Yerranderie Airstrip - Delivering for our community: an airstrip for continued access to remote town
Responding to requests from the Community, I have been working to have Yerranderie airstrip to have continued access for the community.
Yerranderie airstrip was part of the land that was gifted to the State Government and Wollondilly Council by Val Lhuede. Val was a long term resident and who recently passed away peacefully at the age of 101. Val handed over ownership of her land to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, with the intention that it be retained for use by the community. The land includes the airstrip, which has been used historically for access to the remote town.
The electorate of Wollondilly is a regional area located close to Sydney, with most towns within an hour of Sydney city. However Yerranderie is geographically isolated being surrounded by Yerranderie Regional Park on all sides, and takes me over four hours to drive the 270km there from my office in Tahmoor - despite it only being 34km away as the crow flies.
Electorate boundary lines drawn on a map sometimes don’t accurately reflect the reality of what it means to live in certain areas - life for the people of Yerranderie means a certain level of isolation, but this shouldn’t mean being cut off from the rest of the world entirely. As you can imagine, the setting within the surrounds of the bush makes this historic town a unique and beautiful place. However it also presents the threat of bushfire and floods which can cut the town off, having only one access road. The airstrip represents security for local residents to fly supplies and themselves in and out in time of need. The National Parks currently do not allow the use of private aircraft landing in the Sydney Water Catchment, in which Yerranderie is located. Hence, handing over the small 0.68 hectare area to Wollondilly Shire Council would allow residents to continue to access the airstrip, as was intended by Val Lhuede when she handed over the land.
There was recently a piece of legislation introduced by the NSW government to make adjustments to areas of land that will be acquired by National Parks, or ceded by them, called National Parks And Heritage Legislation Amendment Bill 2024. I proposed an amendment to the legislation to have Yerranderie airstrip officially handed over to the Council, to ensure the continued use as was Val Lhuede’s intention with gifting the land. The government did not approve this amendment, once again showing a lack of understanding or consideration for the unique challenges faced by the remote community of Yerranderie. However this is not the end of it. I am working with the Minister for the Environment to explore other pathways to get a plan of management in place for Yerranderie to allow the use of the airstrip.
Below is a collection of some speeches regarding the airstrip and Val Lhuede
10 October 2023 - Community Recognition Statement - The Resilient History of Yerranderie and Valerie Lheude
Yerranderie, a historic ghost town in NSW, was once a bustling mining hub. In the early 1900s, it was home to over 2,000 people and produced millions of ounces of silver and gold. However, the construction of the Warragamba Dam in the 1950s cut off its main access, leading to its decline. In 1947, the town was bought by Aubin Rene Lhuede, and his daughter Valerie Lheude took over its management. A remarkable woman, Valerie dedicated her life to preserving Yerranderie's heritage. In 2011, at the age of 89, she handed the town over to the NSW Minister for the Environment. Today, it's managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Oberon. Valerie's efforts have ensured that Yerranderie remains a testament to Australia's rich history, now serving as a regional park that combines remnants of the town with old mining sites and bushwalks. Her legacy continues to inspire, reminding us that one person can make a significant impact on a community's preservation. Thank you Valerie Lheude from all of the Wollondilly.
4 June 2024 - National Parks And Heritage Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
National Parks And Heritage Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 - Second Reading Debate
Mrs JUDY HANNAN (Wollondilly) (21:18): I move my amendment No. 1 on sheet c2024-066C:
No. 1 Revocation of certain regional park and national park land in Wollondilly Shire
Page 9, Schedule 1. Insert after line 41—
65 Revocation of part of Yerranderie Regional Park and Blue Mountains National Park
(1) This clause applies to approximately 0.68ha of land in the Yerranderie Regional Park and Blue Mountains National Park, identified as "land to be revoked" on a map published by the Minister in the Gazette for the purposes of this clause on 1 August 2024.
(2) On 1 August 2024, the reservation under this Act of the land as a regional park or national park is revoked.
(3) On the revocation of the land as a regional park or national park, the land is vested in Wollondilly Shire Council for an estate in fee simple, freed and discharged from all trusts, obligations, estates, interests, rights of way or other easements.
We have just heard some wonderful speeches about the protection of flora and fauna in our national parks and about the protection of the people who work for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. What we have not heard about is the protection of the community of Yerranderie. About 50 people live in Yerranderie. For me to get there, as part of my electorate, takes 4½ hours because it is literally encircled by a national park. The reason it is encircled is that a lady called Val Lhuede, who turned 100 just last year, donated her land, her private property, to the national park. It was a gift. But the town of Yerranderie is totally surrounded by national parks.
It has an airstrip that falls under both council and National Parks land. It has a tiny section of land—0.68 hectares—that belongs to National Parks that encroaches upon the airstrip. The residents of Yerranderie have always had access to their town but it has not always been easy. The road has been closed due to weather. It has had trees downed, potholes and various other things over the years. It has suffered fires and floods and often the only way in and out for those residents is via a small aircraft. I am told that rescue these days can be done by helicopter but that will impede upon other services and rely on others to deliver food to those who are caught in the town. Some of them have their own small aircrafts, which is what they have been using up until now to get in and out.
Having the airstrip under a single ownership and management would fix the issue that National Parks has with using airstrips. I have looked at that issue but only one national park has let people come in on those airstrips. It is a simple change. It will not cost anything but it may one day save the life of somebody in Yerranderie that needs medical services. There is a church and an historic graveyard. As I said, people live there. For me it is really worth the effort to stand in this Chamber even though I know I will probably not get much support from the Government or the Opposition. One of the great things about being an Independent is that I can work for my community—whether they are towns of thousands of people or whether they're a town with 50 people, it is important to me that they get the access to their town that they deserve.
It is worth the effort for me to stand in this Chamber even though I will only be brief. I challenge all members to go to Yerranderie. Unless they are in a four-wheel-drive I bet that most members will not get there. I want members to remember that they are cursing those people to no access for many periods of the year through fire and flood. I am not sure how supplies will get there. I hope that I get some support, but I do not believe it will happen. I have looked at revocation and tidying up of small areas. It was an opportunity to make the people of Yerranderie safe and protected in the future.