News and Events

Independent MP, Jacqui Scruby, today will introduce a bill to protect Sydney’s drinking water from coal mine pollution, delivering a Labor promise it has failed to act on. 

The Gardens of Stone Alliance commends Ms Scruby for her efforts to prevent pollution in the Sydney drinking water catchment and calls on the Minns Government to support the Bill. 

The legislation would close loopholes in pollution laws that have been exploited by NSW coal mines operating in the Sydney drinking water catchment, in line with promises made by NSW Labor whilst in opposition. 

Underground coal mines in the Lithgow region are causing significant pollution in the headwaters of Sydney’s drinking water catchment.

For example, salinity readings in Wangcol Creek that flows directly into the Coxs River and Warragamba Dam have been measured at twelve times the recommended national water quality target[1]. 

Gardens of Stone Alliance campaigner, Luke Gelder, said:

“Coal mine pollution in areas supplying Sydney’s drinking water is not adequately regulated Salinity and heavy metals levels in coal mine wastewater are through the roof. 

“Labor vehemently opposed the weakening of protections for Sydney’s drinking water when this occurred under the Berejiklian government in 2017 and committed to reinstating those protections when it returned to government. 

Ms Scruby’s Bill closes these loopholes and prevents ongoing water pollution. Labor should adopt this legislation to fulfill its promise to strengthen drinking water protections”.

Jacqui Mills, Senior campaigner at Nature Conservation Council of NSW said:

“These loopholes have been used by mines to expand their operations to the detriment of the millions of Sydney siders that rely on the catchment for their drinking water. 

“Centennial Coal has proposed to dump millions of litres of toxic mine water directly into the local environment to ready itself for expansions to its Angus Place and Springvale coal mines. This must never be allowed to happen. 

Development that pollutes our drinking water should be prohibited. That should be non-negotiable.” 

ENDS

Resources

A link to the bill on NSW Parliament website is here. A link to Jacqui Scruby's YouTube video of her 2nd reading speech is here.

Notes

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Neutral or Beneficial Effect) Bill 2026 will be introduced into the NSW Legislative Assembly by Member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, today. Upon tabling, it can be viewed at this link: Current session bills | Parliament of NSW. It seeks amendments that would reinstate a robust NorBE test to coal mine expansions and extensions (continuing development) and modification proposals in the Sydney drinking water catchment.

In 2017, after a successful legal challenge brought by Alliance member, 4nature, (link), NSW Parliament passed special legislation overturning the win and exempting existing coal mines in the Sydney drinking water catchment from the water quality rules that apply to other developments. 

Labor strongly opposed the weakening of protections for Sydney’s drinking water and committed to amending the legislation and reinstating a robust Neutral or Beneficial Effect (NorBE) test on development. At the time, Chris Minns, then Shadow Minister for Water, said “We can protect the water quality of New South Wales, in particular the Sydney catchment which produces water for seven million people, and we can keep the Springvale mine open and keep the power operating for New South Wales residents. It does not have to be an either/or.”[2]

Currently, proposals seeking to modify development consent do not need to pass the NorBE test. For proposals to expand or extend mines, while the NorBE test applies, it permits existing water pollution. 

Underground coal mines interfere with groundwater, mobilising salts and minerals that leech or are discharged into the environment, causing salinity and heavy metal contamination of ground and surface waters.   

The Gardens of Stone Alliance was formed in 2005 to protect the natural and cultural values of the Gardens of Stone region. Its members include the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, Lithgow Environment Group, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Wilderness Australia, 4nature, Bushwalking NSW and the National Parks Association of NSW. 

The Gardens of Stone Alliance will be holding an action out the front of NSW Parliament on 10 November 2026 from 11:30am to show our support, and that of the community, for Jacqui Scruby’s Bill to protect Sydney’s drinking water. 

