NSW Member for Hornsby, Minister for Energy and Environment and Treasurer, Mr Matt Kean's recent announcement for a new Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, on the edge of the Blue Mountains near Lithgow, that has been criticised as being a 'Trojan Horse' by Janine Kitson Independent for Bradfield. She claims that reservation of this park is tied to legislation that will significantly weaken the protection NSW's national parks and reserves. Janine Kitson, Independent for Bradfield and former Deputy Chair of the Colong Foundation, said: "So many Bradfield residents have been overjoyed by Mr Kean's announcement that the NSW Government will invest $50 million into transforming the Gardens of Stone into an eco-tourism destination generating jobs for the historic coal mining town of Lithgow. I am now gutted to discover that this conservation win is tied to legislation that will drastically reduce existing protections for our 880 national parks and reserves in NSW. I have written to Minister Kean calling on him to withdraw his new National Parks and Wildlife legislation that enables him to approve actions that are not consistent with reserve management principles. This and the Bill’s fund-raising schemes will politicise national parks. Mr Kean needs to honour his Government’s commitment for a Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area without legislation that damages our precious national parks."
Contact: Janine Kitson - 0428 860 623 |
