This week I added my voice to the Save Sacred Land at Kariong campaign with a letter to the NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker calling on her to honour their election commitment to acquire land at Bambara Rd, Kariong for inclusion in Brisbane Waters National Park. The land is rich in biodiversity and Aboriginal values and has been for sale on and off and under threat of development for decades. In July the government appointed an independent mediator to negotiate the voluntary acquisition of the land and now local conservationists are anxiously waiting on news of a deal. I have asked for an update on the negotiations to acquire the land. The government must not let this opportunity slip away. At least 12 threatened species call the land home. They are species like the powerful owl, long-nosed potoroo, spotted tailed quoll and the giant burrowing frog who cannot afford to lose yet more habitat to development. Read my letter here …….and write one yourself below.
December 8th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Thank you Cate Faehrmann for supporting our campaign to
Save the Sacred Land at Kariong!
December 13th, 2011 at 11:13 am
The credibility of our democracy hinges on politicians keeping election commitments. Thanks for ensuring that the Coalition keeps theirs.
Sincerely,
Brett Elliott
Wefts Policies Pty. Ltd.
December 13th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
It is wonderful to see The Greens acting on these very important conservation matters once again, the community is very happy to see this positive action!
December 14th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Thanks Cate, it’s great to know that we have some politicians willing to stand up and support Bambara.
December 14th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Yes, yes Dear Cate!!
Thank you dearly for supporting this sacred land..
Please read the following poem i wrote July 2010:
Sacred Kariong Land: Beautiful Bambara
Sacred abode of the Powerful Owl
Red crowned toad-let
Giant Burrowing Frogs too
of significant Micro Bats
Endangered flora
extremely rare fauna on view
Bambara is a home deeply revered
So culturally significant
Only our wise elders understand
The sensitive vicinity’s prolific ecological diversity
Crucial flora and fauna needs
The ancient and sacred existence of Aboriginal sites
Proclaiming a living past
Australia’s living history
Etched upon materials destined to shine in the light of day
Not tragically lost to fleeting development
‘This area has the greatest diversity of rock art in the world’
The world’s foremost authority of Indigenous rock art
Jean Clottes, has had his say
Many Sacred engraving sites are not even on the official National Parks Register
What will it take to ensure this Sacred Land stays?
To bear its ancient past, and fragile, vital organisms
to entertain our guests
with bush-walking, bush-tucker, bush-talking
Pristine waterfalls to relish
The adjoining National Park attracts 100 visitors a week
to the Mysterious and Famous Egyptian Hieroglyphs
playing a major part in Central Coast Folklore
for generations at least
Reasons are endless, the evidence is clear
we have an 80 year legacy to protect Kariong’s Sacred Land
At Beautiful Bambara
Let the endangered plants, birds, animals, and history be!
Protect Nature’s pure true beauty
for the rest of time to see …
December 15th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Thank you Cate for supporting this campaign and not being afraid to say so! It is certainly refreshing.
December 15th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
BAMBARA TIMELINE (UP TO DATE) 1931-2011
WITHOUT PREJUDICE
History
The battle to stop development in Bambara road Kariong area and to bring the land into public ownership has a long history. The following summarises the known history.
I would like to firstly acknowledge the Original Custodians who cared for and nurtured the land since before time as we know it. I also show my respect and admiration for those Original Custodians and anyone else who fought for the land in the past, who are fighting for the land in the present and who’s children will continue to fight for the land in the future.
1931: Mr Gilford, a landowner at Bambara road has a story published in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper (January 31st) stating his strong concerns that the numerous rock engravings “the works of the early inhabitants” as Mr Gilford called them, would be lost if the area were opened up to further development. Gilford road at Kariong is named after Mr Gilford.
1978-1982:: The Gosford Wildlife Conservation Society urges Gosford Council, the State Government and National Parks and Wildlife to bring the area into public ownership. GWCS is no longer in existence, but an original member, Zoe Russell 83, of Umina, provided us with this information and wrote “The Bambara area has for several decades has been ‘For Sale’ on and off. It was always the entrepreneurs looking to make a big fat buck. ” ADD NOTE: Zoe recently passed away in mid August 2011. She was honoured by the media as one of the Central coasts original activist. She will remembered by campaigners for the protection of Bambara road with dear memories of supporting the campaign and bringing the activists/community members supplies at the 3 month peaceful protest camp on Woy Woy road, March-June 2011.
