Badgerys Creek Airport Proposal: HOW MANY MORE HANGING SWAMPS Flaws, Fiddles and Falsehoods MUST WE LOSE BEFORE THEY WILL BE The guest speaker at our general PROTECTED? meeting on Friday 25 August will be Noel Thank you to those members who provided Child. Noel is a successful and well- information on hanging swamps they know of which recognised environmental scientist and have been totally or partially damaged. engineer with over 30 years experience in Blue Mountains Swamps look as if they will get a variety of senior level appointments and no legal protection. The NSW Scientific Committee assignments within both the corporate and has been assessing our nomination to have this weed control (gorse) and private sectors. He has been involved in community listed under the Threatened Species possible planting on private the Sydney second airport issue for Conservation Act. land as well as in the almost a decade, having provided The Scientific Committee “recognises the National Park. Please bring technical advice to the former Federal conservation significance of Swamps” but did not water, morning tea, lunch Airports Corporation, the NSW Govern- believe that there is a risk of extinction. It implied and wear warm clothing, ment, and more recently the Western that this community was “vulnerable” and stated that long sleeves and wet weather Sydney Alliance. there is no provision for vulnerable ecological gear if necessary. The Debate about the need for a second communities under the Act. activity usually lasts 3-4 major Sydney airport, and the location of It does not make sense to wait until the swamps hours. any such facility, has proceeded for some are irretrievably degraded before they are given some The area will benefit fifty years. During the past twenty years, legal protection. If this community could satisfy the from the more the merrier — successive politically driven site selection criteria of being under threat of risk of extinction, it lots of hands will be a great and assessment processes have promoted would be too late and too expensive to restore. help. We can attack this Badgerys Creek in Western Sydney as the The Management Committee is approaching Bob noxious weed if we can get preferred second airport site. Debus as our local member as well as the Minister for adequate numbers to assist in These processes have proceeded to a the Environment to change the Act to give hanging this worthwhile activity. very large extent in the manner of a self- Join in, feel the pleasure fulfilling political prophecy. The need swamps some legal protection. We would like to see a new category which allowed for the listing of from really making a for, and siting, of a major second airport difference! For more has not been established on the basis of “vulnerable ecological communities” just as information ring Laura Hays, any objective analysis of underlying individual plant species can be listed as either Bushcare Officer on 4782 strategic factors, but rather on the basis of “vulnerable” or “endangered”. 7692 or email perceived bureaucratic and political need. It would strengthen our case considerably if there [email protected] At the meeting Noel will discuss the was proof of a high level of community support to many deficiencies of political, decision make this change to protect our swamps. You can ... More Activities making, and assessment processes to date, help by writing a simple letter to Hon Bob Debus, Some other Highlights of the and explore the prospects for a Member for Blue Mountains, 3/107-109 Macquarie Great Grose Gorse Walk are: sustainable, responsible and functional Road, Springwood 2777. Blackheath Golf Club , new future transport strategy. Hanging swamps are a very complex community activity, controlling noxious The meeting at the Conservation Hut, and vital to the functioning of our Upper Mountains nasties. 9.30, Mon 28 Aug. Fletcher Street, Wentworth Falls, will creeks and waterfalls. There is a need for protection Weedbusterlympics! start at 7.30 pm. Visitors are welcome. now, before they become degraded and just an item of Braeside area, Blackheath. scientific interest. If you want further information Come and see who can September Workshop contact Lyndal Sullivan 4782.1635 (ah). remove a square metre of The Impact of Fire on Biodiversity Montbretia, bag it and carry The loss of biodiversity of species is Meredith 4782.4823. it to scales the quickest! Sat one of the most serious environmental 2 Sept., 9.30 to 1 pm. issues in Australia today. Can bushfire Attack Gorse AGAIN! Wentworth Falls, former STP , bush hazard reduction be justified if species are The next Great Grose Gorse Walk is regeneration bush edges of weed plume. being lost? 19 August to 3 September. BMCS is Tues 5 Sept, 9.30. The impact of fire on biodiversity organising an activity day on Sunday Contact Cath Ireland (NPWS) will be discussed at a special meeting. 