Icons Under Threat

Natural areas in NSW are coming under unprecedented threat from coal and coal seam gas mining. Our new report Icons Under Threat showcases the incredible values of seven iconic natural areas in NSW that could be lost if current mining proposals are allowed to go ahead.

The report provides insight into the damage already being done to our rivers and native flora and fauna as well as the inadequacy of mining company environmental assessments and biodiversity offsets.

Icons Under Threat also highlights the significance of the Pilliga Scrub as one of Australia's bush icons. This area is the focus of the Wilderness Society's work, currently under direct threat from Easter Star Gas, recently taken over by Santos, who want to develop a 110 well coal seam gas field turning the forest into an industrial wasteland.

This essential and timely report comes as the NSW Government is embarking on a Strategic Regional Land Use Policy. This policy aims to identify agricultural and other sensitive areas where mining and coal seam gas extraction should not occur, however currently there has been no action to slow the coal and coal seam gas rush that is occurring in the State.

This report clearly identifies the strategic importance of these seven natural areas and leaves no doubt as to why they must be protected under the Strategic Regional Land Use Policy.

The seven case studies include:

Pilliga Forest – NSW’s biggest coal seam proposal threatens a biodiversity hotspot.
Warkworth Sands Woodland – Biodiversity offsets give green light to habitat destruction.
Leard State Forest – Misleading mine expansion maps.
Putty Valley – Water versus coal seam gas.
Woronora – Mining in Sydney’s water catchment, ‘remedial action’ not working.
The Great Dripping Gorge – Cumulative impacts of many mine projects.
The Gardens of Stone – Threatened species missed in mine assessment.

Download and read the full report Icons Under Threat (pdf - 4.2 MB).

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