Northern Leader Editorial
January 11, 2007
Section: News
Acting as a buffer
News that the Garawarra State Conservation Area and Royal National Park have been added to the National Heritage List confirms the importance of these natural areas to two of the State's largest cities.
Besides their obvious environmental attributes, the two parks act as a buffer between large urban areas the southern suburbs of Sydney and the northern suburbs of Wollongong.
These parks have prevented Sydney and Wollongong from becoming one huge urban sprawl, and are a vanguard of our region's unique culture.
The Royal and Garawarra now join the Sydney Opera House and Eureka Stockade as recognised national treasures.
The two reserves are home to more than 1000 plant species, including stands of rainforest, and an impressive array of birds, reptiles and butterflies.
Northern suburbs National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger Bill Sullivan said the heritage honour was a pleasant surprise.
He said it was not a shock that the Royal was recognised, but the Garawarra inclusion was unexpected.
Garawarra stretches across 900 hectares on the outskirts of Helensburgh and includes the picturesque Kelly's Falls.
The area should now benefit from additional funding and more overseas visitors with its new accolade.