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On 22 October 2021 the application by FlyBlue for a lease to operate a commercial airfield, including helicopter flights, was refused.

The company’s temporary licence to access the site will also be revoked and it will be required to vacate the site within 28 days.

The site will remain open to emergency services.

Here's the NSW Government's announcement.

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The Blue Mountains Conservation Society was born in October 1961.

Its birth name was the Katoomba and District Fauna and Flora Protection Society. This was changed the next year to the Katoomba and District Wildlife Conservation Society.

Its motto was "wildlife conservation saves for future generations".

In 1983 it changed its name to the Upper Blue Mountains Conservation Society.

The Lower Blue Mountains Conservation Society was born in 1966. Its motto was "conserve, preserve, investigate, educate".

The two societies merged (married) in 1996.

Our Newsletter Editor has compiled a special edition of Hut News to celebrate our birthday. It contains many reminiscences from members, and a time line of events and campaigns.

The time line now has its own webpage - with images and links.

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In 2018, the NSW Government passed legislation to allow the flooding of World Heritage listed national parks by raising the wall of Warragamba Dam.

If the dam wall is raised, 4,700 hectares of World Heritage listed National Parks and 1,800 hectares of declared Wilderness Areas will be forever scarred from sedimentation, erosion and invasion of exotic plants.

Raising Warragamba Dam will inundate 65 kilometres of Blue Mountain's wild rivers.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was released on 29 September 2021.

It is crucial that we voice our concerns and address the flaws in this EIS and process.

Here's how to make a submission.

Here's more information about the NSW Government's proposal to raise the dam wall

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In early November, once nominations close, a questionnaire will be sent to all "lead" candidates and independents. Their responses plus an analysis will be provided before Pre-poll Voting opens on Monday 22 November. We do not recommend or support parties or individual candidates.

Our 2021 Council Election webpage provides details of -

• the BMCC wards
• where you can check your enrolment
• how you can enrol to vote
• Society conservation articles.
• the Council's election website
• COVID-19 safety measures at venues.

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The Society welcomes the news that the Angus Place mine extension for the unprotected Gardens of Stone area has been withdrawn. This proposal would have destroyed more nationally listed swamps and waterways.

We can now look forward to a better future for this spectacular area of the Greater Blue Mountains.

We call on the NSW government to declare the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area now!

Destination Pagoda, a visitor management plan for the area, shows how Lithgow can use the SCA to become a world class nature tourism destination.

The SCA would also provide effective environmental management of the Gardens of Stone area after the devastating fires of 2019-20.

The Society thanks all our supporters of this long campaign and the dedicated work of our fellow Gardens of Stone Alliance groups - Colong Foundation (especially Keith Muir) and Lithgow Environment Group.

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The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and the NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry have concluded. Here are their reports (all documents are around 18MB each) -

• The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report and Appendices
• NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry Report

And here's the Society's submission to the NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry.

Our Bushfires webpage (updated in May 2021) contains a detailed analysis of the 2019-20 bushfires and their impact on the Greater Blue Mountains - including maps, an assessment of areas burnt and the loss of wildlife. Information on recovery and What You Can Do is there, plus some articles on firefighting.

In June and July, the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) hosted Australia’s first virtual bushfire and climate change summit to coordinate a national response to the Australian climate and bushfire crises.

The 2020 National Bushfire and Climate Summit brought together hundreds of participants from across the country and the world to share their experiences, and to formulate recommendations to address the worsening risk of devastating bushfires fuelled by climate change.

The Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan is the culmination of that effort.

The Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan provides a broad plan and practical ideas for governments, fire and land management agencies and communities to help us mitigate and adapt to worsening fire conditions.

The plan’s 165 recommendations include many measures that can be implemented right now, to ensure communities are better protected.

The experts agree: We must tackle climate change and worsening extreme weather by urgently phasing out fossil fuels.

The Blue Mountains Conservation Society participated in this summit and endorses this plan.

An ad for the plan appeared in The Australian on 1st August.

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Australia has the highest emissions per person of any OECD country.

Government and business action is crucial in addressing climate change, but our personal actions also make a difference.

The Society has prepared a Climate Action Now Flyer that details the changes you can make to -

• reduce energy use
• switch to ethical electricity
• go solar
• consider the impact of how you eat and shop
• consume less and reduce waste
• consider your travel options.

We also encourage you to Raise Your Voice On Climate Change by -

• joining a bush regeneration or Landcare group
• joining the Blue Mountains Conservation Society
• moving money out of fossil fuels
• helping stop more fossil fuel projects
• engaging politically
• communicating and advocate.

We acknowledge Katrina Shields, Zero Emissions Byron, who inspired production of this flyer.

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