Colong Foundation for Wilderness

Media Releases

Return to Current Media Releases

Colong Foundation Media Releases (2009 archive)

• Local Government Association wants National Parks kept safe for nature - 6 Nov 2009

• Mt Piper Power Plant Expansion exposed in water grab - 28 Oct 2009
• Blood Sport in National Parks - the true face of conservation hunting - 26 Oct 2009
• Community Demands answers from Government on Hunting Bill - 22 Oct 2009
• State Plan Review heralds massive tourist development - 2 Oct 2009
• So what’s next for NSW, Developer Deals for National Parks? - 9 Sept 2009
• Public concern grows over new blood sport law - 31 August 2009
• Mt Vic – the existing Road Alignment - another ‘least worst solution’ - 27 August 2009
• Premier must kill off Shooters' Party Bill - 10 August 2009
• Call to reject mining in national parks - 23 July 2009
• The Devil's in the detail of the Metropolitan Mine approval - 25 June 2009
• NSW Coalition puts the Government's Green Credentials under the Gun - 22 June 2009
• Outrage at shooter's plan for hunting in national parks – 11 June 2009
• Yengo Wilderness Protected – 1 June 2009
• Trading water for Coal - Spotlight on catchment protection - 19 May 2009
• Lithgow Council fails to consult on Hassans Walls track – 30 April 2009
• Colong Foundation welcomes the Newnes Super road being dumped – 1 April 2009
• Springvale Colliery - a swamp killer – 23 March 2009
• Water Minister supports Environment Groups' position on water – 20 March 2009
• Concern over Changes to National Parks Laws Grows – 28 February 2009
• Approval of shooters mega-complex a blow to nature conservation – 11 February 2009

The Blue Mountains Conservation Society
Colong Foundation for Wilderness
National Parks Association of NSW
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre
Total Environment Centre
The NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service

Friday 6 November 2009

Local Government Association wants National Parks kept safe for nature

Environment groups today congratulated local governments across NSW for uniting to oppose NSW Government plans to develop national parks and open them to hunting.

The Annual Conference of the Local Government Association last week resolved to express concern about opening up National Parks to recreational hunting and commercial development.

The Local Government Association expressed concern about any move to allow recreational shooting and plans by the NSW State Government to develop commercial facilities inside National Parks.  The Association is also concerned that the National Parks and Wildlife Act and the Wilderness Act may be amended to facilitate development.

The Association resolved that improved, low-key facilities for National Park visitors and better promotion to encourage more public use, off-park accommodation and other services will support local economies whilst avoiding more impacts on National Parks.

“The support to keep national parks safe for nature and appropriate public enjoyment has grown steadily over the last six months.  Many have expressed the same concerns and we hope that Premier Rees and the Opposition will ensure National Parks are not exploited for either blood sport or by the development of commercial facilities,” said Keith Muir, Director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“The Blue Mountains City Council working with community conservation groups and through a network of Councilors, including those in Sydney City Council, Ashfield, Strathfield, Willoughby, Weddin and Warringah councils were successful in getting the motion passed through the conference”, he said.

“To achieve effective and humane pest species eradication programs requires fully trained professionals hired and supervised by National Parks staff, not rank amateurs out for a bit of hunting fun.  Game and Feral Animal Control Bill introduced by the Shooters Party has to be entirely rejected,” said acting Executive Director of the National Parks Association, Bev Smiles.

“This mounting opposition to the Rees Government plans for national parks should force a rethink. The community has sent a clear message: no new accommodation for national parks and no recreational hunters in national parks”.

“National Parks are for nature first and are more valuable in their natural state.  National Parks already make a massive contribution to community wellbeing and the economy through hosting 38 million visitors a year, protecting wildlife, providing ecosystem services and supporting a nature tourism industry worth $20 billion a year in NSW.  These precious areas should be remain set aside from development and recreational hunting, forever”, said Cate Faehrmann, Executive Director of Nature Conservation Council of NSW.

http://www.lgsa-plus.net.au/resources/documents/Record_of_Decisions.pdf      see page 36/37

CONTACT: Bev Smiles 0428 817 282, Keith Muir 0412 791 404

Top of page

Mt Piper Power Plant Expansion exposed in water grab

28 October 2009

The proposal to expand the Mt Piper power plant identifies Springvale Colliery as the source for any additional water resources needed for the plant.  A large diameter pipeline from that mine is being laid now, even though the power station’s expansion plans have yet to be approved. 

“A new pipeline for the proposed power plant expansion is under construction from the Carne Creek catchment on Newnes Plateau.  The new pipes are double the size of the existing water transfer system installed in 2005 and will be located parallel to it.  It can carry more than 30 megalitres a day,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“The big pipes being laid on Newnes Plateau quash the previous mealy-mouthed reporting by coal miners on water resources.  The massive pipeline reveals the extent to which the longwall coal mining under the Plateau impacts upon its water resources”, said Mr Muir.  

“Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), environmental consultants for Delta Electricity’s Mt Piper expansion proposal state that, “Discharging mine water from collapsed shallow workings, such as those in the Mount Piper area, tends to be low in salinity because of its accessibility to infiltrating rainwater, but acid in places.” (Env. Assessment, for the Mt Piper Extension Ch 5, Pg 5-2, my emphasis)  

“The comments by SKM confirm what environmentalists have believed for a long time; that longwall coal mining damages surface water resources.  These remarks confirm a connection exists between surface water and inflows to the Springvale coal mine sourced by the Mt Piper power plant”, Mr Muir said. 

“This SKM revelation means that longwall mining under streams and nationally endangered shrub swamps on Newnes Plateau must be stopped to prevent further damage to natural resources.  Centennial Coal must place protection zones over the Plateau’s endangered swamps and under Carne Creek,” Mr Muir said. 

“Springvale Colliery recently began moving its Delta/Springvale Water Transfer Scheme into the Carne Creek catchment.  The Scheme will impact upon water flows to the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort downsteam, as well as dry out the nationally endangered shrub swamps above the mine,” he said. 

“The huge new pipeline also blows the whistle on Delta Electricity’s claim that little addition water is required for the Mt Piper expansion from 1.4 to 3.4 gigawatts.  The water augmentation scheme is a pre-emptive development that can suck the Newnes Plateau dry,” Mr Muir said. 

For more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (ah)

Top of page

Blood Sport in national parks -
the true face of conservation hunting

26 October 2009

“A deal between the NSW Government and the Shooters Party on the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill would see more hunters and their dogs using national parks for their distasteful blood sport,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“The Government should reject the Shooters Party’s bullying and uphold their election promise not to allow hunting in national parks.  The Government should support our national park rangers who continue do an excellent job on pest management despite the problems caused by hunters,” he said. 

“Rangers have virtually eradicated feral pigs from the new 80000 hectare Yanga National Park near Balranald in the Western NSW.  Similar results have been achieved by parks staff in many other national parks throughout the state,’ Mr Muir said. 

“Unfortunately recreational pig and deer hunters operate illegally in many of the tablelands parks inland from coastal areas, seeding national parks with feral animals.  Seeding parks with exotic feral animals for the benefit of hunters will also occur time and time again if the Shooters Party new laws allowing private game parks are ever introduced in NSW,” said Mr Muir. 

“One example of blood sport was discovered on Sunday October 18^th, when hunters and their dogs were found unlawfully operating in the Tallaganda National Park near Braidwood. 

“Unrestrained pig dogs, wearing chest protectors and standing on the bonnet of a 4WD vehicle, were seen poised ready to strike as the vehicle moved along Mulloon fire road through the park. 

“This irresponsible and highly dangerous behaviour is counterproductive to established feral animal control programs.  These hunters usually only kill the odd pig but disperse many more back into the park.  Traps set to capture large numbers of feral pigs are then vandalised or left empty. This is the true face of ‘conservation hunting’. 

 “Blood sport with guns, dogs, or bows and arrows must never be allowed in our national parks and the NSW Government must not further weaken hunting laws”, he said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

The Blue Mountains Conservation Society
Colong Foundation for Wilderness
Humane Society International
Invasive Species Council - Australia
National Parks Association of NSW
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre
Total Environment Centre
The NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service

Community Demands answers from Government on Hunting Bill

Top of page

State Plan Review heralds massive tourist development

2 October 2009

The current State Plan Review has proposed massive tourist development with weaker development control. The State’s oldest wilderness protection group, the Colong Foundation, fears this proposed strategy for NSW will target national parks and other environmentally sensitive areas currently protected by ‘red tape’.

“The State Plan Review aims for 25.5 million more visitor nights and an increase in tourist expenditure of $19.2 billion by 2015-16. This massive tourism growth is to be facilitated by performance contracts for departmental bosses that require them to cut $500 million worth of ‘red tape’, together with $40 million of funding for Tourism NSW and finance through access to a $70 million slush-fund for major developments,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness (see pgs 6 & 7 State Plan Review, 2009).

“There’s hardly any red tape left to cut in planning. The planning laws were tremendously weakened by the notorious Part 3A amendments that greatly reduced public participation and environmental protection in relation to development. Through these changes significant development already is controlled by ministerial fiat”, Mr Muir said.

“Removing more red tape is unlikely to ‘best reflect the needs and priorities of the NSW community’ in relation to tourism development,” Mr Muir said (see The Premiers Foreword to State Plan Review, 2009).

“This State Plan Review could instead initiate tourism development on a scale that exaggerates boom/bust cycles in local economies from over-enthusiastic investment, particularly as overseas tourism is very dependent upon a vibrant global economy,” Mr Muir warned.

“Tourism development is usually situated in very attractive locations. Environmental protection zones and national parks could well become the next tourism development opportunity in NSW, if the red tape that protects these areas is cut”, he said.

“The NSW Government wants to weaken the National Parks Act to make development easier”, he said.

