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Although the Society has recommenced its bushwalking and other activities, a close eye is being kept on the pandemic. NSW Government Guidelines are being observed.

For further information about COVID‑19, please refer to the NSW and Australian Government websites -

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The Society is very pleased to host local ecologists, Judy and Peter Smith, talking about the native fauna of the Greater Blue Mountains on the very day the World Heritage listing for the area was decided back in 2000.

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is home to a remarkably diverse native terrestrial vertebrate fauna (currently 434 species) of international significance.

The World Heritage listing recognises the region’s globally significant natural values including its biodiversity.

Judy and Peter will talk about the fauna of the GBMWHA as it stood at the time of publication of their book (October 2019) and then look briefly at what has happened to the fauna since.

Here's more information about their book.

When:  4pm Sunday 29 November (one hour)

Register here:  gos@bluemountains.org.au - you'll receive a ZOOM Link before the day.

In this time of COVID the Society will hold a number of online talks.

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The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and the NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry have concluded. Here are their reports (all documents are around 18MB each) -

• The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report and Appendices
• NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry Report

And here's the Society's submission to the NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry.

Our Bushfires webpage contains a detailed analysis of the 2019-20 bushfires and their impact on the Greater Blue Mountains - including maps, an assessment of areas burnt and the loss of wildlife. Information on recovery and What You Can Do is there, plus some articles on firefighting.

In June and July, the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) hosted Australia’s first virtual bushfire and climate change summit to coordinate a national response to the Australian climate and bushfire crises.

The 2020 National Bushfire and Climate Summit brought together hundreds of participants from across the country and the world to share their experiences, and to formulate recommendations to address the worsening risk of devastating bushfires fuelled by climate change.

The Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan is the culmination of that effort.

The Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan provides a broad plan and practical ideas for governments, fire and land management agencies and communities to help us mitigate and adapt to worsening fire conditions.

The plan’s 165 recommendations include many measures that can be implemented right now, to ensure communities are better protected.

The experts agree: We must tackle climate change and worsening extreme weather by urgently phasing out fossil fuels.

The Blue Mountains Conservation Society participated in this summit and endorses this plan.

An ad for the plan appeared in The Australian on 1st August.

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The Society was disturbed to read in an email from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE – Crown Lands) sent to a Blue Mountains resident in August this year, that it is intending to -

The reason given -

The review referred to above was requested by the Secretary of the DPIE after the lease proponent complained to the DPIE regarding the fairness of the community consultation in the decision to refuse their lease application. The Commissioner of Crown Lands was tasked with carrying out the review of the consultation process up to but not including the decision itself, with a view for possible improvements in future consultations and decision-making.

Here is the Commissioner's Report.

And in an email from Crown Lands to another resident –

This addendum document has now been published on the Crown Lands website and is provided here.

However, no indication of the department’s intention to reconsider the lease decision can be found on their website. Nor are the community being asked to comment further.

The proposed lease attracted 1,582 written submissions during the public consultation period ending 4th August 2019, with more than 85 per cent opposing it.

A petition with 12,200 signatures was presented to state parliament and was discussed in the Legislative Assembly on 1 August 2019. The petition asked -

This was the position of the Society in their submission to the DPIE – Crown Lands and has been the Society’s position since the 1990s.

In June 2020 the Society sent a letter to The Hon. Rob Stokes MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, echoing this petition and asking for the airfield to be incorporated into the surrounding national park. No reply has yet been received.

In early September 2020, the Society sent a letter to The Secretary of the DPIE, Mr Jim Betts, requesting clarification around reconsideration of the lease decision, with no response to date.

In a August 10 Gazette article, mention was made by the lease proponent that “the department had had the company’s business plan since January 2019”. However the plan has never been made public, especially the number of flights per day. Only the intended inbound and outbound flight paths were disclosed at the department’s drop-in community consultation sessions in June 2019. These flight paths indicated areas impacted would include the Megalong & Kanimbla Valleys, Shipley Plateau, Mt Blackheath, the upper Grose Valley including Fortress Ridge, Lockley’s Pylon and The Blue Gum Forest. A flight path over Lake Woodford would enter the Grose Valley and on to the airfield from the east.

A September 8 Gazette article quotes The Society’s President, Ms Tara Cameron stating “it appears that the future of Katoomba Airfield will now be decided on again, but this time unfairly without community input”.

The Society has very recently written to the Minister for the Environment, Matt Kean, requesting the opening of discussions between Crown Lands and NPWS for the incorporation of the airfield into the national park estate. We look forward to a positive response to our correspondence.

• The Hon. Rob Stokes, Minister for Planning & Public Spaces
  Postal: GPO Box 5341, SYDNEY NSW 2001
  Email: Minister Stokes' web-form

Please send a copy to our local State member of Parliament, Ms Trish Doyle, at bluemountains@parliament.nsw.gov.au or 5 Raymond Rd Springwood NSW 2777

It would also assist to send a copy to :

• The Hon. Melinda Pavey, Minister for Water, Property & Housing (Crown Lands)
  Postal: GPO Box 5341, SYDNEY NSW 2001
  Email: Minister Pavey's web-form

• The Hon. Matt Kean, Minister for the Environment (NPWS)
  Postal: GPO Box 5341, SYDNEY NSW 2001
  Email: Minister Kean's web-form

Some worthwhile points to make are:

• Object to the lack of TRANSPARENCY around the current review of the decision
• Object to any COMMERCIAL lease for this PUBLIC land
• This land should be PUT INTO THE surrounding NATIONAL PARK
• Maintain the airfield for emergency use only

More information will be provided as it comes to light.

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Australia has the highest emissions per person of any OECD country.

Government and business action is crucial in addressing climate change, but our personal actions also make a difference.

The Society has prepared a Climate Action Now Flyer that details the changes you can make to -

• reduce energy use
• switch to ethical electricity
• go solar
• consider the impact of how you eat and shop
• consume less and reduce waste
• consider your travel options.

We also encourage you to Raise Your Voice On Climate Change by -

• joining a bush regeneration or Landcare group
• joining the Blue Mountains Conservation Society
• moving money out of fossil fuels
• helping stop more fossil fuel projects
• engaging politically
• communicating and advocate.

We acknowledge Katrina Shields, Zero Emissions Byron, who inspired production of this flyer.

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