3 September. The site is at Blackheath, 4787.8877 (a.h. 4787.8061) for details of A panel of speakers who have expertise in corner of. Cross and Cleopatra Streets. other events and to register. fire ecology, including a speaker who will We will be meeting at 9am. It is to be a address the need to keep the community safe from fire, will “““Hut News ”, the newsletter of Blue Mountains Conservation SocieSocietyty Inc. address the meeting. There will be P.O. Box 29, Wentworth Falls, 2782 Phone 4757 1872 Fax 4757 1753 an open discussion with an Email: [email protected] Web page: http//www.pnc.com.au/~bmcs President: Robin MosmanMosman, Ph/Fax 4757.1354 First ViceVice President: Meredith BrownhillBrownhill, Ph.4782.4823 opportunity for questions. Second Vice President: Imre GahlGahl, Ph.4784-3286 CorrespondenceCorrespondence Secretary: Frances LoveLove, Ph.4757.2585 Meetings This event will take place along Secretary: Heather HullHull, Ph.4739.1493 Email [email protected] with other public events as part of Membership Secretary: Ross CosterCoster, Ph.(H)4759.1837 (W)4759.1247 Fax 4759.1095 Email [email protected] Earth Alive — Biodiversity Month Treasurer: Les CoyneCoyne, Ph:4757.3327 Fax:4757.2820 Email [email protected] Publicity: Jim Wallace 4784.3305 in September. The date is Friday 8 Land Use: Lyndal SullivanSullivan, Ph.4782.1635 Walks Convenor:Convenor: Bill GrahamGraham, Ph.4759.1692 September at 7.30 pm at the Plant Nursery Manager: David ColebyColeby, Ph/Fax:4784-1395 National Parks Officer: Lachlan GarlandGarland, Ph.4754.2796 Conservation Hut, Wentworth Falls. Bushcare: Laura HaysHays, Ph.4782.7692 Email [email protected] For more information phone Education Subcommittee Convenor: Meredith Brownhill, Ph.4782.4823 Bushfire Rep: Hugh PatersonPaterson, Ph.4751-2303 Email [email protected] Projects: Don MorisonMorison, Ph.4782.9974 or 4759.2128 KathyKathy Gott, Ph.4739-8124 Martin BeveridgeBeveridge, Ph.4758.9829 Helga EsamieEsamie, Ph.4787.7690 Email platypus@pnc.com.au Mike PurtellPurtell, Ph.4751.2143 Email [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Christine DaviesDavies, Ph.4787-7246 Fax 4787-7777 Email [email protected] Hut News , No. 157, August 2000 — Page 1. bird aviaries, barbecues and clothes lines Grose River with sewage effluent? Don Morison’s are permitted without Council approval. A sewage pipeline from Blackheath to column will This occurs under a policy called the the sewage tunnel at North Katoomba “Local Approvals Policy”. There is would close yet another major point return next currently a review of this policy. You source of pollution in the head-waters of month. can collect copies at Council offices and the Blue Mountains National Park, make your comments by 4 September. bringing to nine the total of This draft policy has some changes decommissioned sewage treatment plants. Land Use Report from the existing policy. Many The transfer scheme has already ensured If you want further information or requirements have been added like that the Kedumba River is clean enough can help with any of the following ensuring that water tanks are “colour for swimming once more and many other items, phone or fax Lyndal Sullivan matched to background”. Unfortunately areas have benefited. 4782.1635 (ah). there are no requirements to safeguard On the other hand if the local Threat of Hanging Swamp to be sold the homes of our native friends. This Blackheath plant is to be supported, the for Housing Development in Leura policy does not clearly exclude these question that we in BMCS should address State Government has plans to sell “minor” developments from is will the effluent be highly treated so it off 12 housing lots behind Leura Primary environmentally sensitive lands. can be reused or just discharged to the School for residential development. Some, but not all, privately owned Grose River? The only realistic reuse Most of this land is covered by a hanging environmentally sensitive lands are option is for drinking water, as swamp. Over half of the area is steep zoned Environmental Protection. In duplication of the water lines would be and zoned “environmental protection”. theory developments are not permitted enormously expensive and no areas of Immediately behind the school are on EP lands (but this is not reinforced in suitable farm land exist nearby needing five very weed infested lots which need this policy). Other sensitive lands have irrigation. It follows that Sydney Water some attention. The Crown Land starts been identified as “environmental and the Blue Mountains Conservation just north of where Churchill Street constraint areas” and others have not Society must convert Blue Mountains' intersects with Mount Hay Road. been identified at all. This policy will residents to drinking a shandy of treated If this land is to be developed, the continue the “death by a thousand cuts” clean and reused water. And will Sydney community will end up bearing many regime for these areas. Water carry through its commitments to long term costs. The cost of connecting The help of members is needed in