The first major Campbelltown protest rally in years did not boast giant numbers.
Fewer than 100 Campbelltown residents attended the rally at St Helens Park organised by Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown.
But what it lacked in numbers it more than made up for in passion, energy and determination to stop the disappearance of yet another piece of local bushland.
The rally was held to send a loud signal of their strong opposition to a proposal for a subdivision to allow 355 new homes – many on tiny lots – in bushland off Kellerman Drive, St Helens Park.
Public submissions on the proposal to Campbelltown Council will close on December 23.
“I am really happy with the turnout to the rally,’’ said organiser Ricardo Lonza.
“The main thing is to send a message to council and the developer that we will fight this all the way,’’ he said.
“We are prepared to organise another rally in the new year to save all this,’’ he said, pointing to the bushland in question behind him.
He and the other opponents to the subdivision say that if it goes ahead it will have a massive impact on the Macarthur region koala colony because hundreds of trees would have to be removed to make way for homes.
Many of the speakers at the rally claimed this development would be thin edge of the edge for local koalas, as well as other bush animals such as wombats and wallabies which call this local piece of bushland home.
Campbelltown Councillor Ben Moroney, who got elected on a Greens ticket, told the South West Voice that while local government regulations prevented him from deciding his stance before the issue came to a vote, he had a poor opinion of the proposal.
He cited bushfire risk and the negative impact on the Cumberland Woodplain and the wildlife within the 75 acres of bushland if it was converted to homes.
“Apart from anything else, with 16 percent of all homes in Sydney vacant it is not necessary to build these extra homes,’’ he said.
“They are just not needed.’’
The rally was opened by local Aboriginal elder Uncle Ivan, who told those there they had his full support “in their journey to stop this development’’.
“You are showing the concern and worry about the consequences of destroying what’s left of the bush that our leaders should but don’t,’’ he said.
Some of the speakers urged Campbelltown Council to buy the land off the developer and pas it over to National Parks.
As well as the rally, Ricardo Lonza has also started an online petition and has so far garnered almost 1,500 signatures.
To sign the petition click here.
As this is the healthiest koala population in NSW, why isnt council, state and federal governments not protecting it?
We could loose the NSW koala to extinction if we dont start to protect their habitat.
Thank u
FOUR WAYS TO HELP SAVE KOALAS IN NSW
(1) WRITE TO COUNCIL AND TELL THEM YOU DO NOT WANT THE ST HELENS PARKS DEVELOPMENT TO GO AHEAD
(2) WRITE TO THE NEW KOALA STRATEGY TEAM BY GOING TO
https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/consultations/developing-a-nsw-koala-strategy/?date=2016-12-04&id=1778&utm_source=Making+it+Happen&utm_campaign=ff1d85ba47-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_12_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e595e35fea-ff1d85ba47-271821069
(3) REGISTER TO ATTEND THE INFORMATION DAY IN CAMPBELLTOWN ON THE 20 FEBRUARY 2017 AT THE HAVEYOURSAY WEB SITE AND REMEMBER TO ATTEND.
(4) RESPONDE TO THE DRAFT SEPP44 AMENDMENTS http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Policy-and-Legislation/State-Environmental-Planning-Policies-Review/Draft-koala-habitat-protection-SEPP by 16TH DECEMBER 2016
#crankythekoala
#standup4nature