The Blue Mountains Conservation Society is hosting a Protect our National Parks community rally on Sunday February 24 at 2pm at the Lawson Mechanics Institute.
“Our national parks are currently facing many threats including high end accommodation and other development proposals, fast-growing visitor numbers, and impacts from invasive species and climate change”, said Madi Maclean, president of the Society.
“The Blue Mountains National Park is also facing destructive flooding from the proposed raising of the Warragamba Dam wall and the impacts of the Western Sydney airport,” she added.
The Blue Mountains National Park forms part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, internationally recognised for its outstanding biodiversity values.
“National parks need good managers who are sufficiently resourced to protect the parks’ values”, said Ms Maclean. “However, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which manages our national parks on behalf of the community, has been subject in recent years to funding cuts, restructuring and loss of staff expertise.”
The Blue Mountains National Park is one of the most visited areas in NSW.
“By having a community rally we want to show the candidates in the upcoming federal and state elections how much the Blue Mountains community cares about our national parks”, said Ms Maclean.
Speakers at the rally will include:
- Anne Dickson - President of the National Parks Association
- Carolyn Pettigrew - Park Watch
- Keith Muir - Director of Colong Foundation for Wilderness
- Joan Domicelj, AM - Former Chair, Greater Blue Mountains and Australian World Heritage Committees
- Madi Maclean - BMCS president .
The event is free. Bookings are recommended but not required. Go to www.bluemountains.org.au
