Manly Dam Urban Bushland Watershed

Wednesday, 16 June 1999 10:00

"This protest is a result of 4 years of stonewalling and inaction by the NSW Government after numerous failures of process to conserve this site and develop effective urban bushland protection policies. Their credibility on Urban Bushland conservation is in tatters," he said.

"Its ridiculous in this day and age, for politicians and citizens to have to resort to throwing themselves in front of bulldozers to stop obviously inappropriate developments in high conservation value bushland in the middle of the Olympic City," he said.

"Development must not be allowed to run amok over Sydney's precious natural heritage, the people know it and so should Bob Carr and Andrew Refshauge", he said.

The Ardel owned site is located at the headwaters of the Manly dam Catchment and together with the neighbouring Manly Dam reserve is listed on the Register of the National Estate as a National Heritage site. It is home to threatened species including the Red Crowned Toadlet, Climbing Galaxias (40 million year old land locked green and golden fish). and the Endangered Ecological Community Duffy's Forest Community.

Prior to the 1995 state election the Carr Government promised much improved protection for privately owned bushland and just after the recent election win the Premier repeated this intention.