ENDS

Media contact: Ellie Chamberlain

E: echamberlain@nature.org.au M: (02) 9516 0135

Note: Spokespeople are available for comment on request

[1] Readings taken by Lithgow Environment Group at Western Coal Services Licensed Discharge Point 1 in May 2026 were 4220EC, exceeding the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) water quality salinity target for slightly disturbed ecosystems of 350EC by 12 times. In comparison, readings in the Upper Coxs River were 39 EC and at the Nepean River, Penrith were 220 EC.

[2] Hansard Second Reading Speech 10 October 2017 re Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment) Bill 2017 pg 313 (link).

The Gardens of Stone Alliance is launching its campaign to fix our drinking water, Thursday 29 October, 6pm

Sydney’s drinking water is being polluted by coal mining that is decimating the natural values of the beautiful Gardens of Stone region. [Link to RSVP is here!]

And so, the Gardens of Stone Alliance is campaigning for stronger laws to protect our drinking water and environment.

Join us for an informative webinar on 29 October from 6pm as we break down how coal mines impact our drinking water, which legal loopholes coal mine companies are exploiting, what needs to change to fix the problem and how you can get involved.

Guest speakers are:

• Prof. Ian Wright (Western Sydney University)
• Jasper Brown (Environmental Defender’s Office)
• Luke Gelder (Gardens of Stone Alliance Campaigner)

The webinar will run for an hour, including a Q&A with the speakers.

Whether you are an experienced campaigner or just want to know what is going on with our drinking water, we would love to see you there!

Link to RSVP is here!

P.S. If you can't make the event but want to get involved in the campaign let me know how you would like to help.

Kindly,
Luke Gelder
On behalf of the Gardens of Stone Alliance

GARDENS OF STONE ALLIANCE - MEDIA RELEASE

MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER 7AM

Today, Centennial Coal and Gardens of Stone Alliance member, 4nature, commenced a two-day court hearing over the status of the mothballed Angus Place underground coal mine near Lithgow. 

The Gardens of Stone Alliance fully supports the legal action by 4nature that seeks to overturn an approval of the long-dormant mine, ensure rehabilitation occurs and pollution of Sydney’s drinking water catchment stops. 

Luke Gelder, Campaigner for Gardens of Stone Alliance said: “This mine should already have been cleaned up. There has been no coal mined for over 10 years but the mine continues to damage some of the most spectacular and sensitive landscapes in NSW and release contaminated mine water into Sydney‘s drinking water catchment.”     

Andrew Cox, 4nature president, said: “We’re taking this action to enforce the law and to ensure the community retains confidence in the planning system. 

 “4nature alleges that the mine’s consent had run out and rehabilitation was required. 4nature wants Centennial to rehabilitate the site and prevent any further adverse environmental impacts”.      

This case highlights one aspect of a larger problem with polluting developments in our drinking water catchment. 

Following 4nature’s previous successful challenge of the Springvale mine in 2017, the government passed special legislation, allowing developments to keep polluting Sydney’s drinking water catchment. 

Alongside 4nature’s legal action, the Gardens of Stone Alliance is campaigning to close the loopholes in NSW planning law that allows polluting development to continue their operations impacting our drinking water catchment.

Jacqui Mills, Senior Climate Campaigner at Nature Conservation Council NSW said: “We are calling on the NSW Government to take control and more actively address the impacts of coal mining and coal-fired power stations in the Lithgow region.

 “The government needs to ensure we are not left with a toxic legacy, and instead local streams and the community inherit a healthy and safe environment once coal mining ends.” 

ENDS 

Notes

The Gardens of Stone Alliance was formed in 2005 to protect the natural and cultural values of the Gardens of Stone. Its members include the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, Lithgow Environment Group, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Wilderness Australia, 4nature, Bushwalking NSW and the National Parks Association of NSW.

Case details: 4nature Incorporated v Centennial Angus Place Pty Ltd, File number 2026/00008118. Proceedings can be observed online via https://lec.nsw.gov.au/Facilities-and-support/court-technology/land-and-environment-court---avl-courtroom-observer-links.html or in person at the Land and Environment Court in Sydney from 10am on Monday 26th October. Court Room 13A (court room subject to change).

