Runoff to ruin iconic Bullaburra Swamp
By Makayla Muscat
Labor Councillor Romola Hollywood has lodged a notice of motion ahead of the Council meeting on 27 July to protect an iconic Blue Mountains Swamp.
“The collapse of the swamp from inadequate design of the retention basin rings alarm bells for all of us,” says Councillor Hollywood. “It shows how fragile our environment is and how easily our built infrastructure can impact on it.”
Bullaburra Swamp, home to the endangered Blue Mountains Water Skink and the Giant Dragonfly, has collapsed due to water run-off from the Great Western Highway. It has also been affected by contaminated water, as shown recently by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute’s Swamp Monitoring program.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill says the damage is being caused by both the quality and quantity of the runoff from the Highway. "Not only is the volume of the water a major issue, but the quality of that water is also leading to the degradation of the swamp's unique vegetation. Unless something is done urgently, the swamp will cease to exist in a relatively short time frame,” he says.
The Council says that swamps play a vital part in maintaining the water flows in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area's creeks and waterfalls by storing water and slowly releasing it over time.
The iconic Bullaburra Swamp in 2009 and 2021. Picture: Blue Mountains City Council
Blue Mountains Swamps are listed as endangered Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) under the Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and vulnerable TEC under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act.
According to Councillor Hollywood, a key factor in the swamp's collapse is the inadequacy of NSW Government's detention basin. “Council and environmental groups raised concerns about the design of the detention basin in 2013, however these concerns and alternative options were dismissed by the State Government,” she says. “I am looking forward to the advice from the Council Officers in response to my notice of motion. It’s likely the next steps will include repairs and remediation of the swamp as well as measures to prevent further erosion. The NSW Government must invest in the redesign of the outlet from the retention basin as well as provide resources to rehabilitate the swamp. We must save the swamp.”
The notice requests a report on the outcomes of recent discussions between the Council, the NSW Government, and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute including what actions can be taken to remedy this situation. It should also outline any lessons that can be learnt from the damage, particularly in respect of proposed developments in close proximity to the Bullaburra Swamp.
Councillor Hollywood is especially concerned by the proposal to build a zoo, hotel, multi-storey carpark, theatre, vet clinic and café at the foot of Bodington Hill between Bullaburra and Wentworth Falls, fearing it will be an eyesore that will cause untold environmental damage. “It is horrifying to think in literally the next valley over [possibly two kilometres away], the NSW Government is considering a huge development proposal,” she says. “The environmental damage is likely to be significant. We already know the footprint of the zoo and hotel will encroach significantly into Environmental Protection areas. We must learn from what has happened to the Bullaburra Swamp and ensure we don’t repeat the same mistakes. That why I am opposed to the Zoo and Hotel complex.”
In the Business Papers the Council Officers have recommended support for the notice of motion. They suggest that Council continues to advocate for the management and restoration of the swamp.
The notice will be debated at the Council meeting on 27 July.