MEDIA RELEASE: Beaucoup Bulldust hides wilderness development plan
-Commercial accommodation could blight a park’s glorious pagoda landscapes-
Thursday May 2, 2024
-Commercial accommodation could blight a park’s glorious pagoda landscapes-
Thursday May 2, 2024
Wilderness Australia has described the public consultation process for tourism developments in the Gardens of Stone, announced just over one year ago by Dominic Perrottet, as a “sham”.
The Gardens of Stone Alliance (GOSA) is calling on the NSW Government to optimise economic benefits for Lithgow and minimize scenic and ecological impacts by amending ecotourism development plans for the Lost City, a world-class rock formation 10 minutes from Lithgow CBD.
Foremost among the many concerns conservationists have with the management plans for the new Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is the proposed adventure theme park at the Lost City. Lithgow’s primary lookout in the new reserve is proposed to be for the view of Lost City. Conservationists believe the adventure theme park should be located closer to Lithgow at State Mine Gully, where it would ensure increased visitation to the State Mine Heritage Park and the town.
Today, the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area was gazetted, with its draft Master Plan publicly released containing plans for major visitor and tourism development.
Keith Muir, former Colong Foundation for Wilderness (now Wilderness Australia) Executive Director, said:
“The Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area gazetted today must negotiate a political minefield if it is to be properly managed.