AN OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSAL TO BUILD SYDNEY ZOO ON WESTERN SYDNEY PARKLANDS
The amount of land available to preserve our existing rare Cumberland Plains Bushland type is continuously diminishing, whilst Local and State Government bodies are in compliance to sell off as much as possible, to increase government revenue, to the detriment of existing and future generations of western Sydney residents, most of whom are being told of the nice side of having a zoo, without being told of the disadvantages to our environment that will occur.
The following points should be explained to those residents:
1. The zoo will be built on land that is part of a grant to the Board of Western Sydney Parkland Trust, land declared by Bob Carr to be "open space, never to be developed, a great part of our environment."
2. Eastern Grey Kangaroos currently graze on part of the land designated for the Zoo.
3. In order to make part of the zoo suitable for occupation by African animals, an artificial "African Environment" needs to be made using plants, and grasses from that continent's environment, the seeds of which will be scattered by wind and/or rain into the surrounding areas and waterways.
4. Community volunteers have been doing native vegetation restoration in this area for years, and their efforts would be wasted.
5. Should seeds from African plants enter nearby Eastern Creek, weeds that develop might eventually reach the Hawkesbury River and have the potential to create further infestations.
6. The land should remain in its native state, and not be exploited as just another source of revenue, and example of promises broken by government departments to indigenous and other Australian citizens.
Please acknowledge receipt of this objection
Edward Hartley
6 Grant Street
Blacktown N.S.W. 2148
Tel (02) 9622 2416
Email: [email protected]

DO NOT PUT A ZOO INTO THE WESTERN SYDNEY PARKLANDS.

The ongoing consequences of bringing exotic plants into part of the last remaining areas of the Cumberland Plain Woodland Critically Endangered Ecological Community (CEEC) will be more than problematic. Weed control and conservation of this particular CEEC remnant is currently being neglected by the Western Sydney Parklands Trust. Previous conservation work is not being maintained or continued.

If you introduce more African or other exotic species into the Australian landscape you will be exacerbating the current problem we already have. In particular with the spread of African Love Grass(ALG) (Eragrostis curvulaceae) and other scleriferous introduced plants.

Please think for a change. Think of how much grazing land has already been lost in the Cooma/Monaro area and how much money it is currently costing for exotic weed control Australia Wide.

We do not need to put a Zoo with its inherent problems into one of the last remaining Cumberland Plain remnants.

As an active member of the Australian Plants Society NSW recognising the importance of our native flora and fauna, I am writing to say that I am opposed to the destruction of the natural environment at Doonside caused by the construction and operation of Sydney Zoo.

I am particularly concerned about the planting of African grasses, weed species, which have the potential to get into nearby Eastern Creek and from there through to the Hawkesbury River and destroy our natural environment.

I am opposed to the destruction of the natural environment at Doonside caused by the construction and operation of Sydney Zoo.
As the owner of a covenanted property, and as a Blacktown Bushcare volunteer, I am acutely aware of the problems we have in dealing with exotics and African Lovegrass and Rhodes Grass from Africa.
The seeds from these and other African plant species are carried by birds and wind, thus making their way into waterways. Having made their way into Eastern Creek, they can be deposited anywhere from there into the Hawkesbury River. This is of great concern to the environmentally responsible citizens within Western Sydney.
I am astounded that the planning of this site has not taken into consideration that:
1. The site is currently parkland with valuable ecosystems, above and below ground that can never, ever be replaced.
2. Contrary to Table 61 of the Environmental Impact Statement, a special area will be set aside to actually GROW noxious weeds.
3. Earthmoving, construction and maintenance activities at the site will have a detrimental effect on the wildlife and habitat of Western Sydney Parklands.

I am opposed to the destruction of the natural environment at Doonside caused by the construction and operation of Sydney Zoo. Especially as it still foraged by a mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos and harbours many bird species including the Buff-rumped Thornbill, Grey Fantail and Jacky Winter all of which are fast declining in western Sydney as their habitat disappears and competition by Noisy Miners and Indian Mynahs increases. More so, I am aware that Greening Australia organised for community volunteer to revegate the area with local species their is no point in destroying their hard work that may only now be coming to fruition.

In conclusion, I disagree that a Zoo is the best plan for the area. Why not a wildlife centre or something else that works best in with the native vegetation? Especially when you will be potentially introducing African Plants near Eastern Creek, when Sydney and indeed much of Australia already have problems with invasive african vegetation. This includes: African Boxthorn, African Love Grass and African Olive all of which pose serious threat to our Australian Flora and Fauna.

I urge you to reconsider this position.

"I am opposed to the destruction of the natural environment at Doonside caused by the construction and operation of Sydney Zoo." that will be sufficient.

Why is Sydney opening another zoo?
I'm guessing because it's a profit making exercise.
Animals don't belong in captivity.
The days of holding animals captive for display are thankfully coming to close due to public opinion.
Look at Seaworld.
#animalexploitation

Please do not exploit exotic or wild animals for human entertainment.

Western Sydney Parklands Trust has become noxious to Conservationists in Western Sydney.

When former Premier Bob Carr announced establishment of the 5,500ha area to be Western Sydney Parklands in 2004 he uttered the words "open space, never to be developed, a great part of our environment."

In the lead up to that announcement the NSW Government had been resuming land for the parkland. The 300ha former OTC site at Eastern Creek/Doonside (previously known as Bungarribee Estate) was included in the acquisitions.

