FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wilderness Australia warned today that the Minns Government’s role in a proposed resort program will set a dangerous precedent. If approved, then no site in the NSW National Park estate will be safe from resort development.
“The Minns Government is handing over some of the most globally iconic and rare natural landscapes to a resort developer,” said Keith Muir, Wilderness Australia spokesperson.
“The message is clear: the ‘best of the best’ of our natural world is for sale in our parks,” Muir said.
“Approval of these resorts will degrade precious pagoda landscapes of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area near Lithgow.”
Nearly every resident in NSW would agree that internationally rare and nationally significant heritage in a NPWS managed park should be absolutely protected.
To make matters worse, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is acting as both the proponent and the decision-maker for three resort proposals.
Decision-making should be removed from NPWS and given to an independent body, just like almost all other development. NPWS behaviour in advancing this development and its misleading statements regarding the proposed development sites mean that NPWS can no longer be trusted.
For example, the NPWS mislabels essentially pristine sites as "degraded," to justify development. The NPWS also wrongly defined of "pagoda landscapes" to exclude the surrounding sandstone rockplate and essential shrubland ecosystems that are part of these landforms. Pagoda landscapes are more than pagoda rock formations. The NPWS has even called the proposed resorts, bush camps, as if they are camp grounds.
The resort plans are proposed on the behalf of Intrepid Travel, a recognised leader in sustainable and responsible travel. While the NPWS has shielded Intrepid from criticism, the company should be worried about its reputation.
The physical incompatibility of the resort project with pagoda landscapes is demonstrated by the requirement to build 60m² foreign soil mounds on top of pristine sandstone rockplates to enable greywater waste disposal. To build resorts will ruin beautiful pagoda landscapes and require clearing of important native vegetation, including nationally endangered plants.
The sites are totally unsuitable. Tourist developments should occur in Lithgow, using existing infrastructure to generate local jobs and economic opportunities.
NPWS must stick to what it has done for decades – protect our precious ecosystems and landscapes in our parks, and provide visitors with walking tracks and low-impact camping.
Further information: A slideshow of images reveals the pristine locations for these resort proposals, associated issues and threats.
The proposed activity includes three separate resorts on pagoda sites - each consisting of six two-person glamping cabins, communal house with lounge and kitchen, roads and supporting infrastructure.
The Gardens of Stone SCA plan of management - ‘platy’ pagodas are considered rare on a global scale and pagoda landscapes are nationally significant (pg 3).
NSW Governments resort plans for pagoda resorts
CALL TO ACTION
The public has until 5:00 PM this Thursday, February 26, 2026, to lodge an objection to the three glamping resort proposals.
Wilderness Australia has issued an urgent plea to stop these controversial resort proposals as the public exhibition draws to a close. Three internationally significant “platy pagoda” landscapes of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area should not be sacrificed to development.
MEDIA CONTACT: Keith Muir
Wilderness Australia,
mob. 0412791404; e keith.muir6@bigpond.com
