Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc

Temporary Access across Fire Trails and Reserves Policy Review

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SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL SURVEY ON THE REVIEW OF FIRE TRAIL ACCESS TAKE THE SURVEY NOW.

CLOSES 10th DECEMBER.

SEE LINK FOR MORE DETAILS.

Condolences

WE WISH TO ADVISE THAT WORONORA VALLEY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION INC. HAVE EXPRESSED OUR SYMPATHY TO CR. CARMELO PESCE AND HIS FAMILY AT THE TRAGIC LOSS OF HIS FATHER. FLOWERS AND CARD HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO SUTHERLAND COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

MARELLE AND ROBYN ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF WORONORA VALLEY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION INC.

HELP PROTECT KOALAS ON HEATHCOTE ROAD

HAVE YOUR SAY!

PROTECT OUR NATIVE KOALS FROM INJURY AND EXTINCTION.

DUE: 23RD NOVEMBER 2025

Information via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Zoxj19qBk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Information via Website: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/heathcote-road-corridor

Points to include in the survey for safety of our koalas to TfNSW

There is already and underpass under the bridge so no need to ask for that (we could ask for more).
Stress and insist that Transport NSW (TfNSW) must put mitigation measures in place to prevent koalas from wondering onto the road during their works. During the widening of the Heathcote Bridge at least 3 were killed that we know of because gaps were left where they could get through!
Safety is the aim of the widening NOT SPEED. It’s dangerous for drivers and koalas if they wonder on the road.
Place automatic night lights on the road.
Limit Speed 40km like in school zones in specific koala hot spots.
Large permanent signage that come on automagically at night.
Replace habitat destroyed and protect hollow tree habitat for homes.
Review the effects in 3-6 months for changes to protect the wildlife.
Communicate with Wires, Sydney Koala Network, and SSEC.

Truth TellinG

When:

Saturday 25th October 2025

Where:

Kamay Botany Bay.

A gathering for all Australians.

Update on Prices Circuit Reserve

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!

Following further Community Input regarding Prices Circuit Reserve, we are pleased to announce the Prices Circuit Reserve will remain as a passive recreation area as passed at the council meeting on the 13/10/25.

WVRA Inc. wishes to acknowledge and thank our Members , Committee and Community for their input over the last 4-5 years to achieve the outcome sort by our Community.

Well done all those who spoke up at meetings, completed survey’s and wrote letters.

WELL DONE COMMUNITY!

Honouring Uncle Max Dulamunmun Harrison

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The Leader - Peabody mine article

Welcome to Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc!

WVRA Inc. wishes to thank and acknowledge Sutherland Shire Council for their support in opposing the new application from the Foreign Mining Company Peabody to mine again under Woronora Dam .We thank the council for their efforts in preserving our environment and drinking water. In gratitude and appreciation

MARELLE Burnum Burnum ( Secretary )

ROBYN Galvin ( President )

WVRA Inc.

Suggested Future Uses for Woronora Hall – Submission for SSC

Letter Opposing Mine Extension

Thank you for your support and interest in the Woronora Hall following our recent presentation to the Council.

As requested, please find below a list of additional future uses for the hall that our association believes would enhance its value to the local community and support its long-term viability:

Proposed Future Uses for Woronora Hall

1. Community Wellness Programme

Yoga, tai chi, meditation, and fitness classes for all age groups
Mental health workshops and wellbeing seminars

2. Youth & Senior Engagement

After-school programs, tutoring, and arts/crafts for youth
Morning teas, tech help sessions, and social clubs for seniors

3. Cultural & Arts Events

Local art exhibitions, live music, and theatre performances
Multicultural days to celebrate the diversity of the community

4. Educational Workshops & Training

First aid, CPR, and life-saving courses (especially relevant given the hall’s riverside location)
Environmental awareness talks, bushfire readiness training, and sustainability initiatives

5. Local Business & Market Support

Indoor markets for local makers and produce sellers
Business networking events or pop-up coworking days