Media contact: Ellie Chamberlain 
echamberlain@nature.org.au (02) 9516 0135

Spokespeople are available for comment on request.

The Gardens of Stone Alliance has hailed Saturday’s Catchment Futures Forum at Wallerawang as a strong success, bringing local residents, campaign supporters and environmental volunteers together to focus on the future of the region’s waterways.

Held in clear winter sunshine on the banks of Lake Wallace, the forum began with a practical demonstration of the water quality testing that local volunteers have undertaken across the Lithgow region for more than two decades.

The event highlighted the vital role of long-term community monitoring in documenting the impacts of mining on local waterways and building the evidence base for stronger catchment protections.

Participants also heard updates on the Gardens of Stone Alliance campaign, which is calling for stronger protections for waterways affected by coal mining, including a robust and durable Neutral or Beneficial Effect (NorBE) test for water quality, to ensure developments protect, rather than degrade, drinking water quality.

A highlight of the morning was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to Julie Favell and Chris Jonkers, recognising their extraordinary contribution to local conservation, water monitoring and the work of the Alliance over the past 21 years.
Gardens of Stone Alliance spokesperson Steph Lentz said the forum showed both the strength of the existing volunteer base and the need to bring new people into the work.

“Julie and Chris represent the very best of long-term community stewardship. Their work has helped protect local waterways, hold decision-makers to account and keep the health of this catchment in public view,” she said.

“But the work is not done. With coal expansions still on the table and waterways continuing to bear the brunt of damage caused by coal mining, we need more people involved, whether through water monitoring, letter-writing, other forms of advocacy.”

The Gardens of Stone Alliance thanked all attendees and encouraged anyone who could not attend but would like to contribute time, skills or ideas to get in touch via gardensofstone.org.au or the Protect Gardens of Stone Facebook page. 

         Julie Favell and Chris Jonkers received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Gardens of Stone Alliance.

Award Citation

The Gardens of Stone Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award 2026,
presented at the Catchment Future Forum held at Wallerawang, 13 June 2026.

Presented to: Chris Jonkers and Julie Favell

An inaugural award of the Gardens of Stone Alliance that honours dedicated and long-standing contributions to advance the mission of the Alliance.

In Recognition of decades of fierce advocacy, unmatched resilience and profound fact-finding of environmental damage to the Gardens of Stone region.

CITATION

Chris Jonkers

For decades, Chris has been the backbone of scientific and environmental advocacy for the Lithgow region's pagoda landscapes and catchments. As a co-founder of the Lithgow Environment Group (LEG), Chris combined rigorous field investigations in botany with detailed analyses of the geological and hydrologic impacts of coal mining and power generation. Despite facing intense local opposition and navigating highly complex industry dynamics, his meticulous documentation of mining impacts and dedication to conserving nature was pivotal in the historic 2022 reservation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. 

Chris was instrumental in setting up Streamwatch monitoring of local creeks and rivers in 2006, volunteering his time to regularly take water samples, record data, and ensure the program's continuation after it was dropped by authorities in 2012. Together with Julie, he has long been a strident voice calling for the restoration of Wangcol Creek, which runs behind their home at Blackmans Flat and remains heavily impacted by the upstream Mt Piper Power Station ash dump and Centennial Coal's Western Coal Services facilities.

This Lifetime Achievement Award recognises Chris’ lifetime of translating passion into permanent protection and a healthier local environment. 

Julie Favell

Julie’s name is synonymous with fearless, grassroots conservation and community activism. For over 20 years, Julie has been a tireless voice for the Lithgow environment, standing up to powerful corporate interests and enduring severe community blowback with immense courage. As a co-founder of the Lithgow Environment Group (LEG), her hands-on activism kept the plight of the Gardens of Stone on the political agenda when others would have backed down. Julie also played a pivotal role in the historic 2022 reservation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. 

