Ourimbah and Strickland State Forests and Dharag, Popran and Brisbane Water National Parks, have been suggested as possible sites for a plan to create a huge Central Coast sanctuary for all native flora and fauna.
The plan has been put forward by Pearl Beach resident, Dr Van Davy, as a submission to Central Coast Council’s Draft Biodiversity Strategy.
“I hope this sanctuary would become a national research centre of Sanctuary Science and Practice, ” Davy said.
“I propose the centre be attached to an urgently needed Central Coast focussed and managed public Central Coast University, which would be independent of government and corporations. ”
Council’s Director, Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said the draft strategy was the first single strategy combining the progress of former Gosford and Wyong Councils in conservation planning and it presented a scientifically robust roadmap for the future of the biodiversity of the region.
“The draft strategy highlights the roles that Council plays to support biodiversity as a land use planning authority, a community leader and a major landholder and land manager, ” Cox said.
Davy envisages that the sanctuary he proposes would definitely include Yengo, Dharag, Popran and Brisbane Water National Parks. “Probably the sanctuary should also include Onley, MacPherson, Ourimbah and Stickland State Forests, ” he said. “Then possibly, the Glenning Valley, Ridgeway, Kincumba Mountain, MacMasters fire trail, Bouddi Peninsula and National Park could be added too. ”
The submission said there should be large areas of these public lands where experts advise and oversee to ensure such things as koala friendly habitats, corridors linking each large area to create safe habitat for all native species, total elimination of all feral animals and ongoing maintenance, including modern IT protected fencing, for a feral free environment.
He said there should be signage containing historic and conservation information and smart-IT gates which would permit people to enter and observe, learn and enjoy the natural areas.
“In recent months we have heard alarming predictions about global warming consequences to humans and that hundreds of our beloved flora and fauna face extinction, ” Davy said.
“Rather than address this problem, the NSW Government proposes to sell off, which means privatise, our State Forests to corporations who want to make a dollar.
“Both the NSW and federal governments are to pursue a series of policies that will further desecrate our unique and coast fragile environment such as oil/gas drilling, oil rigs, more coal mining, coal fired power stations, fracking for gas, and an uncapped let-‘errip population policy.
“The only way to successfully fight this multi pronged assault on the Central Coast is to have a people-generated Central Coast Plan, supported by the people and spearheaded by a gutsy Council prepared to argue the case. ”
Davy said his idea of a sanctuary and research centre was an example of a necessary and new regenerative industry which would employ hundreds of workers.
“It could lead to opportunities to trial work experience schemes for those on Newstart or other Centrelink benefits as well as more advance training schemes for TAFE or university students, ” he said.
“The idea of a sanctuary is not a project with a finish date. “There’s the possibility of trialling a raft of new policies in addition to satisfying our desire to reverse the rapid rush to extinction of many species. ”
Now that the public exhibition period for the draft strategy has closed, Davy’s submission, together with others, will be considered by Council’s Environment and Planning Department to formulate the final draft of the Biodiversity Strategy to be presented to a future Council meeting for adoption.
Source: Email, Nov 20 Dr Van Davy, Pearl Beach Media release, Sep 12 Scott Cox, Director Environment and Planning, Central Coast Council Reporter: Sue Murray