| Sydney Olympic Park Authority: "Hands Off" | |
The National Parks Association of NSW calls on the NSW Government to quarantine wetland and woodland areas from redevelopment within the area to be managed by the soon-to-be-created Sydney Olympic Park Authority.
NPA Executive Officer, Andrew Cox, commenting on a newspaper report today said, "The plan for the Authority to take over management of Bicentennial Park, Silverwater Nature Reserve and Olympic Coordinating Authority lands with conservation values may degrade the areas."
"We are warning the Government to keep its hands off these areas to support the economic returns needed for sporting sites."
"Of particular concern is management of the 48 hectare Silverwater Nature Reserve, created by the Government on the day of the Olympic Opening Ceremony after sustained lobbying by NPA."
"This would be the only nature reserve in NSW not managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). This area is too important to be left to the vagaries of economic forces."
"Critical to the viability of Silverwater Nature Reserve is an urgent properly formulated management plan prepared by NPWS for the rehabilitation and conservation of these threatened woodland communities and adjacent vegetation. Instead we may see new car parks and increased public access in areas needed for biodiversity conservation."
The conservation areas contain the threatened Cumberland Plain woodland, Sydney’s only example of a complete estuarine zonal succession from Eucalypt woodland through to the intertidal zone, the endangered green and golden bell frog and significant numbers of migratory waders such as Latham’s Snipe, Curlew Sandpiper and Red-necked Stint protected by international migratory bird treaties.
"We also want to be sure that the future of the green and golden bell frog and migratory waders using the area is guaranteed in any management arrangements. Experts in ecology, rather than economics, are needed and their advice implemented", said Mr Cox.
The NPA has already asked the Premier to clarify management of the "buffer zone" surrounding Silverwater Nature Reserve that is critical to its viability.
Contact: Andrew Cox 9299 0000 or 0438 588 040
11 January 2001
Some Photographs taken during one of the announcement ceremonies in 1999: click here.