“National parks and environmental protection zones have long been areas were developers can’t go. They are a sanctuary from this mad, mad, world for nature and for ourselves,” said Mr Muir.

“If the State Plan Review is to be hell-bent on further cutting of ‘red tape’ regarding these sensitive areas, local communities, heritage and conservation groups are likely to become united in their efforts to stop the NSW Government’s development bulldozer”, Mr Muir said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

So what's next for NSW, Developer Deals for National Parks?

9 September 2009

Our national parks now confront the biggest attack on their nature conservation principles since the National Parks and Wildlife Act came into being in 1968. Plans for commercial development and blood sport threaten the very idea of national parks.

“National parks boss Ms Sally Barnes has described as a “paradigm shift” the NSW Government's plans to generate revenue from commercial activities for future park acquisitions and conservation (Sun-Herald 6/9/09). What these plans really represent is a public-private development regime involving national park land”, said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness .

“This paradigm shift of developing parks to generate funds is a very slippery slope. It is a blueprint for the retreat of State Government funding of parks and park jobs. At its worst it could become a vehicle for the kinds of commercial-in-confidence park acquisition arrangements that Justice David Lloyd described last week as a “land bribe” (SMH 1/9/09), Mr Muir said.

“The NSW Government needs this park commercialisation “paradigm shift” right now about as much as a hole in the head!”, Mr Muir said.

“The very purpose of national parks is to set these areas aside from development. Parks should not become the next new development opportunity for the white shoe brigade,” said Mr Muir.

If sustainability is to be achieved by our society in any shape or form, then we must put the ecological integrity of national parks and wilderness areas before our wishes for private eco-resorts, glamour camping, motor sport rallies and blood sport with dogs, bows and arrows and bullets,” he said.

The National Parks and Wildlife Act should not be amended to facilitate park development. Doing so could make the conservation efforts by the Parks Service dependent upon future park development deals and an insidious program of land bribes”, said Mr Muir.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

A final public meeting to protest against the proposed shooters’ law will be held regardless of the decision the Government makes next week, on Wed 9 September, 5.30-8pm, in the Theatrette at Parliament House, Macquarie Street.

OUR PARKS AND ANIMALS ARE NOT FAIR GAME

The public meetings in Pymble, Sutherland and the Blue Mountains resolved:

That this meeting opposes the Shooters Party Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill that allows:

and calls on the Premier Nathan Rees and the Leader of the Opposition, Barry O'Farrell to oppose this Bill and see to it that the entire Bill is voted down.

Top of page

Mt Vic – the existing Road Alignment - another ‘least worst solution’

27 August 2009

“The decision to put the new highway to the west off the Blue Mountains plateau down the existing road alignment using a short tunnel and ramp is may be the ‘least worst option' but will have major impacts on the local environment,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“Today Minister for Roads, Michael Daley, announced the “Orange Corridor” option this morning at a meeting held at Mt Victoria . This corridor goes around the back of the town, some say it goes through the back of the town, and then by a short tunnel at the top of Victoria Pass ”, he said.

“It is easy to understand why the local community booed the Minister's announcement in these days of ‘least worst planning'. Integrating transport needs and modernising the rail system are matters of national importance but the billions for roads just keeps coming step by step, project by project”, said Mr Muir.

“If this corridor proceeds to construction it is hard to see how scenic Berhofers Pass, a popular and historic walking track below Mt Victoria, and the scenic gully in which it is located can be saved. It will probably be smothered by thousands of tonnes of rubble and concrete,” he said.

“The poorly located current easement for River Lett pass will no doubt be avoided by a road diversion to reduce the grade.”

“The new road corridor could encourage more big trucks to divert to this highway. And the current ban on B-double trucks using the Gt. Western Highway over the Blue Mountains will come under great pressure to be removed if the by-pass is built. The ban should remain in place in any event to prevent excessive impacts of Mountains communities that are caused by these large trucks”, Mr Muir said.

“All these impacts are pretty bad, but then if you knew the other options you would know why this is probably the ‘least worst solution' for a new highway off the Mountain” he said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

Premier must kill off Shooters' Party Bill say environment and animal welfare groups

10 August 2009

Environment and animal welfare groups today united to call for the scrapping of legislation that would expand game shooting in NSW and are holding a series of public meetings across the State.

The organisations include the Invasive Species Council, WIRES, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, The Wilderness Society, Colong Foundation for Wilderness, National Parks Association of NSW and Total Environment Centre.

The groups have written to Premier Nathan Rees, calling on the NSW Government to stop wasting taxpayers' money propping up and expanding an ineffective Game Council and instead use it to finance effective and humane feral animal control programs consistent with Government standards.

The State Government is due to consider supporting a Bill introduced by the Shooter’s Party – the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill – when Parliament next sits in September. The groups have organised a number of public meetings throughout the State to show widespread opposition to the Bill.

National Parks Association Executive Officer Andrew Cox, said, “This Bill will expand the role of the discredited system of recreation shooting under the Game Council.”

