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Monday, August 15, 2016 • Issue 011
www.bluemountainsrecord.com.au www.westernweekender.com.au
Fresh ride!
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
B U S I N E S S T I PS
The best advice for local business owners p.16
Blue Mountains “at risk” Greens launch plan to protect biodiversity and region’s future ERIN MAMO
Blast from the past as Taxiride return p.17
Bowel cancer concern p.11 MEDAL FOR FOX Proud Jessica wins Bronze in Rio p.24
T
he Greens have launched a strong fivepoint plan to protect biodiversity in the Blue Mountains. Recently, Blue Mountains and western Sydney Greens councillors and candidates met with NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi in Lapstone to launch the new plan. The plan has been developed to oppose the Government’s new Native Vegetation Act which is part of the NSW biodiversity reforms. The Native Vegetation Act regulates land clearing and would allow for the process to take place more freely across the state. “The Government has a raft of so-called ‘biodiversity reforms’ that will greenlight land clearing across the state and be devastating for our biodiversity,” Ms Faruqi said. “We live in an urban corridor containing significant biodiversity and entire ecosystems that play a critical role in conserving the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area to either side of us. We must protect the environment, not overdevelopment.” The Greens’ five-point plan supports stronger local planning laws that would protect and conserve biodiversity and the development of new nature reserves and green corridors for wildlife. Greens Candidate for Ward 1 Kerry Brown believes the Blue Mountains are particularly at risk with 10 per cent of all threatened species in NSW found in our region. Story continues on » p. 5
Concerned candidates Kate McConville, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, Kerry Brown and Joel MacRae
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