Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek has visited the Blue Mountains to see efforts to protect endangered ecological communities following the 2020 bushfires, just a day after the release of the latest State of the Environment Report, Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said.
The report painted a grim picture of the nation’s environment following nearly a decade of neglect under the former government and singled out the devastating impacts of natural disasters.
As a record of the full national picture of the health of Australia’s environment, the report is one of the most important documents in environmental science, Ms Templeman said.
“This report was delivered to the previous government last year, but they chose to keep it locked away until after the federal election,” Ms Templeman said.
“While it’s a confronting read, people particularly living in sensitive areas like the Blue Mountains deserve to know the truth.
“I was really pleased that Minister Plibersek visited our World Heritage Area so soon after releasing the report, to meet with bushcare volunteers from the Braeside Upland Swamp in Blackheath and see some of the important work they are doing to regenerate bushland in the area.
“This area was hit badly by bushfires, and it was important to hear from the volunteers as well as NSW National Parks and Wildlife Blue Mountains Branch Director, David Crust, about the crucial work being done to restore the area,” Ms Templeman said.
Minister Plibersek saw the work volunteers are completing to help stop invasive weeds and restore the swamp’s natural qualities, with eight per cent of the swamp now restored back to its natural state.
“Braeside bushcare began volunteer weeding in the early 1990s, and volunteers have worked tirelessly to eliminate gorse, blackberry and broom from the area,” Ms Templeman said.
“It’s a vital contribution to our community.”
Minister Plibersek said “It was fantastic to visit the beautiful Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and meet with local volunteers about the work they are doing.
“There’s amazing c
