We have received some good news from the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. The Office of Environment and Heritage (formerly the National Parks and Wildlife Service) have agreed,in principle, to accept management of the “Scout Land”. Should the Scouts agree to sell the land to the Foundation it will become national park.
There are still a few challenges we need to meet:
An agreement with the Scouts to sell the land to the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife.
Raising the funds through the community and the government for the purchase. The Foundation will provide seed funding.
The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife is a charitable organisation which raises funds to purchase land for conservation. The local community has partnered with the foundation to purchase the Scout land for it to be added to the Royal National Park. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. For more information visit their website.
Note: The former Council owned Jibbon Hill land (8.5 hectares adjoining the development site to the south) was dedicated as an addition to the Royal National Park in August 2015 due to the "suite of ecological values identified to support a World Heritage nomination for the Royal National Park" (NSW Office of Environment and Heritage).
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Thanks for sharing this... I'm totally shocked that it's gone this far... it's ridiculous to create a camping ground for the elite an hour from the city... Nobody benefits from this except a few who line their pockets. Makes me feel angry.
Another example of how,little,this state government cares a out the environment and wildlife
This is yet another disgusting action by this Liberal Govt. They care nothing for the people, trees or the environment of NSW. Only for developers.
Bloody stupid idea, just money grubbers as usual
do not like this at all we need to human chain this area
Opponents of a glamping development in Australia's oldest national park vow to take legal action, saying the environment will be put at risk if construction begins.
So sorry for the destruction of wonderful bushland for a very few people. Minister it is not too late to change your decision and buy the land to become part of one of the oldest National Parks in the world.
Thanks sharing the link. Great to see Greens MLC David Shoebridge supporting this campaign.
Saw it. My best wishes for the success of the campaign.
Watch the Spring Gully story on ABC Sydney TV News tonight (Channel 2). ... See MoreSee Less
Woo Hoo! So excited to see that your campaign made the mainstream media tonight, because I am worried for my vulnerable Powerful Owl cousins who live down south in beautiful Bundeena and could be left homeless following another appalling decision by the NSW environment minister! Can you please post the ABC news story on your page so I can share with my friends in Byles Creek Valley and beyond? xoxo Mikey PS - great that you have the support of NSW Greens MLC Dr Mehreen Faruqi!
Bundeena Floodplain Management Options drop-in workshops today and this evening at Bundeena Community Centre. Some options with significant impacts are on the drawing board so it is worth your while getting down and finding out more.
Please also fill in the survey.All the details on the web page lined to below.The Bundeena Creek Floodplain Community Workshop is being held on Friday 15th December.
We’re preparing the Bundeena Creek Floodplain Risk Management Plan with the aim to identify, develop and assess a range of flood management options to reduce danger to residents and potential flood damage.
Vote for your favorite bird. I think the Grey butcherbird is the most beautiful sound in Spring Gully and I swear their song is different this year! ... See MoreSee Less
From the promiscuous willy wagtail to the magnificent but slightly terrifying cassowary, Australia has an abundance of wonderful native birds. Vote here to determine the bird of the year 2017.
These are birds from the list which you are likely to see or hear in Spring Gully and the Bundeena area: Superb fairywren, Channel-billed cuckoo, Spotted Pardalote, Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Grey butcherbird, Eastern koel, Galah, Rainbow lorikeet, King parrot, Laughing kookaburra, Tawny frogmouth, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Australian magpie, White-bellied sea eagle, Pied currawong, Satin Bowerbird, Powerful owl, Whistling kite, Crested pigeon, Willy Wagtail
Happy Anniversary! Three years ago on this day, development applications for a recreation facility for the former Scout land and clearing of the adjoining unmade road reserve were lodged with Sutherland Shire Council. Council refused both development applications and the developer's appeals have been before the Land and Environment Court for the last two and a half years! The good news? The trees are still there! We call on Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton to protect the Royal National Park and refuse the road proposal. #SaveSpringGully #nswpol #auspol #StandUp4Royal ... See MoreSee Less
On this day thirty-seven years ago, five volunteers from Headquarters (Heathcote) Brigade tragically lost their lives as a result of a bush fire in the Royal National Park.
It was Monday 3rd November 1980, just before dawn when local fire fighters were alerted to a bush fire near McKell Avenue, Waterfall.
Later in the afternoon, the fire crossed Uloola Track heading north towards Heathcote.
It is on this track where the five firefighters tragically lost their lives when the fire passed through the area.
The fire was contained four days later near Karloo Pools just south of Heathcote.
Today marks the important anniversary when these five brave firefighters from Headquarters (Heathcote) Brigade, Steve Crunkhorn, 26yo, Gregory Rolfe, 24yo, Vernon Stedman, 21, David Marshall, 19, and William Cummings, 21 made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the Sutherland Shire.
