BirdLife Australia calls for Ellalong Lagoon conservation commitment to be honoured

BirdLife Australia are calling on Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) to honour their commitment to conserve Ellalong Lagoon and adjoining bushland in the Hunter Region of New South Wales when they decide on a buyer for the block, which they have now placed on the market.

The property is located along Congewai and Sanctuary Roads at Paxton and comprises 400 hectares of significant wetland and woodland habitat. It was purchased by PWCS in 2012 to partly offset the loss of Deep Pond on Kooragang Island through the ill-fated T4 project. BirdLife Australia state that "with that proposal now off the books, PWCS have put the property up for sale via an EOI process."

Mick Roderick, NSW Woodland Bird Program Manager at BirdLife Australia highlights that “this is the jewel in Lower Hunter’s conservation crown. This single block contains one of the best known wetlands in the Hunter, listed on the Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia, as well as some of the most intact woodland left on the floor of the Hunter Valley.

“A remarkable array of flora and fauna occur here, including several endangered vegetation communities and is an important site for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrots. It needs to be protected.”

BirdLife Australia are concerned at the promotion of the sale, including slogans such as ‘Large land holding with subdivision potential’.

Roderick adds “back in 2012 Port Waratah made a commitment to protect this site. Hennie Du Plooy stated at the time that the bottom line is Ellalong Lagoon has been locked away from developers forever. BirdLife Australia urge Port Waratah to not make this a financial decision and act in the public interest. There is broad community support to have the site protected and managed as a conservation showpiece.”