Support our campaign to provide a wide buffer between new housing developments and the river gorge.

MERMAIDS POOL at Tahmoor is arguably the most scenic freshwater pool in the entire Sydney region. It’s just one of many places along the Bargo and Nepean River Gorges between Tahmoor, Pheasants Nest and Wilton.

Large scale developments are planned to occur beside these Gorges. A Development Application has already been lodged for 125 large residential lots near the huge Junction Pool at Tahmoor, at the confluence of the Bargo and Nepean Rivers. Wollondilly Council is expected to vote on this proposal on 16 November 2015.

Development and protection of the environment can co-exist if there is a proper buffer protecting the sensitive environment of the Gorge from new housing developments.

New housing developments could seriously degrade what has been listed as a Landscape Conservation Area by the National Trust. It’s also the only significant wildlife corridor between the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and the pristine native vegetation towards the Illawarra coast.

Ride-on lawnmowers, barking dogs, predatory domestic cats, rubbish and nutrient-rich wastewaters need to be kept away from the Gorge. They are very inconsistent with nature conservation and with the preservation of a wonderful recreation space.

Ready to support this campaign?
Make your views known. Contact:
NSW Environment Minister, Mark Speakman: office@speakman.minister.nsw.gov.au
Mayor of Wollondilly: simon.landow@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au

Who are we?
The National Parks Association of NSW Inc. is a voluntary organisation. At the Macarthur Branch of the NPA, we have done substantial professional quality work explaining why this landscape/corridor needs to be protected. The NPA is also proposing a new Bargo-Nepean National Park along the rivers from Colo Vale to Wilton, which would include the gorge at Tahmoor. Read the full proposal here: Bargo-Nepean National Park Proposal

Why this campaign?
Wollondilly Council is likely to vote on this development on 16 November 2015. While Council has voted unanimously to support the National Park proposal in the recent past, their latest reports and decisions seem to undermine this support. Some reports presented to the councillors ignore science-based evidence and decades of local study of the Gorge.

Looking to the future: a National Park proposal
There are seven main reasons for creating a National Park from Colo Vale to Wilton, or at the very least, a Regional Park centred on the Bargo River Gorge at Tahmoor. The reasons are:

1. The Tahmoor Gorge is unusually precipitous and is a splendid combination of rock, water and vegetation.
2. The rivers are already a recreation resource and their popularity is growing.
3. The habitat along the rivers is generally diverse and pristine.
4. With some enhancement, the wildlife corridor would be of National significance.
5. The land within 10 km of Tahmoor rates highly in terms of biodiversity and threatened species.
6. It would probably be possible to greatly expand the remnants of the critically endangered ecological communities at Tahmoor and Wilton.
7. The creation of the above-mentioned Regional or National Park would be very much in accordance with the Government's plan for National Parks.

To support our campaign for the Bargo-Nepean National Park go to our facebook page: Bargo-Nepean National Park Proposal