We remember these young firefighters. Our thoughts are very much with their families, friends and fellow firefighters, many who still remain active today.
The song which is accessible via the link below was written by a close friend of one of the firefighters who sadly passed away a few days after the the event. soundcloud.com/stgeorgesutherlandleader
No road through Royal National Park at Spring Gully. Mark Da Silva met with Kate Smolski of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) today to call on Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton to refuse the proposed clearing of 430 trees for the Bundeena Coast Eco Lodge. #auspol #savespringgully ... See MoreSee Less
Saving Spring Gully - the long read. If you have only heard about the campaign to Save Spring Gully recently, this article provides a bit more background.
Spring Gully, the location of the proposed Bundeena Coast Eco-Lodge, is one of the most bio-diverse areas within the Royal National Park. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) states, “Spring Gully contains a rich mosaic of endangered ecological communities listed under the...
We're calling on all Australians to count the birds they're seeing in their backyards, local parks and favourite outdoor spaces. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a birdwatcher, we want to hear about the birds you see next week – especially the common bird species, because it's the more common species that give us the best indication of the health of the environment.
The #AussieBirdCount is on all week from 23-29 October. You can enter as many 20-minutes counts as you like, and from anywhere in Australia. You don't have to be in your backyard and you don't have to count in the same place each time.
To start counting download the free app or head to the website www.aussiebirdcount.org.au.AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT STARTS TODAY!
We're calling on all Australians to count the birds they're seeing in their backyards, local parks and favourite outdoor spaces. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a birdwatcher, we want to hear about the birds you see next week – especially the common bird species, because it's the more common species that give us the best indication of the health of the environment.
The #AussieBirdCount is on all week from 23-29 October. You can enter as many 20-minutes counts as you like, and from anywhere in Australia. You don't have to be in your backyard and you don't have to count in the same place each time.
By the way, the Variegated Fairy Wrens drawn above are often seen in Spring Gully and elsewhere in the Royal National Park! The bird with the blue head is the male in its breeding plumage. (Correction, I identified the bird as the Superb Fairy Wren but it is the Variegated.)
No road through Royal National Park for Spring Gully 'eco'-resort!
Call on Minister Upton to protect the Royal National Park and stop the clearing of over 430 trees from an area the size of 12 residential housing lots for just 6 tents for 12 tourists! More info at www.springgully.org #auspol #SaveSpringGully ... See MoreSee Less
The Land and Environment Court ruled in favour of the developer, but the project can’t go ahead unless the minister grants road access through Royal National Park.
I am sick and tired of developers destroying our land
Ringing tomorrow and shall continue to do so. I am sick of greedy destroyers (aka "developers").
Rang and sent email hope Minister does not grant access.
Spring Gully action day. Please share!
No road through Royal National Park for Spring Gully 'eco'-resort! Phone Environment Minister, Gabrielle Upton's office NOW! (02) 8574 6107.
Call on Minister Upton to protect the Royal National Park and stop the clearing of over 430 trees from an area the size of 12 residential housing lots for just 6 tents for 12 tourists!
The NPWS 50th Anniversary day on Sunday was a great event. Audley and the approaches were all colourfully decorated too! Congratulations NPWS. ... See MoreSee Less
A police helicopter is circling over Spring Gully. No doubt another bushwalker has turned the wrong way and stumbled into the gully. There is never a dull moment in this town these days! ... See MoreSee Less
The male powerful owl is out hunting. He is calling from a tree right within the development envelope on the former Scout land. Hopefully there are young mouths to feed again this year. It's a quite depressing sound when you know that many hundreds of trees are about to be cleared from that happy hunting habitat - prime sugar glider and ring tail possum territory. For what? Eco-tourism! This photo is of one of the Spring Gully juveniles from last year's breading season. ... See MoreSee Less
Can you check the spelling on your post please. You seem to have misspelled Eco-Terrorism. Seriously, how can anything requiring such environmental vandalism be labelled an Eco-Lodge?
Spring Gully rated "EXTREME BUSHFIRE DANGER" in Council report.
On Monday 18 September 2017 Sutherland Shire Council endorsed a report into planning for bushfire protection. With specific reference to the RVA Australia proposal for the former Scout land at Spring Gully, Bundeena, the report states:
"This application proposed the construction of a recreational camp and associated care takers dwelling in an area of extreme bushfire danger... [which] ...did not meet the objectives and sound planning principles of reducing the risk to life and property".
The development proposal is awaiting a final determination by the Land and Environment Court. An application for a road through the Royal National Park to the proposed facility is awaiting determination by the NPWS and the Minister for the Environment. #auspol #SaveSpringGully ... See MoreSee Less
Tomorrow - Land and Environment Court Hearing into the proposed easement for clearing of the Sussex St bush reserve to benefit the proposed Bundeena Coast Eco-Lodge on the former Scout land, Spring Gully, Royal National Park, Bundeena, including a significant area of the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub. Please attend.