“If passed, the amended Act could see hunting of 26 native animal species, the establishment of private game parks, the release of more feral animals, and the state's national parks opened up for hunting,” Mr Cox said.

“For conservation and welfare reasons, feral animal control is not a job for amateurs. At best, skilled recreational shooters can contribute to properly run programs to supplement other methods.

“Hunters are already responsible for some of Australia’s worst feral animal problems, having introduced foxes and rabbits into Australia. These amendments would see even more feral animals introduced, putting the lie to claims that the Game Council's aim is to reduce feral animals,” he said.

“The hunting bill before Parliament provides for the release of a number of exotic bird species into NSW, many of which have been assessed as a serious threat to agriculture or the environment.

“The Game Council claims that its hunting services are free. But it neglects to factor in the $9.4 million of taxpayers' money granted to them since 2003,” said Cate Faehrmann, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Executive Director.

“We are calling on the NSW Government to conduct a proper assessment of the performance of the current Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002, before considering any amendments to it,” Ms Faehrmann said.

The groups, along with local environment groups, are organising a series of public meetings to protest against the Game Amendment Bill at:

• Hazelhurst Regional Arts Gallery, 782 Kingsway, Gymea on Thu 13 August at 7pm
• Santa Maria Centre, 253 Gt. Western Hwy, Lawson, Blue Mtns on Sat 15 August at 10am
• Ku-ring-gai Town Hall, 1186 Pacific Hwy, Pymble, near the Station, on Tue 25 August at 7pm
• Red Dove Hall, cnr Keen & Woodlark Streets, Lismore on Wed 26 August at 6pm
• Theatrette, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney City on Wed 9 September, 5.30-8pm

Media enquiries: Jane Garcia, Media and Comms Officer, Nature Con Council on 0402 757 342

Top of page

Call to reject mining in national parks

23 July 2009

Director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness, Keith Muir, called on the Coalition Parties to confirm its opposition to mining in national parks, following proposals by Pangaea Resources to explore for coal seam gas in the Blue Mountains .

“In 1990 the Coalition passed the National Parks and Wildlife (Mining Prohibition) Amendment Act that prevented the exploration and mining of national parks in NSW,” said Muir.

“We ask the Coalition for reassurance that it will stand by that initiative and not allow mining or exploration in national parks or nature reserves”, he said.

“Any push by the Minerals Council or anyone else for mineral exploration or mining in national parks would be very destructive”, he said.

“I reject the claim by Martin Debelle of Pangaea Resources in today's Herald (page 3) that the coal seam methane gas “ extraction can have almost no impact on the surface ””, Mr Muir said.

“When coal seam methane gas extraction precedes coal mining it requires a maze of roads, bore holes and pipes to extract the gas from the field. Often massive amounts of saline groundwater must be discharged at the surface so that the gas may be won from the coal seam,” he said.

“Any suggestion that all that roading , well heads and toxic water pollution is going to have no impact is nonsensical,” said Mr Muir.

“The exploration can be just as bad, as the bore holes and roads are developed under guise of ‘exploration'. Coal seam dewatering tests then take place to prove up the resource. As the old mine workings around Nattai are to be tested for gas, this exploration could pollute Lake Burragorang with toxic mine water”, Mr Muir said.

“Coal seam methane, is not a clean source of energy when our waterways and water supplies are polluted with saline, metal rich groundwater extracted from the coal seam,” said Mr Muir.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

The Devil's in the detail of the Metropolitan Mine approval

25 June 2009

“The approval of Peabody's massive coal Metropolitan mine extension will allow coal mining under the stored waters behind Woronora Dam, so the mining boffins that have got it so wrong in the past, better have it right this time”, warned Mr Keith Muir, director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“At a glance it appears that the recommendations 1974 Renyolds Royal Commission into mining under stored waters are essentially implemented under this approval, which is a good thing, as it was the only open and transparent process ever conducted into mining in catchment areas. Last year's inquiry was too closely aligned to the mining industry and its results are not to be trusted”, said Mr Muir.

“The devil is in the detail of the Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally's approval and it really reads like the fine print in a car warranty,” he said.

“The offered “protection” of two reaches of two steams and the retention of bigger coal pillars under the stored waters in Woronora Dam is an inadequate response to ensure water supply security. Sutherland's only water supply must not fail, not ever, and that requires protection of near surface groundwater through a significant reduction in the intensity of coal mining,” he said.

“Intensive longwall coal mining, which takes place over most of the approval area will lower the near surface groundwater levels, which must adversely impact upon the stream flow in the Woronora water supply catchment. The coal industry has not effectively monitored near surface groundwater over the 40 years of longwall mining in water catchments to avoid facing this fact”, Mr Muir said.

“You must be a cynic, as coal mining abuse to streams has only got worse over the years,” said Mr Muir.

