Gary Dunnett, CEO NPANSW
It is a truth universally acknowledged that those who care about nature crave connection with natural places. Or something to that effect.
NPA is far from the only conservation organisation that traces its roots back to bushwalking clubs. Experiencing the best of natural landscapes and their inhabitants was, and remains, a powerful motivation for advocating for their protection.
Linda Groom, volunteer event organiser, NPA NSW
I had the privilege of helping organise the NPA’s celebration of the 80th anniversary of Kosciuszko National Park, at an event in Thredbo on 19th April. The event held some surprises and was quite an educational experience for me as an organiser.
Keith Muir, wilderness advocate
Just north of Lithgow, the 28,322ha Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area faces establishment, visitor and protection challenges as coal mining exits and heritage conservation replaces environmental abuse by trail bikes and 4WD vehicles. The $50 million reserve establishment fund should protect Aboriginal heritage including internationally significant pagodas landscapes, cliffs, canyons, over 80 nationally threatened species and countless other treasures, but will it?
This ‘national park in waiting’ was proclaimed in May 2022 and links the World Heritage listed Wollemi, Blue Mountains and Gardens of Stone national parks. However, the reserve can only be called protected if mining damage and the commercial development plans are stopped.
The reserve’s doubtful position in part arises from funds going towards high impact activities, under the belief that you can have your reservation cake and eat it. Reserve establishment funds are proposed to be spent on:
These developments would be at the expense of low-impact accessible visitor facilities suited to the reserve’s gentle terrain that would enable families to get close to nature.
On 3 November 2023 Environment Minister Penny Sharpe announced an intention to readvertise a lease for three accommodation hubs when she also scrapped a proposed adventure theme park. Over 300 objections to the pro-development management plan and more than 1,000 objections had been lodged against both the proposed accommodation and theme park leases.
Contrary to NPWS sustainability guidelines, three proposed accommodation hub sites are located on pristine ridgelines. These developments require an expensive ‘Great Walk’ with thousands of steps, that replicates opportunities provided by steep Blue Mountains tracks. It is a taxpayer-funded walk designed to deliver customers for Wild Bush Luxury facilities. Though this walk will be popular, it’s too demanding for families with grandparents or younger children.
While cancellation of the Lost City theme park, located on another prominent, iconic site is very welcome, the proposal is still in the plan of management and could be reactivated. This visually intrusive proposal included prominent platforms with cables strung between the platforms above the iconic Lost City pagodas that would have cancelled out its world-class views.
This over-development plan leaves insufficient resources for gentle walks through iconic pagoda landscapes easily reached from park roads that would suit the majority of visitors. Such plateau walks could be linked to create easy overnight walk opportunities at little cost. Wild Bush Luxury require development of pristine environments and exclusivity to market their accommodation facilities and a walk in this scheme is what is being funded.
Centennial Coal continues to mine beneath the Gardens of Stone reserve. The company’s mining has cracked the bedrock under nationally endangered swamps, leading to a permanent loss of all water and since then some wetlands have burnt to bedrock during wildfires. The reserve’s rehabilitation plan does not propose remediation of the severe swamp damage. This is surprising as Centennial is required to pay $28 million to offset swamp impacts.
A plan to restart mining at Angus Place must first pump the mine dry, dumping an additional 10 million litres of contaminated mine waste-water a day (10ML/day) into a stream that feeds Sydney’s main drinking water supply behind Warragamba Dam. The pumping will also dry out several swamps on Kangaroo and Lambs Creeks, and the Coxs River. Yet more Centennial proposals would dump additional mine waste into Sydney’s water catchment, rendering almost useless a $200 million dollar reverse osmosis treatment plant built to treat its mine waste.
The Planning department, Environment Protection Authority and the Parks Service are doing their best, but the NSW Government must provide directions to stop the damage.
Write to Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, at http://nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/ministers/minister-environment-heritage to let her know your views.
Ask that the management priorities for the new Gardens of Stone reserve be for basic visitor facilities, restoring damaged areas, including swamps, and controlling pest species rather than to deliver infrastructure that benefits commercial interests.
Request the NSW Government to drop the commercial accommodation leases and re-exhibit the plan of management to remove development proposals and deliver low impact nature-focused reserve establishment.
Ask the Minister for Planning, Paul Scully to require a review of mine water and waste management for Centennial Coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region to protect Sydney’s water supplies in co-operation with his colleague Penny Sharpe and the EPA.
Visit http://www.gardensofstone.org.au to keep up to date on this important campaign and take action on current issues.
James Sherwood, Conservation Campaigner NPA NSW
The recent listing of the Eastern Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) as a protected species in NSW has been met with jubilation from the conservation community and disbelief from the recreational fishing lobby.
The Eastern Blue Groper is not immediately under threat from extinction but has come close in the past. Between 1952-1967, the species declined by 90% and so spearfishers campaigned for the protection of the species, which led to full protection in 1969.
Read More “Does a species need to be on the brink of extinction for it to be protected?”
Lynne Hosking, President Armidale Branch
In March 2024, NPA Armidale and Tamworth Branches began celebrating their 50th Anniversary year with a convivial lunch in the historic Bendemeer Hotel. This venue offered the opportunity for old friends to catch up and to greet new members. Participants included 4 founding members and it was wonderful to hear stories from Ron Webster, Tamworth Branch, Peter Metcalfe the first President Armidale, Ian Johnstone who initiated an Armidale Branch, and Kate Boyd who joined with her parents. Slides and commentary by Kate and by Barbara Webster highlighted the joys and benefits gained growing up in NPA families, connecting with nature on walking and camping trips. Robin Gunning, Tamworth NPA President, thanked everyone for travelling to the event and Lynne Hosking, Armidale President, read a poem as expressed in these extracts from By the Care of our NPA Roots and Branches we Grow:
The recently reconstituted Recruitment and Awards Committee wants members to know that there are literally dozens of ways you can get involved with NPA.
NPA Members provide significant voluntary and financial support, bring knowledge and enthusiasm, provide direction and leadership, and carry out much of NPA’s activities. Without members, NPA couldn’t do what it does.
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