develop water reuse anyway? Its track the sewer by repairing the damage speaking to Councillors about this. If record says no. caused by the connection in the buffer possible put your pen to paper and write The current proposal for a Blackheath area, the damage to the swamp from the to the General Manager, BMCC. sewage plant will not meet the given housing development, the additional Developments in “Bushland pollution standards for discharges urban impacts on Govetts Creek and the Conservation” and Rural Areas entering a national park. The plant's cost to NPWS to clear up this creek in Over the last few years there has been design "targets" (note that word) are not the Park. much controversy about holiday cabin adequate and unlikely to become realities The Dept Land and Water Conserv- developments and those claiming to be given past experience with sewage plants. ation are currently undertaking an assess- “educational facilities”. Council is The promise is for phosphorous loads to ment of this land before any decision is seeking comment on a proposed change decrease to less than 20 per cent of made (we hope) about whether Landcom to developments permitted in bushland current levels (p. 5-40 of the EIS). As can sell it. It is expected that a draft these current levels are 30 times the upper areas (zoned Bushland Conservation) ANZECC (1992) guideline (p. 5-14), the report will be available for public and rural areas like the Megalong Valley comment during August or maybe new plant's effluent will be six times and Sun Valley (zoned Rural Bushland above this phosphorous guideline. And September. Comments from concerned Conservation). residents can help protect this land. there will be a lot more effluent, up to 3.5 These proposals are contained in million litres per day. However, while Either watch out for the details of the Amendment 30 and are on display for this is a lot of effluent, it comes from less exhibition in the Gazette or ring Lyndal comments until 21 August. This than 5 per cent of the catchment of the and register your interest in this matter, amendment also includes a proposed Grose River. So with water coming from so you can be notified. change in the wording of the definitions the other 95 per cent of the catchment the Sale of Public Lands of three of the “sensitive vegetation Grose will not be starved of water if the There is concern across NSW about units” identified for protection in LEP91. effluent goes to Winmalee for treatment public land being sold off. The Nature This is for legal reasons to better and discharge to the Nepean. Conservation Council, of which we are a withstand challenges by developers. As for the claims that an upgraded member, wants detailed information so Upper Mountains Sewerage plant will limit urban expansion, the that they can take some action on this. reverse may be true. Water reuse would We need help from members to let us Keith Muir is director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness and a create a massive increase in water know of any land you know which has availability that could easily pave the way been “sold off”. Member of BMCS. He disagrees with the Society position on the Upper Blue for unlimited urban expansion, whereas We are particularly concerned about drinking water will be more scarce if the bushland, but want to know about it all. Mountains Sewerage Augmentation Scheme (see article in July Hut News). sewage is transferred to Winmalee. Obviously there is the Queen Victoria The Blackheath sewage upgrade Hospital site at Wentworth Falls, but In the interests of democracy and fairness, his reply to my earlier article option risks turning the river bed of the what about sites sold off for housing? or Grose into a weed filled ditch. This sites owned by the Education follows. Note that I have received no other disaster has happened to many urban Department etc etc. We need details on streams. Suddenly a critical level of gross location, and if you know anything about negative feedback from members, and pollution (excuse the pun) is reached and, its size, which government department have already started lobbying politicians almost overnight, the stream bed becomes and what condition the land was. to proceed with the preferred scheme. full of weeds. Once this happens, there is Should Garden Sheds be Permitted Ross Coster, Water Cycle Sub- no going back. Will it stand up to twenty Just Anywhere? Committee years of sewage pollution? How many gazebos does it take to Grose Pollution The Blue Mountains sewage transfer kill a heath? How many cubby houses The Blue Mountains Conservation scheme will protect the Grose. What a does it take to destroy a swamp? We Society members have fought for decades shame to leave it fatally flawed by should soon know the answer to these to defeat over -development and pollution allowing sewage pollution from questions if the Council continues to of the Upper Mountains. So why should Blackheath to continue. Keith Muir. allow “minor” developments to occur in we reject connection of the Upper Blue BMCS member. environmentally sensitive areas. Mountains towns to the Winmalee sewage Currently “minor” developments like scheme which avoids pollution of the