1983: The NPWS held on-site discussions with the landowner’s representatives about possible site acquisition for inclusion in Brisbane Water National Park. However, owing to NPWS financial constraints, no purchase was able to be arranged.
1985: Gosford City Council at its June meeting resolved to defer making a decision on the development application for the site to give the State Government an opportunity to acquire the subject land. It also resolved to request of the then Minister for Planning and Environment that the land be purchased for the development of outdoor recreational activities.
1985: National Parks Association (NPA) – Sydney Branch requested the land’s acquisition by the then Department of Environment and Planning as an interim measure until its purchase by the NPWS.
1989: Gosford City Council’s Director-Planning recommended that Council decline to support the Draft Local Environmental Plan associated with the development application. However, Council resolved to support the Draft LEP and its rezoning proposal.
1989: National Parks Association (NPA) – Central Coast Branch presented a submission on Draft LEP, Bambara Road, Kariong. NPA opposed the rezoning proposal and requested Council to consider transferring the land to the NPWS, or exchanging it for more environmentally acceptable developable land elsewhere. NPA also requested, under the Environment Planning and Assessment Act, a Public Hearing to discuss the LEP.
1989: NPA – Sydney Branch likewise opposed Council’s action and requested it ask for the land’s purchase by the Department of Environment and Planning for inclusion in the National Park.
1991: Gosford City Council resolved to take no further action with respect to the proposed rezonings of Portions 229, 250, 251 and 471 Bambara Road.
1995: October, NPA proposal for Bambara Road (Kariong) addition to Brisbane Water National Park was covered in the first edition of the Latham Report.
1998: February, NPA – Central Coast Branch and Gosford District Environment Foundation separately made representations to the local State Member for Peats (Marie Andrews) and to the NSW Minister for the Environment (Pam Allan) to purchase the land for inclusion in Brisbane Water National Park. Simultaneously, Gosford City Council resolved (unanimously) to take a similar position.
1998: 10 February, having been advised of a proposed land sale of the 74 ha adjacent to Woy Woy Road, and having previously made representations to the NSW Government to include these land parcels in Brisbane Water National Park due to their location and conservation value, Gosford City Council resolved to make representations to the NPWS and to the Minister for the Environment to purchase Lots 2501 and 2502 DP 801107, Lots 251 and 229 DP 755251, and Lots 4711 and 4712 DP 801108 for inclusion in Brisbane Water National Park (late Mayoral Minute from Gosford City Council Meeting 10 February 1998).
1998: Linda Campbell, a Kariong resident, leads a campaign to protect the area as the land is once again ‘For Sale’. Linda, supported by her husband John, communicate with Chapman and Frazer Real Estate and manage to get the support of the agent R. E. Willcox, who writes in a letter to Linda and the State member for Gosford, Marie Andrews, saying “ National Parks should consider their position once again as a possible purchaser” “Once one site is sold it will destroy the whole area as a suitable acquisition for National Parks and Wildlife” “This will be the last opportunity you will get to purchase the land.”
1998: Linda Campbell receives a letter from Geoff Preece, the Secretary of the Central Coast branch of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Geoff explains in a letter “There was a concerted campaign about this land some years ago that we were involved in.” I have personally contacted Geoff for a paper trail in relation to that campaign and am awaiting that information for as much completeness as possible.
1998: Linda continues to lobby and gains around 1000 signatures from locals who want the Bambara area protected. Linda corresponds with and tries to gain the support of Tim Hager from National Parks and Wildlife Services, Marie Andrews, The Minister for the Environment- Pam Allan, The Director General of the Cabinet office of NSW- Roger Wilkins, the Australian Bush Heritage Fund and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
1998: The Member for Robertson, Jim Lloyd’s media release, calls on the Carr State Government and Member for Peats, Marie Andrews to immediately investigate the possibility of purchasing the land for inclusion in the surrounding National Park.
1998: The State member for Gosford, Chris Hartcher, assures Linda Campbell of his support in a letter, saying “The Land should be acquired by the N.S.W Government for inclusion in the National Parks.” And “It’s a great opportunity and if lost now will never present itself again.”
1999: January 1999, the NPA renewed its support for the inclusion of Bambara Road, Kariong into Brisbane Water National Park 2008 1 July, Gosford City Council resolved (item SF.33 minute no 2008/457) to include the 7 parcels of land along Bambara Road as part of the Western Coastal Open Space System.
