[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: 'Government Must Protect ‘Gardens of Stone’ Natural Heritage From Mining Permanently' (Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Mehreen Faruqi]

Media Release
22.10.14
Government Must Protect ‘Gardens of Stone’ Natural Heritage From Mining Permanently
Greens NSW MP and Environment Spokesperson, has welcomed reports of a decision from the Planning Assessment Commission to reject plans for further coal mining adjacent to the Ben Bullen State Forest. The Government needs to take immediate action to declare the area as protected.

“The Planning Assessment Commission has rightly recognised the coal mining proposals would have intruded on the environmental value of the unique stone pagodas in the Ben Bullen State Forest.

“This is the second time in as many years that the area has been further threatened from the impacts of coal mining. The Environment Minister needs to take action and declare the area a National Park to safeguard our environmental heritage into the future.

“I have a motion in the parliament calling on the Government to further protect the Gardens of Stone area, including parts of Ben Bullen State Forest, Wolgan State Forest and Newnes Plateau.

“The Government’s own Environmental department has identified the whole of Ben Bullen State Forest of being of high conservation value for future reservation. The presence of internationally significant pagoda formations in the Gardens of Stone as well as the unique flora and fauna found in the area make it an ideal candidate to be
further protected” she concluded.

Media Contact: Matt Hilton 0423 106 247