Environment Minister Shoots Down National Park Peace Deal

Western Sydney Conservationists Outraged

The National Parks Association has slammed Environment Minister Pam Allan’s recent action to revoke part of the Dharawal State Recreation Area (SRA) in western Sydney to provide access to a disputed rifle range development. The range site, controlled by the Illawarra Shooters Association, was left out of the Dharawal SRA when it was dedicated in 1996 to protect the nationally significant wetlands, Aboriginal sites and rare flora of the O’Hares Creek catchment.

NPA executive officer Noel Plumb stated "It is extraordinary that the Minister for the Environment has revoked part of the national parks estate to allow a gun club access to a Crown property for which they have no development consent or valid lease."

Earlier this year the Land and Environment Court ruled that development consent for the rifle range had lapsed and ordered that no works be carried out on the site. Conservationists are also claiming that the lease for the range site held by the shooters is invalid and therefore they have no right of entry over the SRA.

" Following the court case, NPA entered into discussions with the shooters club to assist in identifying alternative sites. Ms Allan has pre-empted possible further court action and has completely undermined the efforts of the interested parties to resolve this matter amicably".

The National Parks and Wildlife Service last year fined contractors who bulldozed a path through threatened plant species in the reserve in order to reach the rifle range site and commence development.

"In 1994 Bob Carr promised to protect the area as a national park but in fact in 1996 the Environment Minister only created an SRA over most of the land and held back part for a rifle range. Now we are seeing bits of the reserve hacked of for uses completely incompatible with the surrounding natural area."

"The Minister’s action to secure the access for the gun club flies in the face of local community efforts to protect this precious bushland and she needs to explain herself, " Mr Plumb said.

For comment: Noel Plumb 9233 4660 or 018 975 075