“The announced back filling of coal waste into the mine is a good initiative, and I support this experiment, as it is a good idea, but there is also a fallback in the approval. I hope that the Minister has thought through the fallback emplacement area and where the masses of new coal waste may have to go ?, wondered Mr Muir. Hopefully not into one of rainforest gullies along the Hacking River , as proposed but rejected in the early 1980s”, he added.

“The 400,000 tonnes of coal that can be hauled by truck under this approval will reduce road safety in the Illawarra . There should have been a requirement that all coal be hauled by rail”, Mr Muir said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

NSW Coalition puts the Government's Green Credentials under the Gun

22 June 2009

“Today the Coalition parties made a strong stand for wildlife and national parks by opposing most of the Shooters Party proposed hunting legislation. They have taken the middle ground from the Government on this issue”, said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

The key question is which way will the NSW Government now jump - into the arms of the Shooters Party or throw out their legislation and seek to win back some of its lost green credentials? The Government must make a choice between appealing to the conservation vote or that of a few thousand hunters, as it can't do both,” he said.

“We welcome the Coalition's stand against the hunting of native wildlife, including in national parks and in private game reserves, which is tactically a very smart move”, Mr Muir said.

“The NSW Government has erroneously assumed that the green vote has nowhere else to go but Labor. The reality is that the all critical middle class green vote is steadily defecting from Labor with every passing month,” he said.

“The Premier's wavering today on the shooters' planned hardening of hunting laws is an indication of the NSW Government being out of touch with this key element of its middle class supporter base”, Mr Muir said.

“The Coalition quickly grasped that hunting of wildlife in national parks is repugnant and has also to their credit acknowledged that illegal release of pest species onto public lands as a serious problem. So the middle ground on this issue has gone to the Coalition, and Labor must now choose to throw the legislation out or be seen as anti -conservation by supporting the Shooters. The other alternative is to thank the Coalition by adopting its initiatives”, he said.

“Supporting the Shooters Party new Game bill would be a high risk activity for Labor , and would only increase the political blood bath in marginal electorates, both in the inner city and on the green outer rim of suburbs so critical to the next state election,” said Mr Muir.

“Political logic requires the Government to not only throw out this Shooters Party bill, but also reverse the undemocratic manner in which public lands is opened up to hunting and wind back the powers of the autocratic Game Council, as suggested by the Coalition today, Mr Muir said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

Outrage at shooter's plan for hunting in national parks,
wildlife hunting and feral breeding programs

11 June 2009

“Last week the Shooters Party introduced legislation into the NSW Parliament to allow hunting in national parks, and which would also allow native species to be hunted,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“The Colong Foundation for Wilderness calls on all major parties to throw this wretchedly damaging the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill out of Parliament into the gutter where it belongs”, he said.

“The hunters lie about hunting providing feral animal control. Recreational hunting is a prime cause of pest species dispersal, and what's more taxpayers subsidise it to the tune of millions of dollars a year, so that it costs $323 an animal killed. Shooters lie about the benefits, as they mostly kill rabbits and only kill half the animals they shoot, causing untold needless suffering in the pursuit of their blood sport”, he said.

“But the biggest lie of all is that hunters are conservationists, when now they are demanding access to hunt native wildlife. The Shooters Party legislation proposes 26 native species as suitable for hunting down on public land, which includes national parks,” he said.

“Ground shooting by recreational hunters is totally ineffective as feral pigs, rabbits, dogs, deer, foxes and cats breed up fast. Further hunting pigs with dogs spread these pests into remote areas, and what is more hunting dogs can go out of control and these brutal hunters often run off to go feral in the bush”, said Mr Muir.

“In the case of deer, hunters buy deer from struggling deer farms and release them into the bush to hunt. Their Government funded lobby, the Game Council, recently opposed listing deer as feral species, ignoring the damage these pests cause,” he said.

“Hunters often leave deer carcasses in the bush, as many want only the antlers as trophies, providing meat for feral dogs, foxes and pigs populations. Female deer are not targeted, so there is no control of these pests that the hunters call game”, Mr Muir said.

“In short giving hunters a new law to help spread feral animals into national parks for hunting purposes is as bad as it gets,” said Mr Muir.

“If you think this sounds over the top, then how about releasing exotic bird species such as pheasants, European partridges, California quail and guinea fowl to damage farmer's crops? The Bill wants to support the breeding up of these pest birds on ‘private game reserves' that are not currently present in NSW , which is simply a formula for a feral animal time bomb”, said Mr Muir.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

Yengo Wilderness Protected

1 June 2009

“Today the Colong Foundation welcomes the announcement of a 119,000 hectare Yengo Wilderness, which expands the wilderness estate in NSW to over two million hectares,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“Yengo is a step in the right direction for the Rees Government; and it’s first for wilderness protection. I hope that Premier Rees hears the call of the wild when he visits the Yengo Wilderness today, and supports a program for wilderness protection and management, which is badly needed”, said Mr Muir.

“Its been a long wait for Yengo, the closest wilderness to Sydney and Newcastle. The Colong Foundation nominated Yengo for assessment over ten years ago under the Wilderness Act”, Mr Muir said.

