newy.com.au – King Street was closed on Sunday as green groups and local campaigners protested against plans to build thousands of homes on Link Road Forest, bringing the long running fight over the western Newcastle bushland back into the city centre.
The rally was centred on Civic Park and formed part of the national March for Forests day of action, the local event hosted by Save Link Rd Forest and the Bob Brown Foundation.
At the centre of the dispute is the Eden Estates rezoning proposal, which remains at pre-exhibition stage on the NSW Planning Portal. The Department is investigating the rezoning of 574 hectares of land at Wallsend and Glendale to allow up to 4,200 dwellings, including affordable housing, employment and supporting community facilities.
Campaigners say the bushland is too environmentally valuable to lose. The Hunter Community Environment Centre says the forest contains high environmental value land and habitat for at least 16 threatened species, including squirrel gliders, bats, glossy black cockatoos, masked owls, powerful owls and koalas.
City of Newcastle councillors have already backed a motion to seek talks with state ministers and agencies about turning the area into a national park instead.
Pressure to save the forest has continued to build in recent months. Newy.com.au reported in February that fresh wildlife concerns were again being linked to the proposal, and campaigners argue Newcastle can still meet housing demand without clearing one of the area’s last major green corridors.
With the rezoning still under assessment and further consultation yet to come, Sunday’s protest showed calls to save Link Road Forest are not going away.