Her submissions to endless development proposals were famous for their rich and authoritative botanical detail. Julie was a fierce defender of the Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamp and the Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone endangered ecological communities, arguing consistently for their protection while sadly monitoring their destruction by underground coal mining. She has also been a strident member of the EnergyAustralia and Centennial Coal Community Consultative Committees. 

Julie was a pioneering advocate for renewable energy when few took this important lifeline for the Lithgow community seriously, standing as a visionary advocate for Lithgow’s potential as a leader in ecological sustainability. In 2025, Julie was awarded the Environmental Contribution Award by Lithgow City Council in recognition of her tireless efforts to protect, improve and preserve the Lithgow natural environment.

This Lifetime Achievement Award honours Julie’s fierce resilience, her deep love for the land, and her refusal to let the spectacular Gardens of Stone region be lost.

BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW — Wilderness Australia believes that Emirates Australia claim that its proposed surge in helicopter flights to its luxury Wolgan Valley resort is a temporary fix may be just an embarrassing mistake. The text of their development application seeks to lock in a permanent, massive increase in helicopter traffic over the World Heritage-listed national park and residential areas. 

The conservation group’s response follows a story published yesterday in the Blue Mountains Gazette, where an Emirates spokesperson claimed the expansion of helicopter flights was only temporary until vehicle access is restored to Wolgan Road.

Wilderness Australia Honorary Projects Officer, Keith Muir, stated that the resort’s public comments seem to contradict the legal wording of their consent modification application (Mod 4). Wilderness Australia invites the Emirates to formally withdraw this proposal to permanently increase in helicopter noise over residents and the World Heritage Area, in line with its position stated in the Gazette.

The Fine Print: A Permanent 256% Increase

According to the Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) submission, the text of the resort's own Mod 4 application states: "When two-wheel drive road access is restored to Wolgan Valley and the Resort, the maximum number of helicopter trips will be 50 trips per week and a maximum of 10 helicopter trips in any given day."

According to BMCC, the reality is that once the Wolgan road is fully reopened, operations are legally proposed to increase by more than 256% over what was previously approved. They are not returning to the original 14 flights per week. Mod 4 is a permanent shift toward a 'Fly-In, Fly-Out' (FIFO) luxury resort model.

Overwhelming Public Backlash

Community opposition to the proposal is almost unanimous. Of the submissions received by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, 129 are formal objections, while only a single submission genuinely supports the project. 

Wilderness Australia stands with the Blue Mountains City Council and Lithgow City Council who also oppose this helicopter proposal. 

Wilderness Australia asks the Emirates to consider withdrawing its proposal to increase in helicopter noise over residents and the World Heritage Area in line with its stated position in the Gazette.

A Looming Noise "Catastrophe" for the Lower Blue Mountains

The permanent flight increase will severely impact residents in the Lower Blue Mountains, who are already bracing for major airspace changes.

Current projections indicate that the Lower Blue Mountains could see a helicopter flying overhead every 22 minutes during the day under the temporary arrangement and every 33 minutes under the permanent arrangement proposed in Mod 4, all on top of impending commercial jet traffic. Both arrangements are unfair to those who will suffer the noise in our homes and those seeking recreation in our wonderful national parks.

ENDS

Media Contact: Keith Muir, Hon. Projects Officer, Wilderness Australia

Mob: 0412791404

Join the Gardens of Stone Alliance for a morning exploring the history, ecology and future of the Sydney drinking water catchment.

We’ll begin with a guided walk at Lake Wallace — where Charles Darwin first recorded seeing platypus in 1836 — followed by a demonstration of community water quality testing and discussion of the growing pressures facing local waterways from coal mining and development.

We’ll then gather at the Wallerawang Community and Sports Club for morning tea and a short forum on protecting the Gardens of Stone and strengthening community action for clean water and catchment protection.

