Blacktown & District Environment group Inc is disgusted with the contempt shown by successive NSW Governments and, more particularly, the Western Sydney Parklands Trust with respect to the former Bungarribee site, Eastern Creek/Doonside.

The Australia Zoo proposal is just more of the same.

What was a 300ha open space flora and fauna habitat a decade and more ago, and much before that the historic “Bungarribee”  has been carved up for money making ventures by the NSW Government and Western Sydney Parklands Trust, none of which ventures sustain or add to the natural and cultural heritage of Blacktown LGA; rather, they subtract.

With respect to the natural heritage we are concerned that habitat and foraging space for our local bird populations and the mob of kangaroos on that land is to be further diminished. Also, the Australian Bass fish in Eastern Creek will likely be compromised, perhaps made extinct, from polluted drainage from the proposed Australia Zoo and other developments imposed or yet to be imposed by the NSW Government and Western Sydney Parklands Trust.

It is all the more galling that former Premier, Bob Carr, and his colleagues when first proclaiming Western Sydney Parklands, said the parklands were “never to be developed.” Society has descended to immorality when government and its agencies do not keep their word. Why should anyone treat anyone honourably when lying is exampled by government? These are the first wisps of a whirlwind of anarchy which consequentially follows.

In taking open space land from the residents of Blacktown the Western Sydney Parklands Trust offers as compensation the trinket and plaything of a zoo to amuse residents and to act as a salve to the real injury.

Further, the area allocated for the zoo was the area where much pains were endured by the community in voluntary plantings and bushcare for Greening Australia. This decision for a zoo on that site just adds insult to the injury of contempt for the community as Western Sydney Parklands Trust derives income to keep its stipended personnel well supplied into the future.

Shame on government and its parasitic agencies.