“Yengo is the last of the five great wilderness areas within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area to be protected and it has the highest plant diversity of all these areas,” he said.

“Yengo is the classic sandstone wilderness of interlocking spurs that rises above the Hunter Valley toward a prominent basalt peak – Mount Yengo,” said Mr Muir.

“Unfortunately Mt Yengo was excluded from the wilderness announcement to allow commercial tourism and vehicle access around it. And management of the Yengo National Park will remain essentially unchanged, as the main 4WD vehicle routes remain open, cutting the wilderness into four large pieces”, he said.

“We still have a chance to get things right and treat Mt Yengo and the wilderness with respect. Visitors need to step away from their vehicles and embrace the heart of this country. More ‘windscreen tourism’ and on-park tourist accommodation just transfers our everyday experiences into national parks. This is a formula for disappointment”, he said.

The problem that the Rees Government has is that his Department of Environment and Climate Change is planning to allow tourist accommodation into remote park areas - a total reversal of the national park traditions in this great State. Such a reversal is being done without consultation. This is one more big reason why Premier Rees needs to hear the call of the wild today. Pity his advisors chose not to invite a representative from the Colong Foundation to this wilderness announcement, but then we’re pretty wild about their development plans”, Mr Muir said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

Trading water for Coal - Spotlight on catchment protection

19 May 2009

Woronora and four other dams south of Sydney provide essential water supplies to Sydney and Wollongong but these supplies are imperilled unless the intensity of underground coal mining in the region is curbed.

“For years, Government authorities have stood by while coal miners cracked stream beds and damaged swamps in the water supply catchments for Sydney and Wollongong . Now, higher impact coal mining proposals are coming forward,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“Instead of increasing protection, the NSW Government's 2008 Southern Coalfield Mining Inquiry recommends taking more risks with water supply security. Imposing protection zones at the mine approval stage should not be abandoned,” Mr Muir said.

“Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally , must open her eyes to the catchment damaging consequences of the Inquiry's risk management approach,” Mr Muir said.

“Protection must be assured for essential streams and swamps. The Inquiry's risk management zones are a formula for catchment degradation, where mining experts will apply increasingly intensive mining and experimental rehabilitation strategies. Further damage to the streams, swamps and catchments must surely be the result. Premier Rees must stop the mining damage within our drinking water catchments,” he said.

“Deferral of protection zones that work, for on-going risk management is exactly what it says it is; a bigger risk with a bit more management”, said Mr Muir.

“The Inquiry's proposed Risk Management Zones for sensitive catchment areas equals more damage. To undertake further studies on mining damage and conduct experimental repair techniques is a high risk strategy that should be rejected, Mr Muir said.

“ Sydney 's water supply security depends upon the preservation of those streams and swamps that supply the clean fresh water,” said Mr Muir.

“We should ensure these precious water supply catchments are kept safe for the generations to come”, Mr Muir said.

PUBLIC FORUM ‘Trading Water for Coal' will be held

6:30pm, Wednesday 20th May, 2009

Level 1, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts 280 Pitt Street , Sydney

Discover the disparity between what is being done and what
must be done to stop the damage to our water supply catchments.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

Colong attacks Lithgow Council's failure to consult on Hassans Walls track

30 April 2009

Lithgow Council needs to consult with the public on the future of Hassans Walls, its biggest conservation asset.

“Adequate public consultation on developments, such as recently approved mountain bike race track, is essential for public reserves, like Hassans Walls”, said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“Council should also properly consult on the yet-to-be-released reserve management plan for Hassans Walls”, he added.

“Annoyed local conservationists are gathering support that seeks to rescind the Development Approval for the Hassans Walls Mountain Bike Downhill Track. A petition has been prepared asking for proper consultation with the community before the race track proposal is reconsidered,” Mr Muir said.

Council's Environmental Advisory Committee ignored

“Council seems very determined to stay out of touch with conservation management. Lithgow Council has ignored its own Environmental Advisory Committee. This Committee has had no formal involvement on either the Hassans Walls Reserve management plan or the review of the mountain bike development proposal. Council's processes risk damaging the reserve and insults volunteers working on committee for Council to provide environmental advice,” he said.

Mr Muir said that “The endangered purple copper butter fly, Paralucia spinifera , is found on the site and could be at risk from the downhill mountain bike track system.”

“Public consultation on development in public reserves needs to be comprehensive and adequate. In this case other more appropriate places for this track could be identified or improvements made in the development's design. Competing interests also should be identified and the environment protected. These are just some of the benefits of public consultation on reserve management and development, given by citizens to council for free. All council has to do is engage the public interest,” he said.

Lithgow Council's siege mentality on environmental issues must end. I appeal to Council to lift its game on community consultation, particularly in regard to the management and future use of the public's reserves under its care,” Mr Muir said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

Colong Foundation welcomes the Newnes Super road being dumped

1 April 2009

“ Newnes Plateau is a natural wonderland just to north Lithgow and from today it is safe from any further plans by the RTA to upgrade Great Western Highway ,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“ The Colong Foundation welcomes t he RTA's decision to throw out the Newnes option for the Highway upgrade because it was a too expensive and conflicted with Defense requirements at Marangaroo , near Lithgow ”, he said.