Conservationists had high hopes the 300ha former OTC site would provide an important flora and fauna habitat near the centre of the City of Blacktown. Our hopes were quickly dashed when personnel within the Department of Planning soon told us that 90ha of the site (and another area near Cecil Hills) would be set aside for housing development to pay for Western Sydney Parklands.

Since then, the Board of Western Sydney Parklands Trust has developed a voracious appetite, cannibalising land which had earlier been said to be conserved, particularly in Blacktown LGA. To satisfy self interest, the Board of Western Sydney Parklands Trust has systematically sold off or leased land for financial gain which former Premier Carr said was "open space, never to be developed, a great part of our environment."

Also, what of those people who were forced off their land by the government under the pretence it was to become parkland yet today they see their former land holding sold off or leased for development - something previous land owners were denied?

The latest and by no means last act of self serving by the Board of Western Sydney Parklands Trust is the leasing of land for the Sydney Zoo enterprise.

The 16.5ha of land proposed for the Sydney Zoo enterprise forms part of an area free ranged by a mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos - part of of natural heritage. It comprises an area in which Greening Australia (with the approval of the Department of Planning) brought in community volunteers to do native vegetation planting in past years. It is another excision of land from the former OTC site land for commercial gain and, when finished its parasiting, the Board of Western Sydney Parklands Trust will have set aside from the former 300ha only a skinny margin of Eastern Creek floodplain for flora and fauna conservation purposes.

Indeed, the question is asked just how much land is conserved for flora and fauna conservation in Blacktown LGA which is not associated with the riparian margins or floodplain of Eastern Creek? Exclude Prospect Nature Reserve from that consideration because it was already conserved before Western Sydney Parklands Trust could get its 'teeth' into it.

But not even that skinny margin of conserved land from the former OTC site will be protected from the 'dead hand' of Western Sydney Parklands Trust's self interest. The plan for Sydney Zoo includes removal of part of the riparian margin and, in other areas, landscaping with overseas plants and grasses e.g. African grasses. It is not enough that a wealth of NSW Government grants over decades have been expended through agencies and community volunteer groups to reduce the adverse effects of African Lovegrass in the Sydney Region and now Western Sydney Parklands Trust, with the intended approval of the Department of Planning, is proposing to accommodate a landscape of African grasses alongside Eastern Creek.

It is well known that creek lines are the most difficult and expensive areas to restore and maintain in natural state. Every rain inundation brings seeds from exotic plants and grasses into creek lines from surrounding development. After the 'wash-in' and depositing somewhere downstream the seeds germinate to produce weeds which are the bane of bush regenerators.

Yet here it is, the NSW Government backing the self interest of Western Sydney Parklands Trust, about to approve an expansive source of introduced seeds alongside the riparian margin of Eastern Creek. Whether wind borne or carried through drainage into Eastern Creek these introduced seeds will be carried into Eastern Creek, potentially downstream into South Creek and potentially the Hawkesbury River. Somewhere along that route they will be deposited and produce unwanted plant species. This is a disastrous regression in the administration of weed management in New South Wales.

Is not Eastern Creek at least a Class 4 stream in terms of the Water Management Act? How close is development permitted to such a stream? How close can a development which is the active progenitor of weed species be to such a significant stream that is Eastern Creek which feeds into major agricultural and conservation areas of Blacktown and Hawkesbury LGA's?

What an abominable monster the Western Sydney Parklands Trust has become to the natural environment of the City of Blacktown.

How could a semi-government agency become so far removed from the intention of the former Carr Government when announcing establishment of Western Sydney Parklands in year 2004?

This is an indictment on the exigencies of government today. Environmental protection was better a decade and half ago than it is today.

The Sydney Zoo proposal should not be permitted within the former OTC (Bungarribee) site, Doonside. The land should be conserved to honour the statement made to the public by former Premier Bob Carr when announcing establishment of Western Sydney Parklands he said this land was "open space, never to be developed, a great part of our environment".

Can government be trusted?

I attended the " Have Your Say" display on 16/12/15, about the Sydney Zoo. What a disgusting Zoo this will be. Housing the large African animals { elephants, lions, tigers, hippos,rhinos, etc.}. This 16.5 ha. area is too small for these migrating animals to survive a healthy and natural life. Articles have already been written about the hippo farts and the effect on air pollution, but what about the noise?. Hippos feed at night and are very loud and vocal, as do the lions. Being located in the middle of suburbia, will create many sleepless nights.
The General Manager quoted that the area size is within government regulations. But really, after a car park and all the proposed pavilions are constructed, the animals enclosures will be dramatically reduced.
This is sounding like animal cruelty to me.
I can agree to housing small species at the Zoo, but honestly, why a Zoo in Blacktown? This area borders on the already congested Doonside Rd., Great Western Hwy., the M7 motorway and the new 750 home subdivision. Not the ideal use of this space. Small children and pets beware of escapes.
Addressing the tourist pitch. When I was a tourist to Australia and only having 2-3 days visiting Sydney, traveling for 1 hour to Blacktown, to see African animals , was not a priority. Why not visit Taronga Zoo , see African and native animals, along with the beautiful Harbour views? What happens, after a few years, if this venture financially collapses? Do they shoot the animals and lock the gates? These types of tourism parks , in our area, have come and gone repeatedly.
A more realistic move, would be to encourage Featherdale to occupy this area and to expand.

Really Blacktown, do we need these potential problems?
Iurge Council to consider these problems. These magnificient African animials deserve a better health life, then being on display is unsuitable confines.
Thank you for you time.