New alliance calls for clarity

on future wetland's management

17 February 2023

 

THE new Protect Central Coast Wetland Alliance has called for urgent action from the NSW Perrottet Government to provide assurances that the Central Coast Wetland, located on the former Pioneer Dairy at Tuggerah, will not be placed under an administrator.

 

“We have written to the Minister for Lands and Water, The Hon Kevin Anderson MP, seeking his assurances that the Crown Lands Trust for the Central Coast Wetland will not be placed under the control of a NSW Government-appointed administrator,” said Protect Central Coast Wetland Alliance spokesperson, Anne Craig OAM.

 

Craig, who has been involved in the protection of this site for over 30 years, said the NSW Government needs to take urgent action to retain a committee of management for the site, made up of suitable community representatives and needs officially to let the community know it will not go ahead with placing the site under administration.

 

“Crown Lands recently advertised for expressions of interest to recruit new trust committee members for the site and they can expeditiously repeat that process to fill recent vacancies on the committee of management,” she said.

 

“We are certain that if more vacancies are advertised there will be more than enough suitably qualified applicants to ensure the trust continues to benefit from a strong community-focused committee of management.

 

“The Central Coast community is tired of being placed ‘under administration’ by the NSW Government and we cannot find a reasonable explanation for the Perrottet Government wanting to take yet another of our natural assets out of our community’s caring hands,” she said.

 

Mike Campbell OAM, who also campaigned to stop the former Pioneer Dairy from being the site of a coal mine and coal-fired power station in the 1980s, said Minister Anderson may not have been aware of the site’s history and its importance to community wellbeing and to biodiversity on the Central Coast.

 

“The Central Coast Wetland was protected and placed under the management of a community committee, after a concerted, long-term campaign by a dedicated group of residents,” Mr Campbell said.

 

“Since then, countless hours have been spent by local volunteers regenerating the site to a point where it is now a thriving and viable wetland environment, attracting significant migratory bird species, providing habitat for threatened and endangered species, and contributing to the health of Wyong River and the Tuggerah Lakes system,” he said.

 

“At a time when Central Coast Council is under administration and will remain so for a period of almost four years, we are urging the government to keep the iconic Central Coast Wetland under the management of a community committee.

 

“There is no reason for Crown Lands to place this site under administration – all it needs to do is advertise another EOI and recruit new committee members – we are asking the Perrottet Government to have a little faith in the people of the Central Coast to fill the committee vacancies and get on with protecting and promoting this magnificent natural asset.”