2003: Councillor Chris Holstein responds to a letter from Linda Campbell saying (in total) “Dear Ms Campbell, Thank you for the information on the Bambara road site. I couldn’t agree with you more!”
2007: Gosford Councils Coastal Open Spaces System (COSS committee) has the Bambara road area ranked as a priority 1 for COSS purchase. Level 1 is the highest and level 5 is the lowest.
Note: COSS is unique to Gosford City Council and $3.5 million of rate payers money is put aside specifically for the protection of the local environment and 1.5 million for managing those funds.
2008; November, Development Application 34498/2008 was refused by Gosford City Council.
2009 May, appeal against Gosford City Council’s refusal of Development Application
34498/2008 lodged in Land and Environment Court (LEC 10304/2009)
2010 25 June, the Land and Environment Court upheld Council’s position and refused Development Application 34498/2008.
2010: Save the Sacred at Kariong Campaign begins led by local resident Jake Cassar. Within 18 months group has around 3000 members. Objective of group is to bring Bambara into the surrounding National Park.
2010: Group holds rally’s attended by hundreds in the community, including Gosford City Mayor, Councillor Chris Holstein, Gosford Councillors and Greens Party members, Terri Latella and Dr Peter Freewater. Central Coast NBN news runs a story on rally and shows Chris Holstein saying “This has to be National Park, has to be!”
2010: Community campaign enjoys much support from the broader community and dozens of news story’s in the Express Advocate and television news stories from NBN television are run on the 6pm news.
2010: Save the Sacred Land at Kariong group members continue to send hundreds of emails, letters and to Gosford City Councillors and the General Manager Peter Wilson, demanding that swift action is taken to protect the Bambara road area. The Group demands that Gosford Council attempts to acquire the land using some of the available $5 million of the community’s money in the Coastal Open Spaces System (COSS) funds. Gosford Council refuses to acknowledge it as an option and Bambara has been moved from priority 1 out of 5, to priority 4 out of 5 for priority of COSS purchase.
2010: July 27, Gosford Council makes renewed commitment to bringing the land into public ownership. At the Council meeting Councillors agree to put in a tender for the 2 available blocks, lot 4711 and lot 4712, with a view to purchasing the other blocks in partnership with National Parks and Wildlife when they are made available.
2011: Lots 4711 and lot 4712 soon sell at auction to private owners. One block sold for $25, 000 and another for $40, 000. Gosford Council is heavily criticised in the community for missing out on these two blocks after spending around $175, 000 defending the development application (D.A) in the Land and Environment Court. A memo from Gosford Council shows they only offered $10, 000 for each of the two blocks that sold.
2011: Illegal under scrubbing and tree removal occurs on lot 4711. A deep fire pit and toilet is also dug into the ground. A story is run in the Express Advocate with community group showing concern about ongoing vandalism to the lot.
2011: Gosford Council and officers from the Department of Environment Climate Change and Water ‘DECCW’ investigate vandalism and no-one is publicly identified as being responsible.
2011: Febuary 16. Jake Cassar attends Heritage Committee meeting at Goford City Council and is told by Council staff member, Keith Hall, that the Darkinjung Land Council will pursue a heritage listing of the Bambara area (and it’s surrounds) and that Jake Cassar needn’t bother pursuing the matter. Jake Cassar questions Gary Chestnut on the investigation in relation to the vandalism of lot 4711. Gary Chestnut, in the presence of around 20 people, explains that the owner of lot 4711 admitted to doing the underscrubbing and was warned against doing any further damage. Later, The Director of Planning at Gosford Council, Colleen Worthy Jennings, sends out a form email to many members of the group ‘Save the Sacred Land at Kariong’ contradicting Gary Chestnuts statement, saying that the owner of lot 4711 denied doing any of the underscrubbing and that no person/s were identified as causing the damage.
2011: Within days of this news story of the vandalised lot, someone cuts down 22 trees and ringbarks others. Group believes it is in response to the news paper article.
2011: Peaceful protest camp (Camp Bambara) is established on Woy Woy road at the gate to Bambara road. The aim of the camp is to deter the environmental vandals from causing anymore damage and to get action from the politicians to secure the land for National Park. Group spends 88 days camped on the side of the road and gains overwhelming support from locals passing by. Group gets over 1500 signatures from people stopping in and signing the petition. Locals were appalled at the land being for sale as most of them thought the land was already part of the National Park. Peaceful camp is attacked by cowardly passers by throwing bottles, rocks, bungers (fire cracker with single loud bang) and eggs and the regular yelling of threats and racial slurs, always in the cover of night. Group makes agreement to ignore abuse and to re-enforce camp site to provide a partition to stop projectiles hitting people.