Hut News , No. 157, August 2000 — Page 2. Christmas, or for Mothers' Day, or as a Nursery Notes rather special "Thank You"? Ask any Greenhouse Corner Nursery Contract Nursery volunteer, or phone me direct. ReforestationReforestation------AA Personal Challenge The BMCS team of Nursery Plant prices at the Nursery are only $2 We know that the volunteers is pleased to announce that we (small) or $4 (large), so you get a lot for growing amount of C02 have a contract with the RTA for the your money! in the atmosphere supply of 25,000 native plants of local Lawson Nursery Extensions contributes to the green- provenance in tubes for revegetation of Our Nursery business is expanding: house effect causing Shell Corner when the road straightening over the last six years turnover has global warming. The and widening has been completed. increased by over 20 per cent each year. time has passed when The work will extend from Mort The Lawson Nursery, which we built with mankind can stop the Street in Katoomba, west over a new a capacity of 10,000 plants 18 months doubling of C02 by 2030, bridge across the railway line and thence ago, is already becoming too small. so what we do from now to Rowan lane, adjoining Bonnie Doon. So, we have decided to spend the on may help to stop the tripling of C02, and The new roadway will be four lanes wide remainder of the sum allocated in 1998 by consequent climate changes. and 1.2 km long. We expect to supply the Management Committee for the Most people feel somewhat helpless when the 25,000 plants in batches over the next Lawson Nursery to increase the capacity faced by global scale changes. Restating the two years or so. There will be a good to 30,000 plants. This new phase of our challenge in more person-oriented terms may be proportion of Eucalyptus oreades, the activities comes about because the BMCS useful. The plan is based on the observation that Blue Mountains Ash, a species which is Nursery has established itself as a reliable people generally feel more guilty about driving a such a feature of Shell Corner. supplier of native plants of proven car with only a single occupant than most other Nursery Truck provenance and quality, plants grown for energy-consuming activities. The question posed At its June meeting, the BMCS Blue Mountains conditions, and delivered Management Committee approved is "How many growing trees must any one of us on time and at the right price. cultivate to 'mop-up' the C02 we produce by purchase of a brand new Toyota Hilux The Lawson Nursery is principally for Workmate truck with a flat tray 1.8 x 2.4 driving about 20,000 km a year in a car?" A contract work: we do not conduct retail rough answer can he obtained as follows; metres. The truck will be used for sales there. nursery work and a host of other Retail Native Plant Sales assuming that the car travels 20 km on each litre activities. You can come to the BMCS of petrol and burning each litre or petrol liberates Ross Coster arranged sign-writing, Blackheath Nursery any Tuesday about 2.4 kg of CO2 to the atmosphere the car and the truck now looks very smart, morning, 9 am through 12 noon, browse produces annually somewhat over 2000 kg of especially with the Society's black through our stock, and make your $2 and CO2. One hectare of young and vigorous trees cockatoos on both doors. Ross has $4 purchases to ensure a brilliant display takes up 7500 kg of C02 each year. Thus we already used the truck to carry some of native plants in your own garden. must cultivate about a quarter of a hectare of large BMCS signs from Lawson to the Turn east at the Blackheath traffic lights, trees, an area two to three times larger than Digger Cooper Reserve bushcare site. 2.5 km down Govetts Leap Road, and at most house plots in Australian suburbs. Thus we Gift Vouchers the roundabout turn left down Lyndsay need young saplings planted over all our gardens Another brilliant idea, this time from Lane for 200 metres. The nursery is in and parks just to reduce our car-driving C02 Joan Gahl, gives you the opportunity to the workshop compound of the NPWS. contribution to zero. send a friend a BMCS gift voucher for David Coleby, Nursery Manager, Phone Remember too that once mature, these trees that special occasion. Laura Hays used and Fax 4784-1395 must be felled and the timber used in long-lived her skills to design and produce these projects such as building construction so that the vouchers, which are for native plant Organic Materials Trials C02 we've removed cannot he liberated back to purchases from the BMCS Blackheath Blue Mountains City Council has the atmosphere. The mature forests around us Nursery. completed the first of two Organic are not absorbing as much C02 as new plantings. There are three