The issue of protecting the Gardens of Stone has been highlighted in State Parliament recently. In late September the NSW Government introduced legislation to add 4,500 ha of “unproductive’ state forests to the national parks estate mostly for koala protection.   more...

Newnes State Forest is a 21,000 hectares plateau north of Lithgow with windswept montane heathlands, nationally endangered upland swamps, unique snowgum-snowgrass woodlands and 67 listed rare plant and animal species. Yet it is unprotected because of coal mining.   more...

The independent Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) has decided that Invincible Mine can restart open cut mining in the Gardens of Stone area and in the former Coalpac proposal area. The area is beside the Castlereagh Highway (the main road to Mudgee) and will extend the Invincible’s devastated moonscape.   more...

The Society will be making a presentation today to the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) meeting on the Invincible mine in the former Coalpac area. We will be strongly opposing any open-cut mining restarting in the Gardens of Stone area.

To make your voice heard and lodge an objection to open-cut mining, you can use our letter (currently disabled) and add your own comments.

Points you could include:

• The Gardens of Stone area is home to internationally significant pagoda rock formations that are at risk if any mining takes place
• Any mining will have a drastic impact on the numerous threatened species in the area
• The area is rich in flora and fauna that will be severely impacted by any mining

You need to get your letter in before 5pm Tuesday 5 December, 2017.

Blue Mountains Conservation Society is a part of the Gardens of Stone Alliance along with Colong Foundation and Lithgow Environment Group.

Gardens of Stone  (Henry Gold)

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to the Gardens of Stone Alliance Banner event.

We had a terrific turnout and, as well as the banner, used the gathering to host several Wild Cafes which enabled participants to learn more about current campaigns.