The event is open to both new and existing supporters. We’ll also hear from long-time Lithgow Environment Group volunteers Julie Favell and Chris Jonkers, whose decades of local conservation work have helped protect this remarkable region.

To RSVP, contact Steph at campaigner@gardensofstone.org.au 

Further details, including meeting location and what to bring, will be provided closer to the day.

A Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) objection to a planning proposal by the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort accuses the company of using a road closure crisis to lock in a permanent 256% surge in flight volumes.

In its submission, BMCC alleges that the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure was misled into treating a permanent expansion as a temporary emergency fix. The Council contends that transforming a conventional, vehicle-dependent eco-resort into a ‘fly-in, fly-out’ (FIFO) aviation hub means the project is no longer ‘substantially the same development’, bypassing proper planning pathways and mandatory public notification requirements.

Wilderness Australia Honorary Projects Officer Keith Muir said the justification for a massive escalation in helicopter use has completely evaporated following a sudden u-turn by Lithgow City Council.

‘Thanks to relentless pressure from the Wolgan Valley community, Lithgow Council has abandoned its proposal for an entirely new road costing hundreds of millions of dollars,’ Mr Muir said. ‘The existing Wolgan Road will now be repaired at a moderate cost of $50 million and is scheduled to reopen as a single-lane road with traffic lights in the third quarter of this year. The crisis is ending, yet the resort is trying to slip a permanent flight expansion through the back door.’

The controversial State Significant Development (SSD) modification proposal (MP06-0310-Mod 4) seeks up to 210 helicopter movements per week over the Blue Mountains, before permanently entrenching 100 weekly movements after the road reopens.

Mr Muir also warned that the resulting constant aviation noise from helicopters flying over the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area roughly every 22 minutes threatens to turn the glamping resorts proposed as well as the park’s visitor facilities within the park into ‘stranded assets’.

‘The Gardens of Stone region risks gaining a reputation for constant helicopter noise,’ Mr Muir said. ‘This noise directly threatens the aesthetic appeal and financial viability of proposed nearby glamping resorts. It raises serious corporate drama over the recent deal between Experience Co and Intrepid Travel. Did Experience Co sell Intrepid a "pup", or does Intrepid still have room to back out before these eco-investments are ruined by helicopter noise?’

Meanwhile, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has quietly shifted its stance regarding the proposed glamping sites following recent reporting by the Herald. NPWS now supports revising the site character assessment of ‘Bush Camp 2’ to ‘largely unmodified’, and is looking to relocate other resort infrastructure onto existing dirt tracks for Sites 1 and 3.

However, the NPWS refuses to accept that the localities of all three resorts are essentially pristine sites, claiming historical human impacts. Mr Muir said the three resort sites are the most intact left on the Newnes Plateau and should not be developed under the NPWS’s own guidelines.

‘NPWS appears poised to recommend approval for a project that faces being completely undermined by helicopter noise, while Environment Minister Penny Sharpe is left holding the political bag,’ Mr Muir warned.

‘With the road reopening ahead of schedule and Council fiercely fighting the increase in helicopter flights, the optics for both the resort and the NSW Government are getting incredibly messy. The Department of Planning must reject this misleading modification and protect the acoustic amenity of our World Heritage-listed national parks and the Gardens of Stone region.’

ENDS

Media contact Keith Muir, Honorary Projects Officer, Wilderness Australia

Mobile: 0412 791 404

The Blue Mountains City Council objection to the helicopter increases (SSD MOD MP06-0310-Mod 4) is available to media upon request.

Imagine hiking in one of Australia’s most spectacular regions, only to have the peace shattered by constant helicopter noise. This is the reality facing the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area if a new proposal is approved, potentially wasting $50 million in government investment for visitor facilities.

‘Wolgan resort’s helicopter traffic will ruin the peace and quiet visitors expect,’ said Keith Muir. ‘This will lead to a net economic loss for the region’s tourism industry, as the majority of park visitors will stay away once the Gardens of Stone gains a reputation for constant noise.’