denominations, $20, Materials Trials, aimed to reduce the Can we all find a spare, bare quarter of an $50 and $100. Why not send one for that amount of organic material in the hectare to plant? My own contribution presently, birthday or wedding anniversary, or for domestic waste stream. The project was is to run my car on LPG, which is less damaging trialled in two areas of the City to ensure than petrol. Bill Graham that the demographic Snippets from a “Haiku Journey” differences between Murphy's Track with Jim Smith Upper and Lower area participating. In the kerbside A tiny village Mountains were taken into trial, over 95 cubic metres of brown fungi rooves breaking through the leaf litter. account and aims to branches and prunings were encourage residents to chipped. The trial will be run Below the cliffs compost their organic nearly buried again in September to ensure that materials, with kerbside peak garden growth periods are a dry-stone wall. chipping of bulky woody To Castle Head targeted. materials that are not easily Throughout the year Council is They roar back composted whole. The also running, in partnership with at the chopper's motor material was mulched in Intelife, the EPA’s “Earth Works: these cut buff cliffs. commercial chippers and Living with Less Waste” course, returned to the kerb for the which teaches participants about (Looking over the Kedumba valley, we looked towards householder to reuse as King's Tableland, where there's a sacred site.) organic material management and compost or mulch. other waste reduction methods. "Black boy" Information packages (A copy of Council’s leaflet, living dangerously distributed to households “Why Waste It”, is enclosed with right on the edge. within the trial area included this newsletter). (“Black boy” is one name given to Xanthorrhoea, simple ‘how-to’ guides for also known as grass tree) composting, worm farming and low waste gardening, Transit of Venus at Woodford with Jill Dark with more comprehensive The birds squittering booklets available and chucking wheelies- on request. Membership Enquiries drunk on nectar? Community Contact Ross Coster feedback has been (Phone --- Work) 02 4759.1247 Out of the valley positive, with (Phone --- Home) 02 4759.1837 we part swiftly - approximately (Fax) 02 4759.1095 a snow-blowing wind. 15% of households (Email) [email protected] (Diana Levy, 2000) within the trial (Post) PO Box 29,Wentworth Falls 2782 Hut News , No. 157, August 2000 — Page 3. Environmental TAFE Courses DATES FOR YOUR DIARY There are still places in a range of Aug 19 Management Committee Meeting. 9 am, Mid Mountains Community courses offered by the Environmental (Sat) Centre, Lawson. Studies section at Blue Mountains Aug 25 General Meeting , 7.30 pm, Conservation Hut, Wentworth Falls. College of TAFE. (Fri) Guest speaker will be Noel Child: “Badgery’s Creek Airport Proposal: We are running Bushland Regener- Flaws, Fiddles and Falsehoods”. (See Page 1) ation (full-time day), Interpretive Sept 8 Workshop: The Impact of Fire on Biodiversity. (See page 1) Guiding modules (day), Natural QUOLL CLUB (Activities for 16 and under) Resource Management (part-time, Aug 11 Spotlighting and Didgeridoo Playing. Meet 7 pm, Katoomba Falls evenings and weekends). If people only (Fri) Kiosk, Cliff Drive. want to do a handful of modules or even Sept 13 Exploring our Wonderful Biodiversity. Meet 10 am at Intelife, corner a single module then they may select (Wed) of Blaxland and Cook Roads, Wentworth Falls. Drive down the long from modules like: Plant I.D., Geology, drive to the carpark and then walk to the office. Ecological Techniques, Environmental For more information contact Jessica on 4757.2783. For a copy of the Law or Wildfire Behaviour. Contact Ben Quoll Club Newsletter, phone Ross Coster 4759.1247. Correy 4753 2152 or Sasa Kennedy BUSHCARE (Tools provided — bring morning tea and gloves.) 4753 2080 for further information. Aug 08 Valley of the Waters Bushcare Group. Contact Jessica 4757.2783 for Toddlers’ Bushwalks (Tues) the meeting place. (following Tuesday if wet). Toddlers’ bushwalks have resumed Aug 13 Digger Cooper Reserve Bushcare Group. Meet 9 am at the Reserve on the first Wednesday of the month. (Sun) (GWH, West of Sorenson Bridge). Contact Ross Coster 4759.1247. Walks are of one hour duration, meeting Sept 3 Great Grose Gorse Walk activity (see page 1). at 10.30 am, different locations. Get BUSHWALKS : Carry drinking water (minimum 1 litre), bring morning tea, them young! Bring your child or and lunch for day walks. Wear shoes with a good tread. grandchild on an easy and safe bushwalk. Monday Leisure Walks: Usually half day walks, leisurely pace. I would also be grateful to hear from Aug 07 Bruce’s Walk, Bullaburra end. Ideal medium walk for winter. Meet anybody who has has ideas for suitable Bullaburra Station carpark 9 am. Contact June Tobin 4759.1280. Half walks. Contact Megan Llewellyn day, Medium.. BBQ afterwards. 