Link Road Forest petition takes national park push to NSW Parliament

newy.com.au – A petition urging the NSW government to buy Link Road Forest and protect it as a national park has reached state parliament with 10,456 signatures from supporters.

More than 25 people from the Lower Hunter travelled to Parliament House for the petition’s tabling in the Legislative Council by Greens planning spokeswoman Sue Higginson. Campaign representatives also used the visit to lobby the opposition as they seek meetings with the ministers responsible for environment and planning.

Link Road Forest Campaign spokesman Ian McKenzie said the response to the petition demonstrated broad community support. He described the forest as the Lower Hunter’s last large area of unprotected urban forest, important for both wildlife and recreation.

“It is critical, not just for the seventeen plus threatened species in the forest, but as green space where people can relax and recreate,” Mr McKenzie said.

The campaign has obtained a Newcastle council report prepared for councillors under freedom-of-information provisions. Mr McKenzie said the report endorsed the forest’s environmental and social values and recognised the benefits national park protection would provide for the Lower Hunter.

During their parliamentary visit, campaign representatives met Shadow Minister for the Hunter Scott Farlow and invited him to visit the forest. Mr McKenzie said Mr Farlow was interested in hearing about the area and the community campaign to protect it.

The group has previously met Hunter Minister Yasmin Catley. Mr McKenzie said a delegation planned to meet the Hunter Labor caucus, which Ms Catley chairs, in the coming weeks.

Campaigners hoped those discussions would lead to meetings with Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and Planning Minister Paul Scully about the push for state acquisition and national park protection.

Mr McKenzie said the campaign would also approach candidates across political parties and make their positions on the forest an election issue.

“We will be expressing a view in the lead up to the election about which candidates deserve support based on their support for Link Road Forest,” he said.