6. Emergency Support Hub

Temporary community coordination point during local emergencies or floods
Storage and staging area for emergency equipment and supplies

7. Social Events & Private Hire

Birthday parties, weddings, and other private functions
Trivia nights, movie nights, and community dinners

8. First Nations Education & Cultural Connection

Indigenous talks and workshops highlighting the deep history and cultural significance of the area
Collaboration with local Elders and First Nations groups to acknowledge and share stories connected to the land, including the Middens and riverbank
Recognition of nearby sites such as Burnum Burnum Sanctuary (named in honour of my late husband), and the planned naming of a parcel of land for Elder Uncle Max Harrison, to acknowledge enduring Indigenous presence and wisdom
Acknowledgement of Norm Dixon Reserve, named in honour of my father, as another example of meaningful community contribution and connection to place
Space for ongoing cultural learning, storytelling, and reconciliation activities

9. Royal National Park & Local Heritage Resource Centre

When open, the hall could serve as a satellite information centre for the Royal National Park
Display of pamphlets, local bushwalking maps, Indigenous and settler history, and ecological information
Promotion of safe and respectful engagement with local trails, waterways, and historic sites

Native Plant Education & Environmental Connection

Bush flower identification walks to explore native flora in its natural environment, with discussion of healing properties and traditional uses
Workshops on plant identification, bush tucker education, and seasonal native flower displays
Indigenous-led sessions sharing stories and Dreaming associated with local plants
Tree and native flower planting events to promote biodiversity, attract pollinators, and support climate resilience
Community Planting Days to encourage hands-on involvement in revegetation and habitat restoration
Partnership with the nearby Council nursery to encourage community access to native plants and ecofriendly gardening and courses.

We’re happy to elaborate further or provide supporting documents if needed. Thank you again for your support of Woronora Hall and its future in the community.

Warm regards,

Marelle Burnum Burnum [secretary]

Robyn Galvin [president ]

Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc.

St George and Sutherland Shire Leader - letter

Letter Opposing Mine Extension

I am writing on behalf of the Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc. to voice our firm and urgent opposition to Peabody Energy's proposed Modification 4 at the Metropolitan Colliery.

This proposal seeks to extend longwall coal mining directly beneath the Woronora Dam, which supplies drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents in the Sutherland Shire and greater Sydney.

This is not just an environmental concern - it is a matter of public health, infrastructure security, and basic common sense.

Peabody's track record speaks for itself. In 2022, the company's operations caused a dam failure that led to a discharge of coal-laden water into Camp Gully Creek, which flows into the Hacking River and Royal National Park.

They were fined [$196,560 fine and costs of $304,806 awarded against them] after pleading guilty to pollution and licence breaches. The idea of approving more mining under such critical water catchment areas - by a foreign-owned company - is reckless and unacceptable.

The Woronora Dam is not only a lifeline for our community - it is also heritage-listed and located within a Special Area where public access is restricted to protect water quality. Allowing longwall mining in this zone endangers both the natural environment and our water supply.

There has been no genuine community consultation, and this project continues to move forward despite growing public opposition.

We urge the NSW Government and Planning Minister Paul Scully to reject Modification 4 in full.

Marelle Burnum Burnum, Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc

Woronora River Life Saving Hall

ATTENTION MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.

Please note for your information and discussion, the following summary of the report on Woronora Community Hall (CCL051 -25 ,page 47) from council business papers to be discussed at the next council meeting Monday 15th September 2025 .

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Protect Woronora Dam and Heritage site - SAY NO!

To the Editor,

I am writing on behalf of the Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc. to voice our firm and urgent opposition to Peabody Energy’s proposed Modification 4 at the Metropolitan Colliery. This proposal seeks to extend longwall coal mining directly beneath the Woronora Dam, which supplies drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents in the Sutherland Shire and greater Sydney.

This is not just an environmental concern — it is a matter of public health, infrastructure security, and basic common sense.

