Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer said: “Many in Sydney, and beyond, were rightly shocked when it emerged that the Government would consider putting a road through Royal just a few years after acknowledging its potential World Heritage values[2].
“Royal is dear to the hearts of Sydneysiders who are proud to have such a beautiful area on their doorstep, and grateful to have a tranquil refuge from Sydney’s fast-paced life.
“As we see rapid development across Sydney, it’s vital that the green spaces we have are protected for the benefit of people’s wellbeing. Expanding the F6 into Royal would have had noise and visual impacts across a large swathe of the park, not to mention the potential environmental impacts on native flora and fauna along the route.
“The decision is a win for citizens who have rallied together to show their opposition to this response to Sydney’s transport pressures; pressures which require a broad integrated transport strategy with public transport as a key pillar.
“That said, the decision couched conditionally as, ‘there are no plans to further investigate the remaining area between Loftus and Waterfall for a motorway”[3], can only be viewed as a reprieve.
“NPA calls on the NSW Government to rule out any future planning for stage 4 and extension of the F6 into Royal National Park”.
NPA is also concerned about a number of endangered ecological communities in other stages and calls on the Government to ensure that these are fully documented and protected from construction of the new M5 Arncliffe to President Avenue Kogarah extension and its impacts.
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Media contact:
Alix Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer, National Parks Association of NSW,
m: 0417 679 964
[1] SMH Article 18/10/2017
[2]Greg Hunt media release 8/10/13
[3] NSW Government, F6 Extension and F6 Stage 1 Development: Community Update, Spring 2017