We've been taking a closer look at the Nepean River Koala Corridor in Campbelltown and Wollondilly, in part because of a proposed business park's impact on it near Menangle. We were completely surprised to discover that the Upper Water Canal - a major impediment to Koala movement from East West - GOES UNDERGROUND for over a kilometre at Mallaty Creek, across to Leaf's Gully.

According to Wikipedia: "The Upper Canal System, also called the Southern Railway Aqueduct and the Cataract Tunnel, is a heritage-listed operational gravity-fed aqueduct that supplies some of the potable water for Sydney". At Menangle, Woodhouse and Ousedale Creeks, the planned locations for Koala underpasses at Appin Road, the upper canal poses issues to Koala movement to get to the Nepean River. 

In October, Campbelltown Council wrote to the NSW Water Minister (pg 31) about the water canal impeding Koala movement at the Menangle Creek Corridor asking for "support for works that would result in the unimpeded and safe conveyance of fauna across the WaterNSW’s Upper Canal, designed and completed as a matter of urgency." Menangle Creek will be the only way for Koalas to travel from Noorbumba Reserve (a biodiversity hotspot) to the Nepean River when the Figtree Hill development is completed.

In December the Water Minister replied (pg. 38) that Water NSW would not provide access as it has concerns about "modification to WaterNSW’s internal fencing, based on concerns it could compromise it’s ability to protect and service bulk water supply infrastructure and increase the risk to public safety." So it remains unresolved how Koalas will be able to travel to the Nepean via the Menangle Creek corridor.

Further down at Ousedale Creek in Wollondilly a pilot fauna crossing at the water canal is being planned to “greatly assist in establishing other strategically identified fauna crossings and ensure fauna movement is considered in future planning”. While it's very important to address the issues with the upper water canal at all of the Koala corridors, it begs the question: Why then, is the only corridor with unimpeded movement of Koalas to the Nepean River, being cut off to Koalas at Mallaty Creek?

Even more strange is the claim in the Chief Scientist's Report 1 that the water canal would be a major choke point at Mallaty Creek. Unfortunately the reference for this information, referred to in the document as DPIE 2020d, is missing from the reference list in the report, so we don't know who in the Department of Planning provided this information. It is a MAJOR OMISSION that has led to a poor decision to exclude an incredibly important migratory route. 

Koalas are already suffering in South West Sydney. The exclusion of the ONLY unimpeded East West corridor in the entire MacArthur Growth area is MADNESS. All East West Koala corridors are desperately needed and Mallaty is the only one that is currently truly functional. 

It is another clear and compelling reason to save Mallaty Creek joining the many reasons that Mallaty Creek is: 

1. The most direct Koala corridor from the Georges River to the Nepean River
2. Mapped by the NSW Government as a Biodiversity Corridor of Regional Significance
3. Feeds directly into the new Georges River Koala National Park
4. Is mapped as 'habitat critical to the survival of Koalas'
5. Was recognised by the Chief Scientist as a koala corridor

Tell NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to save Mallaty Creek!
Email [email protected] and tell the Minister we need Koalas in South West Sydney safeguarded by restoring Mallaty Creek and adding an underpass at Appin Road to directly link Koalas to the new Georges River National Park.