“The RTA's April newsletter to residents, which has been leaked to the Colong Foundation, is, however, surprisingly silent on the impacts to the World Heritage Area. All the current road options impact on the World Heritage Area and the Grose Wilderness near Mt Victoria village”, Mr Muir said.

“We do welcome the RTA's further consideration of a tunnel option for the Mt Victoria by-pass,” he said.

“Upgrades that use a tunnel and closely follow the existing highway alignment would discourage traffic diversion to the narrow and winding Bells Line of Road. Only such options can prevent an increased accident rate from extra traffic using the Bells Line”, said Mr Muir.

“The tunnel option and upgrading the existing road on the Blue Mountains ' Western Escarpment are less damaging solutions”, Mr Muir said.

“Rejecting the Newnes Corridor also means that the Bells Line Superhighway is much less likely. That fiscally insane ‘super-road' proposal is now dead for the third time,” he said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

Springvale Colliery - a swamp killer
(‘Minor damage' claim is ridiculous)

23 March 2009

“Centennial Coal is making misleading assertions in regard to the damage caused by Springvale Colliery. A crack in the sandstone bed under East Wolgan Swamp that captures 7 megalitres of water a day with no detectible re-emergence of flow downstream cannot be described by the company as ‘ minor damage' . I t's very major, ecosystem changing, stream destroying damage ,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“Centennial's Subsidence Management Status Report for March 2009 states ‘ the cracking [of East Wolgan Swamp ] is minor and the evidence being gathered in the form of sequential photographs is demonstrating that the cracks are rapidly weathering and filling with silt .' This ‘minor crack' has, for over six months, captured entirely 7 megalitres of water discharged each day by the colliery from a point upstream.

“The vegetation in East Wolgan Swamp is dead or dying, as the mining company knows”, Mr Muir said.

“Centennial's Status Report for March euphemistically claims the tea trees in East Wolgan Swamp near the crack and at Junction Swamp are showing a ‘ lower condition ranking' ,” he said.

“Centennial Coal's recent claim that soil moisture in East Wolgan Swamp “ has been influenced (positively) by the emergency discharge events” is also misleading . ” Saline mine water discharges do not positively substitute for the swamp's fresh water. It has poisoned the shrub swamp vegetation in East Wolgan Swamp , although weeds, like blackberry, prefer the salty water discharges,” said Mr Muir.

Swamp Protection Zones

“The Colong Foundation believes adequate protection zones are necessary for these vitally important Nationally Endangered upland shrub swamps on sandstone . The swamps are supposed to be protected under the Commonwealth Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act but current mine regulation has failed to provide the needed protection,” he said.

“Adequate swamp protection zones are needed to prevent streambed fracture and loss of flow into, or out of, all wetlands that overlie Centennial's underground workings”, Mr Muir said.

“Current swamp management plans and monitoring reviews are a delaying tactic to avoid these protection zones until it's too late,” said Mr Muir.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page

Water Minister supports Environment Groups' position on water catchments

20 March 2009

The Colong Foundation for Wilderness today has welcomed the decision by the NSW Government to greatly strengthen catchment protection in the Southern Coalfield.

“Water Minister, Phillip Costa, has advised the Foundation that “ all future mining proposals in the Southern Coalfields are being requested to amend and improve mine planning ”. This is very good news, as Peabody Pacific is pushing for a more risk taking, higher impact mining approach for its Metropolitan colliery proposal in the Woronora catchment,” said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“The Government's decision will bring to an end Peabody's damaging mining practices in the Woronora drinking water catchment that badly cracked the bed of the Waratah Rivulet ”, said Mr Muir.

“Minister Costa has outlined that mining proposals must now “ meet specific natural resource outcomes, such as avoidance of streambed fracture, the inception and diversion of inflows to the Sydney Catchment Authority storages, fracturing of the geological basement underlying SCA storages, loss of flow into, or out of, all wetlands overlying the underground workings, and creating any hydraulic connections between surface and fractured hard rock ground water resources ”, he said.

“This is an important list of directions that places priority on protecting essential water resources, rather than maximizing coal yield and compromising water supply security”, Mr Muir said.

“The Colong Foundation strongly supports this move and rejects the recent remarks made by Peabody Pacific about mine closure as “emotional rhetoric#,” he said.

“We will work hard with the NSW Government to ensure these effective catchment protection prescriptions are enforced on all coal mining proposals”, Mr Muir said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

A copy of Minister Costa's letter of March 10 th is available by fax

# Peabody Pacific Media Release 16 March “ Peabody fights Metropolitan fears”

Top of page

Joint Media Statement         

Concern over Changes to National Parks Laws Grows

28 February 2009
Public opposition is growing to proposed changes to National Parks laws that will allow new commercial accommodation in national parks. This follows a public meeting of leading environmental activists in Sydney on Thursday night and similar public meetings across the state over the last three months .

