Update - Werrington Kangaroos

We mentioned a teleconference was to occur with representatives of Western Sydney University (WSU) to discuss the future of the kangaroos at the Werrington Campus. What follows is a summary of that teleconference:

Future plans for the site are part of a larger precinct involving Nepean Hospital, TAFE, WSU and perhaps others. Various planning agencies will be involved.

No definitive plan exists as yet.

Blacktown & District Environment Group (BDEG) will be invited to participate in future discussion at various stages of planning.

The representatives said the kangaroos will be part of the future of the land and WSU academia and the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage will be developing a plan for this.

It sounded like the full number of kangaroos are to be preserved but we, BDEG, can't be sure we heard that correct.

They said there has been no plan to cull any kangaroos.

How that can be fulfilled with a diminished foraging and habitat area is not yet clear to us.

They said that rather than priority on development which so often occurs elsewhere, WSU seeks a responsible and genuinely ecologically sustainable outcome.

How that can be achieved with a significantly reduced foraging area is also not yet clear to us.

They said that the rural dam will be retained as a water feature.

That should provide continuity of water supply for the kangaroos. The dam remained viable during the recent three year drought. Drainage to the dam in the future must not compromise the quality of water retained therein.

WSU is prepared to consider the existing road bridge between the Werrington Park and Werrington South campuses over the Great Western Hwy and how it might serve the safe movement of kangaroos between the two sites. This could compensate a degree of lost foraging in the area of our concern.

That is a positive consideration.

WSU is not prepared, at this stage, to engage in any “speculation” over NSW Government plans for the Leppington to St Marys rail line and whether it will result in resumption of land and destruction of the stand of Cumberland Plain (Shale) Woodland(s) near to the existing Western Rail Line.

Needless for us to say, that is another layer of threat and any loss of habitat and foraging over the remainder of the site needs to take into account this possibility until the new rail alignment (which will have a rail station under WSU land) can be excluded as a threat.

That, then, is the update on our recent discussion with WSU representatives. We will update you when we have more to say.

In the interim, there remains the immediate Lend Lease proposal at 16 Chapman St Werrington which is 28ha of the former 90ha of land the kangaroos enjoyed as foraging and habitat for decades. This land was sold by WSU to Universal Property Group who on-sold to Lend Lease. This matter is before Penrith City Council and we invited you last week to cut & paste some comments and email to Penrith Council as follows:

I am concerned for the preservation, in situ, of the mob of kangaroos which have been part of the ecological and social fabric of the City of Penrith for several decades.

Only two locations in Western Sydney can claim that kangaroo presence for so long – Wianamatta Regional Park and this Werrington site.

The proposed 16 Chapman Street Werrington development has no regard for preserving sufficient habitat, foraging and water supply for these kangaroos.

The development proposal should not be considered in isolation from Western Sydney University's business park plan for its Werrington campus or Transport for NSW's plan for the Leppington to St Marys Rail Line.

The three proposals should be considered as a whole and each contribute to preservation of the existing mob of kangaroos.

Such consideration should also have regard for preserving, in situ, the stands of Commonwealth EPBC Act and NSW BC Act listed ecological communities to be found on this land.

And email to: council@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au

Quote: DA19/0704 16 Chapman St Werrington

If you can find a few moments to cut & paste that as an email to Penrith Council that would be great but we don't ask you to do that which you don't feel inclined to do.

Thank you for your continued support of this effort to preserve something of our natural heritage from land development frenzy.