Environmental News and Action
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Environmental News and Action |
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VICTORY AT O'HARE'S CREEK CATCHMENT In the last edition of the Journal it was reported that Macarthur Branch was fighting an appeal in the Land & Environment Court by clay miners against Wollondilly Council’s decision to reject a proposal to extract clay in the O’Hares Creek catchment. O’Hares Creek is located at the top of the Georges River catchment between Campbelltown and Wollongong. Most of the catchment is protected in the Dharawal Nature Reserve and State Recreation Areas; however, several extractive industry sites are located on the edge of the catchment. The hearing was set to go ahead in August – however, the clay miners withdrew their appeal just three days before the hearing commenced. Macarthur Branch President Beth Michie stated, "The withdrawal of the appeal by the clay miners the Friday before the start of the hearing indicates the strength of the case put up by NPA and the Council". NPA and Wollondilly Council applied to the Court in September seeking an order for the recovery of professional costs from the clay mining companies involved. STOP PRESS! The application for professional costs was successful. Tim Carroll |
YENGO AND THE MYSTERY OF A MISSING MAP
The Draft Plan of Management for Yengo National Park and Parr State Recreational Area (June 2001) rates amongst the worst in memory, impeding progress in meaningful consultation with the Central Coast Branch of the NPA and the local community.
For instance there appears to be only one map available and the one that is available lacks the right detail.
For instance there appears to be only one map available and the one that is available lacks the right detail.
Provisionally Identified Wilderness (PIWA) sites should be marked to protect specified areas and must also identify major towns and access points, including distances from the Wilderness areas.
This in turn could lead to a potential wilderness declaration for those areas.
Significantly, as part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Yengo NP falls under the 1987 Act as part of the 100,000 (approx) hectares that was envisaged likely to become wilderness.
Mt Yango Station has been added to the National Park . This is good news – an addition of some 1500 hectares – but again there is insufficient detail on the proposed management of the grazing area and rainforest.
Other points of contention for the NPA include:
· The NPWS aims to give notice of termination of all the Permissive Occupancies within declared wilderness within two years of finalising and adopting the plan. This should happen as soon as possible and across the whole National Park.
· There is no clear distinction between park and public roads or guidelines on
vehicular and cycle access.
• Reference is made to horse riding tracks. It is NPA policy that there be no horse riding in National Parks so a strong argument needs to be put forward to confine this activity to Parr State Recreation Area. Also to clearly identify and monitor the tracks.
• There is no mention of fire management.
In conclusion, there is much work to be done to bring the Draft Plan into reality. Particularly and as a matter of priority, the ‘missing map’ saga needs to be solved.
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LAUNCH OF BIODIVERSITY SURVEY MANUAL Pictured -Environment Minister Bob Debus (right) and Clean Up Australia CEO, Ian Kiernan (left) congratulate Claire Carlton, editor (centre) at the launch of the Manual. Want a copy? See Reviews
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PLANS OF MANAGEMENT
New Plans of Management adopted by the State Minister for Environment
this year to date include:
•Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve
•Kanangra-Boyd National Park
• Wollemi National Park
•The Nattai Group of Reserves (Nattai NP, Bargo SRA, Burragorang SRA,Nattai SRA & Yerranderie SRA)
•Tarawi Nature Reserve
•Blue Mountains National Park
Newly gazetted Reserves:
•Wolli Creek Regional Park
•Parramatta River Regional Park
Declared Wilderness area:
•Grose Wilderness (May, 2001)
Plans currently on public exhibition:
• Yengo National Park and Parr State Recreation Area (until 15 October)
In its next issue, the Journal will include an update on Draft Plans of Management and the big picture – the total NPWS Estate!
Information supplied
by:
Alison Ramsay, NPWS
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Earth Charter Conference notice 29 Nov-2 Dec Brisbane |
More Money for Land Acquisitions – Less for Threatened Species
Details of the NSW 2001/02 budget were difficult to come by when announced in May 2001. Our fears have now been confirmed. NPWS will receive a 40% cut from $6.5million (M) to $4M in its yearly threatened species program funding for preparation and implementation of species recovery plans. However, one-off funding for some plans may supplement this.
Land acquisition was the big winner in the budget. $19.2M will be spent over the next financial year on purchasing land for addition to the reserve system.
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The 2001/02 acquisition budget includes: Central and Western NSW: $7.9M Dunphy Wilderness Fund: $2M Other components are: General discretionary fund: Northern Occupational Permits: Coastal lands (8b): Northern leasehold lands: Sydney drinking water catchment lands: |
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'Under not Over' Lane Cove River
The Minister for Transport announced in August that the proposed Parramatta to Chatswood rail link will now tunnel under the Lane Cover River in the national park, rather than crossing it with a bridge. Many locals are pleased with the change, but this still requires a ‘cut and cover’ operation, and the revocation of a strip of national park. NPA and local community groups and councils supported an alternative location for a bridge.
SEVENTEEN REVOCATIONS
Without notice or consultation, in March 2000 the NSW Government introduced legislation proposing to revoke 17 small areas from national parks and nature reserves.
NPA opposes any reduction in size of conservation reserves, and called for an independent investigation into how the need to arose to revoke these areas, many which were caused by illegal transgressions into NPWS lands.
One revocation was a garbage tip constructed without permission in Wee Jasper Nature Reserve by Yass Council in 1990, while another was for a private house constructed ‘inadvertently’ 50 metres within Barren Grounds Nature Reserve. Others were for existing and proposed freeways. In most cases compensatory land was offered in order to justify the revocations.
The Upper House cross-benchers and the Opposition supported NPA’s objections and blocked the proposed legislation. In response, NPWS conducted an internal inquiry that revealed the poor procedures and made 17 recommendations for an improved process. These recommendations were adopted by the Government and changes made to the legislation to ensure that the revocations could only take effect after suitable compensation.
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WHEELER CREEK UPDATE Wheeler Creek Valley in Sydney’s northern beaches is an area of important biodiversity that is still under threat from State Environmental Planning Policy 5 proposals. Fortunately, the first development proposal was quashed in August. A preliminary biodiversity survey in March was followed up with a survey in September when more plants were in flower.The NPWS are aware of the threatened species we located in March and helped us with the Spring Survey. Readers can show further support by contacting Sydney Branch of NPA or writing to Warringah Council. Judith Bennett |
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