Save Link Road Forest
SIGN THE PETITON
We need your support now more than ever! We must prevent this forest from being rezoned for residential development. We must advocate for smart urban planning that doesn't steal remaining native forests but instead respects them as essential parts of our environment.
Link Road Forest is under immediate threat of being rezoned for residential development. Link Road Forest consists of 592 hectares overall encompassing GLENDALE to WALLSEND extending to MINMI with 72% in the City of Newcastle and 28% with the City of Lake Macquarie.
If the rezoning application is successful it will displace threatened species and impact connectivity from the Watagan Range for species along the coast, as this area is the last significant piece of bushland linking east Lake Macquarie and Newcastle's reserves providing a wildlife corridor now and for future climate change survival.
FIND HOW YOU CAN ACT TO SAVE LINK ROAD FOREST BELOW!
WHY SAVE LINK ROAD FOREST?
MANY ABORIGINAL SITES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE AREA
Wildlife Corridors & Connectivity
This site provides connectivity from the Watagan Range for species along the coast.
Last significant piece of bushland linking east Lake Macquarie and Newcastle’s reserves
Squirrel gliders inhabiting the Blackbutt Nature Reserve and the development site are currently connected through wildlife corridors running through Cardiff Heights.
Squirrel Gliders
(Iconic Species of Lake Macquarie/Newcastle Area)
It is estimated that the population extending across northern Central Coast and southern Lake Macquarie LGAs was the biggest in Australia (Smith 2000, cited in Economos R. & McDonald A. 2008).
Lake Macquarie City Council ecologists estimate that across Newcastle (Glenrock State Conservation Area, Tingira Heights Nature Reserves, Jesmond bushland, Blackbutt Reserve) the area of likely habitat is 1,767 ha, with a potential maximum population of possibly 300 - 600 Squirrel Gliders.
The Lake Macquarie Squirrel Glider Planning and Management Guidelines 2015 within the LGA, “any further loss of habitat or connectivity in the north-east population is expected to be significant ” and cites the significance of development impacts relate to loss of major habitat connectivity, and reduction in habitat fragments to sizes of less than 400 ha.
Fauna & Flora Impacts
Threatened species surveyed onsite in preliminary Biodiversity Impact Statement
(Anderson Environment and Planning)
Southern Myotis
Grey-headed Flying-fox
Powerful Owl
Slaty Red Gum
Squirrel Glider
Masked Owl
Netted Bottle Brush
Square-tailed Kite
Little Eagle
Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Little Bent-winged Bat
Large Bent-winged Bat
Small-flower Grevillea
Scrub Turpentine
Black-eyed Susan
Recent Public Addresses
JILL HALL was the State Member for Swansea from 1995-1998 and the Federal Member for Shortland from 1998-2016. A long-time committed environmentalist, one among Jill's many achievements, was securing millions of dollars in Federal funding for the Fernleigh Track, which is now one of the region's most popular shared pathways.
30 November 2022
JAMES RYAN is an outstanding environmental lawyer and community activist. He presented “How to Run a Successful Campaign" using the Tomalpin Woodlands campaign opposing the Hunter Economic Zone (HEZ) near Kurri Kurri and the Huntlee development in North Rothbury, as examples.
9 August 2023
SUSKA SCOBIE - a key member of the Northern Parks & Playgrounds Movement, has long been an environmental activist. She played a vital role in saving both the Glenrock State Conservation Area and the Terania Creek rainforest in the 1970s, alongside her husband Paul Scobie. These efforts led to the NSW Rainforests gaining World Heritage status
19 April 2023
Resources on the Rezoning
Newcastle City Council
NCC requested additional information after viewing the preliminary site assessment documents.
Nine Newcastle City Councillors signed a pledge prior to their election in December 2021 agreeing in principle against further land clearing.
Lake Macquarie City Council
View the Preliminary Site Assessment documents tabled at the Lake Macquarie City Council Ordinary Meeting of 24 May 2021 Select: Business papers, Document numbers: 21SP041.
E.g. Site Contamination, Traffic, Bushfire, Environment + more.Read response from LMCC Councillor
Barney Langford to Marion GilesRead response from LMCC Cr Adam Shultz and Senior Strategic Planner to Marilyn Hind
News & Media
ACT NOW TO SAVE LINK ROAD FOREST
ACT NOW TO SAVE LINK ROAD FOREST
Add your contact details to receive notice of opportunities to take action, learn more & connect with the SLRF campaign:
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Letters from the public
“I am extremely concerned and totally object to the rezoning of LOCATION: Glendale and Wallsend extending to Minmi, REZONING •570-592 hectares overall assumed to be rezoned to R2 Low Density Residential to Eden Estates.”
View letter from Marylin Hind
“I am writing to you as a sixty-four-year-old lifelong resident of the City of Newcastle. I have three young Grandchildren, and with the current trajectory of environmental degradation, I am concerned for their future.”
“I am writing to express my concerns about the Link Road rezoning proposal.”
View letter from Marion Giles
Associated Groups
Hunter Community Environment Centre