‘The Department of Planning must not permit Emirates to create what is effectively a private, high-traffic heliport at the Wolgan resort.’

‘The proposal is unjustified and will cause constant noise pollution across the region. Emirates justifies the plan for 30 helicopter movements every day based on the closure of Wolgan Road. However, the road is scheduled to reopen to two-wheel-drive traffic by August 2026,’ (Lithgow Mercury, 7 May 2026).

‘This proposal is a “try-on”,’ Mr Muir said. ‘It is unlikely that Emirates will dial back flight frequencies once the road is reopened.’

Noise concentration in the lower Blue Mountains

The noise footprint of 30 daily helicopter movements will be further intensified in the lower Blue Mountains due to the Western Sydney Airport airspace design.

‘The rising terrain between Glenbrook and Springwood will force helicopters to fly near legal minimum altitudes to avoid commercial flight paths,’ Mr Muir said. ‘This will concentrate helicopter noise over townships and the World Heritage-listed national park, significantly degrading the acoustic amenity.’

Glamping resorts already ‘stranded assets’

According to Mr Muir, the noise also threatens ‘Experience Co’s plans to sell its controversial glamping resort proposals among pagoda landscapes to Intrepid. The Wolgan resort already has permission for up to 10 helicopter flights a day. Nobody is going pay $1,000 a day to put up with that level of noise.’

‘Should a constant stream of choppers going to a six-star resort be allowed to ruin the enjoyment of the Gardens of Stone for everyone else? This nonsense must be stopped,’ Mr Muir said.

Media contact: Keith Muir, Hon. Projects Officer, Wilderness Australia, mob. 0412 791 404

Further information: The Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort - Modification 4 page on the Department of Planning’s website contains the helicopter proposal, which is on exhibition until 18 May.

Submission on the helicopter proposal from Wilderness Australia is attached below.

Key points of objection:

• Unjustified frequency: 30 movements per day is excessive given the imminent reopening of Wolgan Road.
• Environmental impact: Significant degradation of the acoustic environment for hikers and wildlife.
• Economic risk: Threatens the broader tourism appeal of the $50 million Gardens of Stone investment.
• Flight path issues: Concentration of noise over lower Blue Mountains townships due to Western Sydney Airport flight corridors.

Take Action: submission guide - protect the peace in the Gardens of Stone SCA

The Gardens of Stone Alliance is calling for bold action to protect Sydney’s drinking water, as a clean up notice imposed on Centennial Coal has failed to bring down high levels of toxic pollution in the Coxs River. 

New readings show pollution in the catchment remains severe, despite intervention by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Water monitoring by Lithgow Environment Group this week recorded salinity levels of 1448 µS/cm in the Coxs River downstream of Centennial Coal’s Springvale mine operations near Wangcol Creek, compared with an environmentally healthy level of 38.5 µS/cm upstream of mining impacts.

The EPA’s January Clean Up Notice stated that saline discharges from the mine were exceeding Australian water quality guideline values and ordered the coal mine to address contaminated water management at the site. 

Quotes attributed to Jacqui Mills, Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner at Nature Conservation Council of NSW:

“Time is up for Centennial Coal. They need to stop treating the headwaters of Sydney’s drinking water catchment as a dumping ground and find solutions to the large volumes of polluted wastewater generated by their coal operations.”.

“What’s worse, Centennial Coal wants to expand its coal mines. This would mean even greater pollution discharges and is completely unacceptable”.

“The NSW Government promised before the election to strengthen water quality protections for the Sydney catchment. It is time to deliver on that commitment.”

Quotes attributed to Steph Lentz, Campaigner at the Gardens of Stone Alliance:

“The EPA intervened because pollution levels were already deeply concerning. Months later, we are still seeing extremely high salinity levels downstream of the mine.”