4759.2734. Aug 14 Birdwood Gully Circuit. Meet Springwood Station carpark 9 am. Don’t Burn Western Woodlands Contact Allan Macaulay 4739.2767. Heritage tree! Half day. Easy. Woodlands on the central tablelands Aug 21 John’s Seat. Meet Woodford Station carpark (south side) 9 am. are being decimated this winter as the Contact Jock McKechnie 4758.6346. Half day. Blue Mountains warms itself by the glow Aug 28 Murphy’s Glen Turpentine Walk. Meet Woodford Station carpark of the fireplace. The Ironbark commun- 9 am. Contact Jock McKechnie 4758.6346. Half day. Easy. ities around Mudgee and Capertee and Sept 04 Glenbrook Crown Land Circuit. Meet Glenbrook Station carpark the Yellow Box and White Box 9 am. Contact Allan Macaulay 4739.2767. Wildflower walk. BBQ communities west of Orange are the after. primary sources of firewood for commer- Weekend Bushwalks: Walks of various grades, full or half day. cial operators. Habitat is being lost and Aug 05 South Woodford Waterfalls. Meet Hazelbrook Station carpark 9.30am. biodiversity is suffering. These species (Sat) Contact Kate McManus 4758.7936. Half day, Easy. are not being replanted and thus Sept 02 Engineer’s Track to Grose River. Meet Mount Victoria Station 9 am. firewood harvesting can be compared to (Sat) Contact Jock McKechnie 4758.6346. Day, Medium. open cut mining. There has to be a better Leaders are needed to fill in the gaps for September. Phone Bill Graham way! 4759.1692 to nominate a walk which you would like to lead. Victorian National Parks Association Walks have been graded . Easy : Mostly good surfaces, but some rough or steep sections. recently released a business plan titled Suited to people of average fitness. Medium: Includes rough or steep sections, some of “The Business of Growing Firewood for which may require clambering over natural obstacles. Discuss with leader if in doubt. Hard : Strenuous walks, suited to fit and experienced walkers. If this is your first walk , or you are Profit in Victoria”. My research in any doubt, contact the leader or Bushwalks Convener Bill Graham 4759.1692. indicates that plantation firewood, while often a feature of permaculture farm plans, is not widespread on farms. The 'Dawn of 100 new national parks' with a media and in countless other ways. We idea of plantation firewood has just large colour picture of one of the would like to thank the Blue Mountains caught on in Victoria, but to my members of Friends of Durras in his Conservation Society for their support. kayak on Durras Lake. The article read Without widespread community support knowledge is not occurring in New "One of the most popular and beautiful our campaign would not have been South Wales. It is about time that it did. parks, Murramarang, is to have its area successful. The resources to make this a reality — increased fivefold (from around 2,000 We hope you will be able to visit this land, labour, technical knowledge, hectares to 11,500 hectares) and will now special area soon to enjoy what we knew treestock and water — may already be take in the catchment of Durras Lake — was worth fighting for. We are planning available to members of BMCS. We forest previously managed for timber a celebration for the long weekend in could share our resources to make it harvesting by State Forests. The October. When details finalise I will let happen. I would like to hear from executive director of the Total you know and hope you will be able to anyone interested in this concept. Environment Centre, Mr Jeff Angel, said: attend. Thank you again. Regards, Contact Ian Lett on 4759.3171, email 'Murramarang, in particular fulfils the Geoffrey Bartram, Friends of Durras [email protected]. dreams of two generations of conservationists.’ Welcome to New Members Friends of Durras Bill Boldiston, Leura (You may all remember a leaflet distrib- It is indeed a dream come true for the small communities of the Murramarang Vince Di Battista, Leura uted with Hut News some months ago Allan and Roslyn Wells, Blackheath asking for support for the 'Friends of area. We have been campaigning for the expansion of Murramarang National Park Peter and Umi Freeman, Paddington Durras' in their campaign to extend Bernadette Hodgson, Bullaburra Murramarang N.P. Well it worked!) since 1985. Finally we have a govern- ment which has listened to the desires of a Deidre Lassau, Leura Thank You!!! On Friday, April 14, Robert Paton, Blackheath 2000 Bob Carr announced that his small community willing to work towards government would create a huge network protecting its local environment. Angelo Bavaro, Blackheath of 324,000 hectares of national parks on We owe a great deal to many Gwyneth Trysant, Katoomba the south coast. The Sydney Morning individuals and organisations who have Mrs M Clarke, Blackheath Herald front page story on Saturday was helped us both financially and with Emily & Victor Turner, Hazelbrook support to politicians, with letters to the (Quoll Club)

This issue of Hut News has been printed on 100% Recycled Paper Hut News , No. 157, August 2000 — Page 4.