Bodington Hill Wildlife Resort Action Group Inc

“Stringent conditions” put on proposed Blue Mountains Wildlife Park

Blue Mountains Gazette covers issued conditions set on Wildlife Park proposal.

There is an article in this week’s Blue Mountains Gazette covering the application to build a Wildlife Park at 10 Great Western Highway Wentworth Falls. It describes how the issuing of the SEARs (Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Regulations) works in the assessment process works.

“The Proposed croc park on Bodington Hill at Wentworth Falls will have to respond to stringent NSW government requirements if it wants to get the go-ahead for its planned multi-million dollar development.”

But will these conditions actually be stringent enough? The Bodington Hill Wildlife Resort Action Group (BHWRAG) will be asking this question in the coming weeks. The group was originally formed to assess a previous wildlife park style proposal by the same proponents. This earlier proposal was eventually rejected by the NSW Department of Planning after the proponents failed to meet a deadline for responding to the SEARs (Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements) issued by the Department to them.

The site is colloquially known by locals as the old “croc park” site because of a 1989 consent for a would-be crocodile park. Many observers cite the various reincarnations of the proposal as a classic “zombie” development because it never dies.

Swipe right to page 6.

Extract from Blue Mountains Gazette 19-2-2024 page 6. "The Proposed croc park on Bodington Hill at Wentworth Falls will have to respond to stringent NSW government requirements if it wants to get the go-ahead for its planned multi-million dollar development."

SSD-79275458: SEARs issued for Blue Mountains Wildlife Resort

A graphic from Blue Mountains City Council's input in the NSW Planning Department's of a SEARS (Secretarys Environmental Assessment Requirements Feb 2025 for a proposed Wildlife park and resort on the old "Croc Park" site at Wentworth Falls.

Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) have now been issued for preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Blue Mountains Wildlife Park State significant development application (SSD-79275458) at 10 Great Western Highway Wentworth Falls.

The Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) have now been issued in response to the proponent’s lodging of a scoping report. Some three documents from the NSW Department of Planning are now present on its portal. They include feedback to the Department on the scoping report from other government bodies along with the Rural Fire Service and Blue Mountains City Council. For a complete list flick to this site’s Documents page.

“The subject State Significant Development proposal will flood the western portion of the site with built form and hardstand and, critically, it will extend well into the C2 zoned portion of the site and will not preserve a vegetated buffer between it and the highway. The C2 zoned portion of the site was never intended for development and should be revegetated to re-establish this strategically and ecologically important piece of bushland between the towns of Bullaburra and Wentworth Falls.” (Blue Mountains City Council submission to the SEAR’s process Feb 2025)

The next step in the assessment process will see the proponents responding to the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) requirements by drafting an Environmental Impact Statement and a State Significant Development proposal. These will then be exhibited for public submissions.

The proposal is listed on the NSW Planning Departments online portal as State significant development application (SSD-79275458)

A graphic from Blue Mountains City Council's input in the NSW Planning Department's of a SEARS (Secretarys Environmental Assessment Requirements Feb 2025 for a proposed Wildlife resort (SSD-79275458) on the old — A graphic from Blue Mountains City Council’s input in the NSW Planning Department’s of a SEARS (Secretarys Environmental Assessment Requirements Feb 2025 for a proposed Wildlife park on the old “Croc Park” site at Wentworth Falls.

Lobby NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully against the Bodington Hill Wildlife Resort Project

Does NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully have the power to revoke State Significant Development Status from the Bodington Hill Wildlife Resort proposal?

Image of Paul Scully NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces — Does NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully have the power to revoke State Significant Development Status from the Bodington Hill Wildlife Resort proposal?

The “Blue Mountains Wildlife and Tourism Development” (SSD-14793297) project will diminish an area of Blue Mountains bushland.

This how you can contact the NSW Minister for Planning Paul Scully if you want to protect the E2 Environmental and Conservation Zone at Bodington Hill.

To contact him in his capacity as Minister you need to use the link to the ONLINE FORM below. DO NOT USE HIS WOLLONGONG CONTACT EMAIL.

Click here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/ministers/minister-for-planning-and-public-spaces.
Fill in your details and attach any letter (preferably as a PDF) to the relevant part of the form.
In the SUBJECT box you could write words to the effect that you are requesting the Minister to revoke the State Significant Development status of Blue Mountains Wildlife and Tourism Development SSD-14793297 – or whatever you want to use as your subject. There are many reasons why this proposal should be opposed.
Tick the box that will appear when you attach your letter.
There is also another box that you can tick to indicate you would like a response.
Click on SUBMIT.

You will then receive an automated email with all the info you supplied on the form and also showing that you attached a document.

Resident action group formed in response to proposed resort in Blue Mountains Environmental Zone

Protest banner at Bodington Hill, Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains — Anti wildlife resort banner at Bodington Hill, Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains

A new resident action group called BHWRAG is responding to the contentious proposal to build a huge resort style development in an environmental conservation zone at Wentworth Falls’ Bodington Hill.

A spokesperson said that:
“The Bodington Hill Wildlife Resort Action Group (BHWRAG) will provide voice and advice for residents wanting to have input into the Government’s State Significant Development decision making process.

Residents are alarmed that their elected representatives on the Blue Mountains City Council are cut out of making the final decision on this proposal.”

BHWRAG is urging residents to officially register their interest in the Government’s assessment by visiting its planning portal and clicking ‘Notify Me’.

The proposal’s current plans can be found on the portal at:
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/blue-mountains-wildlife-and-tourism-development