DEAR News Of The Area,

WE would like to give a very big shout out to all the supporters for the Mackays Rd Scrub who have advocated over the last twelve to eighteen months to save this precious patch.

What started out as a Facebook page to log the species and obtain as much camera and video footage of the patch before it was destroyed, has grown into something much greater.

Members of our local community, our local news print and TV media, bush regenerators, conservationists, ecologists, environmental lawyers, local organisations, Councillors, politicians and our Indigenous elders got behind this call for a better deal from Transport for NSW.

They have finally listened, and with the expertise of the joint venture contractors Ferrovial Gamuda, have turned the ‘impossible’ into the possible.

While there are too many people involved to mention individually, special mention must be made of Kevin Mackay who believed in the value of the legacy left by his forebear Angus Mackay, and inspired and touched us all with his invaluable local knowledge of the valley, and his personal story of the pain of dispossession which of course is felt by many, including our Garlambirla Indigenous elders led by Aunty Yvette Pacey, who were also responsible for initiating the negotiations with TfNSW to spare the patch.

While there is more work to do, we can all hopefully gain from this decision.

We shouldn’t have to accept mediocrity when it comes to proposals affecting our amazing and unique local environment, our pioneer heritage and our Indigenous culture.

Thank you to all those involved in promoting and securing this sensible decision.

Regards,
Dave WOOD,
Advocates for Grandpa’s Scrub.