The changes to the National Parks and Wildlife Act were agreed by Government when they adopted a report by a task force on tourism and national parks in December last year.

Legislation is expected in the next session of Parliament to weaken both the National Parks and Wildlife Act and the Wilderness Act.

Public meetings have been held so far in Coffs Harbour , Port Macquarie, Wentworth Falls , Bermagui and Canberra and six other locations in Sydney .

All of the meetings unanimously supported resolutions calling for no new private accommodation in national parks and instead supported public investment in national parks with accommodation provided in nearby towns and nearby private lands.

At the meeting in Sydney last night, the speakers debunked the argument that new commercial development in national parks is needed to fund park management or to significantly increase visitor numbers.

“We are determined to stop the weakening of the national park laws”, said Keith Muir.

“There is a growing band of activists who have pledged to organise further action against the changes to the laws.”

“What we want instead is public investment in good walking tracks near major vehicle and public transport access points, rangers on the ground to assist with enhancing the nature experience and basic visitor infrastructure . , said Andrew Cox, executive officer of the National Parks Association ”

“If our national parks offer good experiences and you provide access and promotion to key sights then the people will follow, whether they are local visitors or international tourists.”

“This way the surrounding towns and their businesses with their ready-to-go infrastructure can also share the benefits , without development of national parks .”

“There is a growing band of activists who have pledged to organise further action against the changes to the laws.”

The resolution passed unanimously in Sydney last night is below.

For more information contact:
Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (ah)
Andrew Cox: w (02) 9299 0000; m 0438 588 040

Resolution for Tourism and National Parks Public Meeting 26 Feb 09

This public meeting calls on the NSW Government to:

1. uphold the primary nature conservation purpose of the National Parks and Wildlife Act and the Wilderness Act;
2. reject fast track or other special park processes that identify ‘development ready areas' inside national parks for the tourism industry;
3. ensure wilderness areas remain undisturbed and free of all infrastructure, commercial uses and large numbers of people, where natural processes can thrive and visitors can renew their spirit;
4. reject all new built accommodation and new private tourism facilities in national parks;
5. improve Government investment in low impact, well maintained toilets, walking tracks and basic, good quality camping facilities, and for some suitable parks, a visitor centre;
6. direct built accommodation, visitor support infrastructure and services off park to adjoining towns and appropriate rural areas, as this location will provide the greatest benefit to communities and parks;
7. keep the cost of visiting these precious areas small, so that parks remain accessible to everyone as the most democratic spaces we have, free of elite commercial precincts;
8. provide increased funding and support to national parks to ensure protection of conservation values, the provision of quality low-impacting visitor opportunities and the promotion of the experiences offered by national parks.
9. ensure the public has sufficient opportunity to review and provide input into the management of national parks and any proposed commercial uses.
10. re-direct planning for nature based tourism in NSW towards these ends.

# National Parks as used here is a generic term for all types of parks reserved under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974.

Top of page

Approval of shooters mega-complex a blow to nature conservation

11 February 2009

“On Monday Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally approved six shooting ranges and car parking for 200 cars on 1000 hectares of former conservation reserve that adjoins the Heritage listed Nattai Wilderness, the first wilderness to be protected in NSW.

“The Minister's claim that 900 hectares of the shooter's facility will remain for conservation ignores the man-proof fence around the site. The fence will block movement of koalas and most other wildlife along Bargo Fauna Linkage just as much as if the entire site was cleared”, said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“The thought of hundreds shooters blasting away at six firing ranges will put everyone else off visiting the adjoining national park entirely,” he said.

“While areas of bushland previously earmarked for proposed shooting ranges are to be added to other national parks, these are not compensation. These proposed shooting ranges on high conservation value lands should never have been contemplated. And somewhere along the line the mooted closure of the existing shooting clubs in the Illawarra dropped off the Minister's media statement ,” said Mr Muir.

“No gains for conservation exist. The current Bargo State Conservation Area only protects a third of the Crown-owned bushland in the Bargo Valley, while scenic areas, like the Mermaid Pool, remains unprotected”, he said.

“Lead from the bullets and shotgun pellets pose a risk to Sydney 's drinking water supplies and the ranges over the years will become a sites for this hazardous waste. Minister Keneally's approval establishes six lead contaminated sites inside mega-shooting facility, located close to the stored waters of Warragamba Dam”, Mr Muir said.

This approval was presumably recommended by former National Party leader, Ian Armstrong, who chaired independent Planning Panel. Why a NSW Labor Government should appoint a dyed-in-the-wool National to consider in an unbiased way the development of a shooting facility next to a World Heritage listed wilderness in the Blue Mountains is a mystery. I doubt that it can be resolved; it's a puzzle bigger than the pyramids of Egypt . The question's so big, it stares you in the face”, he said.

For more information contact: Keith Muir , (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 0412 791 404 (mob)

Top of page