In the last few weeks the NPWS have acquired Lots 1 and 17, Parish Broadmeadows through the Dunphy Wilderness Fund. These two leasehold blocks form part of the high habitat quality old growth areas currently gazetted as Chaelundi State Forest.
People may remember that this patch of forest was at the hub of logging, legal, and parliamentary show downs in the early 1990s.
Acquisition means that about 1,400 hectares (I’ve yet to get the exact figure for this one) of the State Forest will be revoked for addition to Guy Fawkes River National Park, and subsequently declared as wilderness.
This is additional to the 3,097 ha of Chaelundi further to the east in Chandlers Creek catchment, for which the lease was acquired in September 2000. In spite of the continued trashing of so much unprotected habitat elsewhere, I would suggest that this small step calls for a moment of positive reflection.
Well done to all of the NEFA people and other supporters of the park and
wilderness proposals for Chaelundi.
John Macris
Conservation Rep to Dunphy Fund Reference Group.