Landcare group presents woodcut petition

Members of Ettymalong Creek Landcare group met with officials from the office of the Member for Gosford, Ms Kathy Smith, to ask her to advocate for the withdrawal of the government's Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2016.

The group was concerned that if the Bill was passed, it would lead to broad scale land clearing across NSW and a significant loss of native wildlife.

The group presented the woodcut petition and supporting letter to ensure that the draft Bill is withdrawn without delay.

Dr James Lawson, who presented the woodcut to officials, said the group was "deeply concerned about the implications of the draft Bill for Biodiversity Conservation in New South Wales.

"The bill proposes removing the requirement that land clearing should 'maintain or improve biodiversity'," Dr Lawson said.

"If enacted, the proposals will lead to the extensive loss of threatened ecosystems and degradation of urban environments," he said.

The existing requirement in the Native Vegetation Act 2003 has provided strong protection for native vegetation over the last decade and been instrumental in reducing native vegetation clearing in NSW, especially in heavily modified rural landscapes.

Ettymalong Creek Landcare said the current legislation had been an example for other states, with support from environmental experts and farmers alike.

Media release, 17 Jul 2016,

Sue Ellis, Ettymalong Creek Landcare