A challenge has been issued for other tiers of government to step up to the plate and help save what has been labeled as a vital piece of bush.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The challenge was made by Manyana Matters Environmental Association (MMEA) spokesperson Jorj Lowrey after Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley this week announced the proposed Manyana Beach Estate development would not progress until it gets more thorough ecological assessments.
"Good on Ms Ley for doing her job," Ms Lowrey said.
"Like us, she has recognised the threat this development could have on vulnerable species.
"We are really pleased to know the site will get thorough and up to date ecological assessment it deserves.
"We invite Rob Stokes[NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces], Matt Kean [NSW Minister for Energy and Environment ] and Shoalhaven City Council to step up and join us and play their part in purchasing this land and turning it into a permanent conservation area."
Ms Lowrey also wants the federal government to do more.
"Maybe Minister Ley would like to go the next step and stop this development completely," Ms Lowrey said.
"This [the recent announcement] is definitely a step in the right direction but is not the end of the road."
Read More:
Meanwhile, many ecological experts have been campaigning for the land to be protected.
Professor Chris Dickman from the University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences is an expert in conservation and says the land needs to be protected.
"From my estimates, over 800 million mammals, birds and reptiles were killed in NSW alone. Bushfires south of Sydney were particularly destructive, with around 80 percent of forested areas in the Shoalhaven being burnt, including those around Conjola National Park," Prof Dickman said.
"Unburnt bushland refuges play a vital role in supporting wildlife recovery after fires.
"The remaining unburnt bushland at Manyana is crucially important habitat for wildlife in the area, including many NSW and Commonwealth, listed threatened species.
"In addition to the Greater Glider, the Powerful Owl, Gang-gang Cockatoo, and Greater Broad-nosed Bat, as well as other critically endangered species such as scrub turpentine and the Swift Parrot have been recorded there."
The Sydney Morning Herald, in the meantime, reports an endangered colony of grey-headed flying foxes triggered the federal government's review of land.
"The bushfires had a significant impact on surrounding habitat and in particular on a colony of grey-headed flying foxes," the SMH reported.
