Minister for Environment, Local Government and Heritage to members of Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society met members of the Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society on a visit to the suburb last week.
Minister Upton had come to inspect the native planting carried out by volunteers from the Society in River Rd Reserve, Oatley which had been been funded by a grant from Oatley MP Mark Coure who accompanied her during her visit.
Society members then raised several matters with the Minister pertinent to her Environment portfolio.
These included the establishment of a national park for koalas in south-west Sydney, improving and enforcing land clearing laws, introducing a ban on single-use plastic, the abuse of carbon offsets resulting in inappropriate plantings in 18 national parks, and the need to cull feral horses from Kozciusko National Park.
They also spoke about transitioning to renewable energy, the protection and restoration of bushland and forest habitat, the loss of green space in the local area, the ending of logging in native forests, and the transfer of the responsibility for recycling of packaging to back to manufacturers.
One significant local issue raised was the proposed development of the Oatley Bowling Club site, which was originally made into parkland thanks to Myles Dunphy, (the father of conservation in NSW).
Mr Coure stated that there would be no high rise development at the site and it should be dedicated for community use.
His words were backed up this week with Georges River mayor Kevin Greene announcing that the Oatley Bowling Club site would remain as open space and not be rezoned for high-rise seniors’ housing.