“The question now is what happens next. The community cannot accept this becoming normalised.”

“It’s outrageous that there remains no enforceable salinity limits for discharges from Centennial Coal licensed discharge point 1 despite the EPA previously indicating limits would be considered.”

Western Sydney University water pollution expert Dr Ian Wright has described this discharge point into Wangcol Creek (LDP001) as “the most poorly regulated waste discharge point in the whole of the Sydney Basin”. 

Media contact:
Ellie Chamberlain
E:  echamberlain@nature.org.au
T: (02) 9516 0135

Spokespeople available on request. 

Pagodas Over Profits: Katoomba Public Meeting Unanimously Calls for NSW Government to reject Commercial Glamping Proposals for Gardens of Stone

A crowd of over fifty concerned citizens last night sent a clear message to the NSW Government: that conservation areas are not resort development zones. At a public meeting held in Katoomba, attendees voted unanimously to demand an immediate halt to the proposed "glamping" resorts within the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area.

The meeting, organised by the Blue Mountains Conservation Society  in response to growing fears for the region’s unique "platy pagoda" rock formations, brought together scientists, legislators, and conservationists who argue that the shift toward commercial accommodation threatens the very integrity of the park system.

Annette Cam, President of the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, opened the proceedings by reaffirming the Society’s fierce opposition to the developments. "These are not just 'tents'; they are commercial operations in one of the world's most fragile landscapes," Ms. Cam said.

Scientific and Environmental Risks

Veteran conservationist Keith Muir provided a sobering technical analysis of the three proposed sites, which sit within essentially pristine landscapes. He warned that the developers' plans to manage waste are fundamentally flawed.

"Building large artificial soil mounds to dispose of grey water on bare rock and stone simply won't work," Mr. Muir explained. "Instead of luxury, we are looking at a guaranteed source of invasive weeds and devastating plant pathogens being introduced into sensitive ecosystems."

Associate Professor Ali Chauvenet, a senior scientist with extensive research in park management, highlighted the vital mental health benefits derived from visiting undeveloped national parks. She noted that while commercial development in protected areas are becoming a central pillar of the global tourism agenda, the intrinsic value of these spaces remains tied to their natural state.

Political support

The meeting took a dramatic turn when Local Member Trish Doyle presented the NSW Government’s official position. Ms. Doyle stated she personally objected to the proposals and ultimately voted in favour of the meeting's resolution to oppose the developments, making the resolution unanimous.

Sue Higginson, NSW Greens MLC, echoed the sentiment of betrayal felt by many long-term conservation activists. "For decades, citizens have made immense sacrifices to protect our rainforests, koala habitats and build our protected area network," Ms. Higginson said. "They didn't do that so the government could hand over these treasures to be privatised as resort development zones."

The "Katoomba Resolution"

The meeting concluded with the unanimous passing of a resolution calling on the NSW Government to:

•       Refuse approval and lease issue for construction of new commercial accommodation facilities at the three proposed sites that would damage conservation values and impact essentially pristine internationally significant and rare platy pagoda landscapes.

•       Legislate protection for areas of rare or significant geodiversity and for areas of outstanding natural beauty at a level equal to that afforded threatened species;

•       Ban construction of new commercial accommodation facilities in Parks as it damages conservation values, as demonstrated by the potential impacts of glamping resorts on internationally significant and rare platy pagoda landscapes;

•       Ban free handouts of park facilities to and secret reserve management negotiations with developers as these encourage development on park before development on private land.

"The line has been drawn," said Ms. Cam. "The community has spoken with one voice: our parks are for nature and the public, not for private profit."

Media Contact: Keith Muir - mobile 0412 791 404; email keith.muir6@bigpond.com

Website: www.gardensofstone.org.au

A united front: Concerned citizens, scientists, and Parliamentarians gather behind the unanimous resolution passed last night in Katoomba, demanding the NSW Government protect the rare pagoda landscapes of the Gardens of Stone from commercial development.