Minister for Energy & Environment visits Wollondilly to discuss feasibility of a National Park and p…

The creation of a Bargo Nepean National Park and the establishment of the Great Burragorang Valley Walk were on the agenda when Mayor Matthew Deeth met with NSW Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean and local member Nathaniel Smith MP in the beautiful Wollondilly yesterday.

Minister Kean expressed support for the Great Burragorang Valley Walk, with Council to work on the detailed planning of the walk with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and engage further with the traditional custodians of the land, Water NSW and other key stakeholders.

The State Government will also work with Council to look at the feasibility of establishing a National Park within the vicinity of the Bargo Gorge.

Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith was delighted that Environment Minister Kean was able to accept his invitation to visit the area and to meet with Mayor Matthew Deeth and CEO, Ben Taylor.

“The proposals that the Mayor and CEO presented to Minister Kean were welcomed by the Minister. I am hopeful that we can get some real traction in getting these projects underway” said Mr Smith.

“I would like to thank Council for the excellent presentations they gave to the Minister Kean and after that we were able to go for an inspection to the Mermaids Pool part of the Bargo River. This is a very spectacular part of the Wollondilly Shire and it was the first time that Minister Kean had seen the area. Needless to say he was most impressed with the site.”

The proposed National Park would contribute to the provision of a significant link between the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and the Cataract-Cordeaux-Avon-Nepean catchment land, as well as forests further to the south.

Mayor Matthew Deeth said, “The Bargo Gorge area has long been acknowledged by Council as having environmental, cultural and social significance.”

“The sandstone cliffs of Bargo River Gorge are both unique and spectacular and this area has provided a popular passive recreational space for decades for not only for locals but also the regional community,” he said.

“Of course, the first step of the feasibility process would be to consult with the original custodians of the land, the Dharawal people.”

A number of submissions have been received by Council from the National Parks Association which outline their support for an adequate buffer, both to protect the Gorge and to provide a sufficiently large environmental corridor with adjoining Crown Land to support the making of the corridor into a National Park.

Council has previously written to Ministers at a Federal and State Level requesting the area be considered as a National Park but has received no support.

Meanwhile, Council has already begun consultation with various stakeholders in relation to the Great Burragorang Valley Walk which aims to highlight iconic areas of unique natural beauty including the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Areas, National Parks and conservation areas.

Through a partnership led by Wollondilly Shire Council in conjunction with neighbouring councils, the Great Walk initiative is an opportunity to attract visitors and tourism, grow the local and regional economy and ensure this unique environment and heritage is valued and protected.