2011: March 21st The Shadow Minister for the Environment makes a political promise via press release titled “COALITION TO SECURE BAMBARA FUTURE” In the press release it states that the Coalition Government will appoint an independent mediator to look into a voluntary acquisition (by the Coalition Government) of the available blocks for inclusion in the National Park. This is celebrated by the community as a win for the protection of the Bambara road and wins Chris Holstein much support in the upcoming (5 days away) State election.
2011: March 26th-28th, Chris Holstein successfully secures the seat of Gosford.
2011: May, Media release from Chris Holstein saying Mediator made available from State property authority.
2011: May, Peaceful protest Camp on Woy Woy rd packs up after announcement of mediator.
2011: July 4th, Community members peacefully protest outside Liberal State member Chris Holsteins office. Jake Cassar suggests the Coalition Government is trying to pass the buck to Gosford Council, saying, ” The political promise was, “COALITION TO SECURE BAMBARA FUTURE” not ” COALITION TO PASS THE BUCK TO GOSFORD COUNCIL” Cassar also points out that in the original press release, it specifically stated that “the Coalition would look at purchasing the land” and “There has been no mediator appointed at all or involved in any of the current negotiations”
2011: July 6th, Press release from Chris Holstein stating that the mediator has been appointed and is expected to be actioned mid July.
FOR MORE INORMATION SEE THE FACEBOOK GROUP “SAVE THE SACRED LAND AT KARIONG”
TO BE CONTINUED ……..
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
To help this campaign please contact our State Member Chris Holstein at gosford@parliament.nsw.gov.au or his office on 43 424122 or his work mobile 0418432731. National Parks are a State Government issue and Chris Holstein is the State representative of the people. After 80 years of the community campaigning, we must now, demand answers!!
December 15th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Thanks Cate for supporting our Campaine to Save the Sacred Land At Kariong
December 17th, 2011 at 8:29 am
Thank you Cate Faehrmann for supporting our campaign to Save the Sacred Land at Kariong.
The area is in danger of being sold to Developers even though the land sub-divided is
part marshlands. How can this be? We need an INTERIM EMERGENCY ORDER- URGENTLY
from the Minister of Environment and Heritage so that this matter can be sorted out.
The local Indigenous people are very upset -they and friends recently sat in the area for 90 days making a statement they wanted the sacred area along Bambara Road protected…
please issue an INTERIM EMERGENCY ORDER to allow proper time to sort this out.
The whole of the area at ‘Bulganbly’ Woy Woy Road, Kariong was ‘Heritage listed’ in 1978 and again in 1986 and is an important reason to include the Bambara Road area.
December 21st, 2011 at 4:57 am
Good on you guys for commenting here and thanks again Cate for your pro-active approach to supporting this campaign. Cate, You have done more for Bambara in a week than most of our local politicians have done in their entire careers!!
Your support really gives me hope that we will soon see Bambara safely resting between her National Parkland borders.
With Cate as the Greens Environmental Spokesperson in our corner, we will be sure to bring this campaign to new heights and let the State Government and Gosford Council know, Bambara must be National Park!!
I some questions for Cate,
1)will you be officially pushing for Bambara’s protection in Parliament? If so, what time frame would we be looking at please?
2)Are you aware that the State Governments allegedly “Independent” negotiations have failed and were of very questionable legitimacy?
3)Do you feel that we have a fair case for compulsary acquisition under the ‘Just Terms Compensation Act 1995′ or using the State Governments ‘State Environment Protection Proceedure’ (SEPP)?
4)In your opinion what options should we be looking at to protect this land and to strengthen our campaign?
Your friend in conservation,
Jake Cassar
December 21st, 2011 at 6:14 am
please wake up…!!!
January 26th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Procrastination and political point-scoring are jeopardising the bigger issue of a culturally, environmentally and ecologically significant area that needs urgently to be absorbed into Brisbane Water National Park. Urgent action is required to ensure this window of opportunity is not lost forever .
March 13th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Thanks for your ongoing support Cate. I am a local mum and hope it won’t be long before the land can be acquired and become part of Brisbane Waters National Park. My kids visit Bambara regularly with the Kariong Scouts, it is a very special place, habitat to threatened species and place of great cultural significance. It needs to be in public hands, protected forever.