I was thrilled to visit the Blue Mountains to officially announce that the new Ngula Bulgarabang Regional Park, west of Katoomba and known as Radiata Plateau had been acquired by the NSW National Parks Portfolio, with the purchase of the 300 hectare Radiata Plateau site protecting the last remaining undeveloped peninsula-plateau on the upper Blue Mountains western escarpment.
I was pleased to announce the NSW Government have made the biggest ever acquisition of private land into the National Parks portfolio of NSW with the purchase of Narriearra Station in far north-west NSW. Narriearra spans 153,415 hectares of the outback Channel Country and includes part of the Bulloo River Floodplain, ephemeral wetlands and landscapes currently not found anywhere in NSW’s National Parks and is also a refuge for threatened wildlife, with at least 27 threatened animal species found within the station.
I was thrilled to officially opened the new ‘African Savannah’ at Taronga Zoo Sydney. For the first time in five years, lion’s are back at their iconic Harbourside location with Lwazi and Ato. Book your tickets online to check them out. I’d be lion if I said it was anything other than roarsome!
The 153,415 hectare Narriearra Station in far north west NSW is the largest purchase of private land for national parks in the State’s history.
Environment Minister Matt Kean says the purchase will help protect threatened species, important habitat and wetlands.
“Narriearra Station stretches across the outback Channel Country and includes part of the Bulloo River floodplain, ephemeral wetlands and landscapes currently not found anywhere in NSW national parks,” Mr Kean said.
The population of one of Australia’s most endangered species will be bolstered, with 20 conservation-bred regent honeyeaters released into the wild.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said this was the largest release of conservation-bred regent honeyeaters ever undertaken in NSW as part of an Australia-wide recovery effort.
“Regent honeyeater numbers are at critical levels with only about 350 birds remaining,” Mr Kean said.
“The birds were released onto private property in the Lower Hunter, where it’s hoped they will mix with the wild population and breed.
Yesterday, I visited the Glenrock State Conservation Area with a $1.8 million program to improve access and facilities for visitors to enjoy this spectacular natural environment. Glenrock SCA is one of the last surviving pockets of coastal rainforest in the region and features some great coastal lookouts and beaches.
Last week we released 20 endangered Regent Honeyeaters into the wild where it’s hoped they’ll mix with the wild population and breed. 20 Birds were raised in specialist facilities at Taronga Zoo Sydney where they have been successfully breeding the species for 20 years. Beloved by bird watchers, regent honeyeaters are medium sized black and yellow birds that feed on nectar from eucalypts and mistletoe.
The critically endangered Smoky mouse has survived the massive Dunns Road fire early this year.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said 58 motion-sensing cameras set up in burnt, semi burnt and unburnt areas of Kosciuszko National Park recorded more than 40,000 images including Smoky mouse survivors in just five weeks.
Threatened species experts analysing the images spotted Smoky mice at seven burnt sites. They also saw the threatened eastern pygmy-possum at three of the burnt sites.
The NSW Government is calling on the community to become “COVID-19 conservationists” and help spot koalas, malleefowl and mountain pygmy-possums from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
People with wood burning heaters are being encouraged to take 10 simple steps to reduce smoke while staying toasty this winter.
“Wood burning heaters can be a great way of staying warm at night, but it’s important to use them in a manner which reduces the impact on people who live and work nearby,” Environment Minister Matt Kean said.
"Even though wood is a natural material, when burned it produces harmful particle pollution which can become trapped close to the ground and impact people’s health."
After being elected as Member for Hornsby in March 2011, I have embarked on many initiatives that the community and I see as pivotal issues for Hornsby. I see and understand the needs of the community and am proud to play my part.
