6th August, 2025.
In 1991 the Nattai National Park bill established protected lands and bush adjoining lands owned by WaterNSW, Crown Lands and councils. On 30 October 1991 Dr Metherell, the former member for Davidson in this place, said:
The Nattai national park proposal covers approximately 75,000 hectares of rugged bushland and contains a wilderness of over 25,000 hectares. It stretches from Lake Burragorang and the Blue Mountains National Park in the west to Thirlmere Lakes National Park and the Southern Highlands near Mittagong in the east. It is diverse both in landscape and wildlife. Nattai is one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Greater Blue Mountains. Myles Dunphy considered its scenery to be as impressive as views from Leura over the famous Jamison Valley.
The bill was passed with no infrastructure at all. The park has remained, as Keith Muir of the Total Environmental Centre said, "a magnificent natural area, just beyond the Sydney urban fringe which, despite any plan of management, remains mostly undeveloped." Today the same statement could be made for the lands that remain largely unmanaged. The issue of no plan of management, the hands‑off approach and the haphazard management of key pieces of bushland that stretch from Maldon and Tahmoor in the north all the way to Kangaloon in the south is not only a missed opportunity; it is shameful to hear that the Government is not willing to jump at the proposal of a unified Southern Highlands national park that would cost nothing.
The Jellore State forest, Bargo State Conservation Area, Upper Nepean State Conservation Area, Thirlmere Lakes National Park and Nattai National Park are surrounded by lands that are recognised as culturally important to the Dharawal people in the north. In the south, the management of National Parks, Crown Lands, WaterNSW and council make the area look like a patchwork quilt. The boundaries of management help no‑one and the separation of those beautiful lands means there is no way to promote the tourism potential of the area. For example, Mermaid Pools—the area sacred to the Dharawal people, a woman's place of healing used by locals in Tahmoor and the site of falls and accidents during summer months—is attached to Bargo gorge, a beautiful snaking river that will soon have walkways thanks to the developer Ingham giving 16 hectares of bushland to council. This should be celebrated by expanding the national park. Instead, we can only celebrate a small portion of protection.
This year we have seen an expansion of national park land in Campbelltown. That is great, but that is developer led and driven. Environmental protection should not be led by development; it should be bipartisan and outside the box to ensure the best outcomes. The decision to make Dharawal National Park was great and a credit to the Government at the time which, despite the underground mining concerns and lobbying, proceeded with protecting the land. We have the same opportunity today. The Government may not wish to move on it because it takes effort. It will take the time of the House, but my electorate is worth it.
I am pleased to hear that Wingecarribee council has been supportive of a proposal for a national park and has opened discussions with the department regarding a number of the pieces of land that are under the management of the council. While that effort is welcomed, a national park and its definitions starts with an Act. The mapping of the new Southern Highlands national park should be done in conjunction with council, Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council, Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council and Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council, as well as local representatives. The process should be open and transparent, and led independently by my team and myself. If the Government will not do it, someone has to. I have reached out to the Minister for the Environment to assist with the creation of the national park. To date, I have been disappointed with the lack of action. I hope, when the ink is on paper, the Minister will not vote against a bill for a new national park. We will just have to wait and see and watch this space.