Riverstone wetlands under threat as local MP says he is not convinced of its importance to wild life
THE future of bird and wild life in Riverstone Meatworks wetlands, which was strengthened by a successful motion at the NSW Legislative Council earlier this year, is facing a new threat, with local MP Kevin Conolly suggesting this is not environtally safe and could be a development site.
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FACT BOX
■ The Riverstone Wetlands were created not long after WWII to help process wastewater from the nearby abattoir and tanning operations
■ When the meat works closed in 1984 these fertile, shallow ponds became the perfect habitat for wetland birds
■ Every year the wetlands are visited by waders, wetland-dependent bird that migrate from as far away as New Zealand, Korea, Japan and Russia
■ During good seasons, more than 100 species can be seen together in this one-hectare wetland Gatherings of such spectacular wildlife cannot be seen anywhere else in Western Sydney
—Source: Cumberland Conservation Network
THE future of Riverstone Meatworks wetlands, which was strengthened by a successful motion at the NSW Legislative Council earlier this year, is facing a new threat, with local MP Kevin Conolly suggesting this is not environtally safe and could be a development site.
Mr Conolly, the Riverstone state Liberal MP, told the Rouse Hill Times he does not think the site is as clean and safe as it is made out to be.
Instead, Mr Conolly said this former meatworks site is not the best spot for a wetlands, pointing out that there is a natural one already there, a short distance away. However, bird experts say this site could be promoted as a eco-tourism both locally and internationally.
“It is my opinion that this so-called wetlands is not clean and pristine as people say,” Mr Conolly said.
“During my visit to the site and the ponds, I didn’t see any bird life or any water there.”
Greens NSW MP and Environment spokeswoman, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, who moved the successful motion in the NSW Legislative Council, said this wetland should be protected, insisting all parties had supported her motion.
In March, under Dr Faruqi’s motion, the NSW Legislative Council affirmed the ecological value of the Riverstone Meatworks Wetlands and supports efforts to ensure that the habitat is maintained.
“It is disappointing that the local Liberal MP isn’t standing up to protect the environment, even after all parties unanimously supported my motion recognising the wetland’s ecological value and supported efforts to retain and protect it,’ Dr Faruqi told the Times.
“If there are concerns about contamination of the wetlands I would think that the obvious solution is to remediate it, not bulldoze it.
“Wetlands are so important to a healthy local environment. We urgently need to protect, conserve and enhance them as Western Sydney grows.”
Mark Fuller, secretary, Cumberland Land Conservancy, said Mr Conolly’s comments were disappointing and pointed out that the “richness of the wetlands is most evident September — December depending upon water levels”.
The Cumberland Conservation Network and Mr Fuller have published a booklet, Help save the Riverstone Wetlands and a prospectus, highlighting the more than 100 bird species — including migratory birds — seen at the site.
“This is the most significant wetland in western sydney, providing refuge for exhausted migratory species,” Mr Fuller said.
“With numbers of migratory shorebirds already drastically reduced within the Sydney region, the loss of this critical link between the Waterbird Refuge at Homebush Bay and Pitt Town Lagoon in the Hawkesbury will only serve to accelerate their decline.”
“We presented Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali with printed samples at our meeting last year and he was very supportive of having an international eco-tourism destination in Blacktown.
“Our observations have been conducted over a number of years with restricted access and virtually no management of water levels for wildlife, even so these records are extremely impressive.
“The limited assessments conducted on behalf of the developers by Ecological have been done At the wrong time of the year when few species are present.”
Mr Conolly said he believes that these disused waste ponds from the meatworks is not ideal for bird life because of possible contamination through the years.
Blacktown Council is also strong on the site, noting on its website that Riverstone Wetlands were created not long after WWII to help process wastewater from the nearby abattoir and tanning operations.
“When the meat works closed in 1984 these fertile, shallow ponds became the perfect habitat for wetland birds,” the council said.
“Every year the wetlands are visited by waders, wetland-dependent bird that migrate from as far away as New Zealand, Korea, Japan and Russia.
“During good seasons, over 400 individual birds from over 100 native species can be seen together in this one-hectare wetland. Gatherings of such spectacular wildlife cannot be seen anywhere else in Western Sydney.
“Riverstone Wetlands offer unique opportunities for people from the general, special interest and scientific communities to connect with nature.”
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