10AM, Court 5B 225 Macquarie St, Sydney (near Martin Place).
What and where are the paper roads in Spring Gully? Watch this video
youtu.be/3Su_wE0u2Y8An interview with Dr John Wolstenholme, concerning the late Edith Wolstenholme and the Paper Roads at Spring Gully, Royal National Park, Bundeena. ... See MoreSee Less
This could be your "Franklin River" moment. In reference to a single image that helped turn an environmental protest. Great footage.
I remember this well
Omg remember it like yesterday best footage I've seen.. Made me cry as reminded of the fear and chaos
Why it's important to do prescribed burning. Reducing the fuel and intensity to protect homes and life
Even the chance of a risk to human life (as well as native animal life) can not be ignored. Placing tourists in an isolated section of the Australian National Heritage Listed Royal National Park that is is a proven bushfire zoom is tantamount to letting people go to the possibility of their deaths. Can the NSW Government or anyone in so called authority with that knowledge allow that, and the litigations to come, from their decision?
I remember when I was in the Kurnell RFS at the time this took place and was listening to the bleeps on the scanner as they were activating pagers, then it was our turn and we responded to Como-jannali, attacking those fires were like knocking on hell’s door.
The worst scariest Bundeena fire I haved lived through. It went for days, preparing and packing and helping neighbours and friends
Wow, I remember that day like it was only 5 years ago, not 23. Great footage you have there.
Brings back memories not all horrible
Sam Reid
Heidi Fitzpatrick
Trent Fitzpatrick
i cant tag tim. 🤔
Wow that was a bush fire we were at Carinbah and ashes etc were falling on us
Not something I wish to experience again !
Lauren Berg Markus Snead this is where I live. I was in kindergarten when these fires came thru
Naomi McCabe sounds a bit like your voice calling all stations. I think I hear andrews aswell?
I remember this fire. It was very scary.
That's odd... I don't remember the choppers playing music 🤔 Although Ride of The Valkyries a la Apocalypse Now would have been apt.
Omg look how fast the last footage of the fire was moving like a fireball! Im not sure of i remember this i was only about 6 but i remember others over christmas times later in the 90s early 2000s
Rochelle Catherine Lee I remember the firemen knocking on our door and I was so scared because mum was at work I think? And they were only letting residents through and telling them to prepare to evacuate? Thats how i remember it
That's the year I joined the NSW RFS. Lots of memories.
Incredibly no house was lost, only a garden shed if I recall correctly.
We stayed at our house the fire brigade was out the front of house we lived at 21 wood field ave Jesse Ray Saba thought it was Santa Claus coming back inthefire truck
Emma Field Rawdon Mclaggan
Would be a great video without the music...
Kerry Miller this freaks me out 😧 check out the fireball tornado thingy just skipping along the hill towards the end of the clip.
Spring Gully on Fire. Why building an eco-resort in the Royal National Park at Spring Gully, Bundeena is a bad idea. Lodge your objection NOW! www.springgully.org/road. ... See MoreSee Less
Is this proposed development actually being built in the Royal National Park ?
Or is this development to be done on privately owned land adjacent to the park?
In view of this perhaps a different approach may be warranted? SYDNEY WIDE ALERT!
COMMUNITIES across Sydney have been writing SUBMISSIONS objecting to OVER DEVELOPMENT since 2012!
FIVE YEARS have passed with even more High-Rise & higher density for where you live!
ISN'T THAT A RED FLAG?
TO find out more: www.facebook.com/744190798994541/photos/a.761955963884691.1073741833.744190798994541/146133300394...
"Eco camp" costing hundred of thousands of dollars to buy, legal costs, reports, barristers, road building and it's all supposed to be a business!? It's a sham, a development by stealth.
Imagine being trapped in a fire of that ferocity- with only one road out- through the inferno of the national park. Unfortunately an "eco" camp is being planned right now- just where those flames are! Hard to believe? Just waiting on NPWS and Ministerial approval.
Its also the poor emergency workers who will be put at unnecessary risk to get people out of an area that shouldn't be populated
Dan Wheels we were talking about this the other day
In 1972 Bundeena residents formed a shield to stop Council from bulldozing the trees around Bundeena Oval.. These trees still stand today. Two years later, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 came to be. This act established nature conservation as the primary objective for our national park estate. What an irony that in 2017 Bundeena residents must again stand together to prevent the NPWS from granting road access to Spring Gully to allow a private developer to clear hundreds and hundreds of trees and threatened species habitat for a proposed "eco-lodge" Submissions to the road proposal close on Friday. Lodge your objection now. www.springgully.org/road
Thanks to Neil DeNett for the newspaper cutting. ... See MoreSee Less
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