Bushfire recovery and threats to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area were in the spotlight recenty when Federal MP for Macquarie Susan Templeman hosted a visit by Opposition Environment and Water Minister Terri Butler.
On Thursday March 4 Ms Butler met representatives from the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Blue Mountains Conservation Society, Science for Wildlife, and local Indigenous leaders.
She said her trip was motivated by concerns that the Federal government was leaving the Blue Mountains behind in terms of bushfire funding.
"The slow and botched roll out of bushfire recovery funds by the Morrison government for both communities and wildlife has been deeply concerning, including reports that important local populations of national icons like the koala are being largely ignored," Ms Butler said.
Ms Butler viewed bushfire regeneration areas at Blackheath, swamp protection measures in Wentworth Falls, and heard about key environmental and cultural heritage issues.
"Dr John Merson from the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute explained the ongoing work at Blackheath and the devastating effect the bushfires had on that environment, and shared the frustration over how little funding had trickled down for bushfire recovery," Ms Templeman said.
"He was also able to show Terri the work to protect swampland around Wentworth Falls Lakes.
"A round table of key environmental representatives and Indigenous leaders, including Gundungurra elder Aunty Sharyn Hall and Dharug leader Jacinta Tobin, then met to speak on their particular concerns."
Ms Templeman said chief amongst those concerns was a plan to raise the Warragamba Dam wall and the resulting loss of Aboriginal heritage.
"Decisions should not be made without drawing on the deep knowledge and expertise that local Traditional Owners and scientists have," she said.