Peabody’s track record speaks for itself. In 2022, the company’s operations caused a dam failure that led to a discharge of coal-laden water into Camp Gully Creek, which flows into the Hacking River and Royal National Park. They were fined over $500,000 after pleading guilty to pollution and licence breaches. The idea of approving more mining under such critical water catchment areas — by a foreign-owned company — is reckless and unacceptable.

The Woronora Dam is not only a lifeline for our community — it is also heritage-listed and located within a Special Area where public access is restricted to protect water quality. Allowing longwall mining in this zone endangers both the natural environment and our water supply.

There has been no genuine community consultation, and this project continues to move forward despite growing public opposition. This is not just a local issue — it affects all of Sydney.

We urge the NSW Government and Planning Minister Paul Scully to reject Modification 4 in full. Water is life. It must not be compromised for short-term profit.

Yours sincerely,
Marelle Burnum Burnum
Secretary
Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc.

Uncle Max's naming request

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Help oppose another extension of the peabody minE!

Message from Sutherland Shire Environmental Centre

American mining giant, Peabody Energy, have plans to extend their mining operations deeper into the Woronora Catchment. We have plans to stop them, and we need your help.

Public submissions are due on the 26th August (this Tuesday!), and we need as many people as possible to put in submissions opposing the plans.

We have created a handy submission guide with key talking points for your to include.
You can find this visual guide on our Facebook page.
Submissions don't have to be lengthy or elaborate, so long as they are in your own words expressing your opposition to the proposal. The more submissions the better!
Once you are ready to upload your submission, you can do so via the NSW Planning Portal.
You will be asked to make an account, which should only take a few minutes. From there, the submission process is simple.
For as much impact as possible, we ask you to also send your submission as a letter to the Planning Minister Paul Scully, as well as your State or Federal MPs. Paul Scully's email address: wollongong@parliament.nsw.gov.auOn Saturday we hosted a presentation/writing workshop to showcase the many complex layers of damage caused by mining in water catchments, and to encourage participants to put in submissions of their own. Thank you so much to everyone who came along, your support is so greatly appreciated. Good luck everyone!

Warmly and with hope,
Cooper, SSEC Volunteer

Membership, environmental advocacy Sutherland Shire Environment Centre is a non-profit, non-government organisation run by volunteers who care about our local area and do our best to advocate for the environment. Your support builds the power of our collective voice.

Life Saving Hall Speech

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Contact Us

Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc.

Woronora Life Saving Club, Prince Edward Park, Woronora, New South Wales, 2232, Australia

info@wvra.com.au

Woronora Valley Residents Association inc.

Temporary Access across Fire Trails and Reserves Policy Review

Condolences

HELP PROTECT KOALAS ON HEATHCOTE ROAD

HAVE YOUR SAY!

Points to include in the survey for safety of our koalas to TfNSW

Truth TellinG

When:

Where:

Update on Prices Circuit Reserve

Honouring Uncle Max Dulamunmun Harrison

The Leader - Peabody mine article

Welcome to Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc!

Suggested Future Uses for Woronora Hall – Submission for SSC

Letter Opposing Mine Extension

St George and Sutherland Shire Leader - letter

Letter Opposing Mine Extension

Woronora River Life Saving Hall

PDF Viewer

Protect Woronora Dam and Heritage site - SAY NO!

Uncle Max's naming request

Help oppose another extension of the peabody minE!

Message from Sutherland Shire Environmental Centre

Life Saving Hall Speech

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc.

Woronora Valley Residents Association inc.

Temporary Access across Fire Trails and Reserves Policy Review

Condolences

HELP PROTECT KOALAS ON HEATHCOTE ROAD

HAVE YOUR SAY!

Points to include in the survey for safety of our koalas to TfNSW

Truth TellinG

When:

Where:

Update on Prices Circuit Reserve

Honouring Uncle Max Dulamunmun Harrison

The Leader - Peabody mine article

Welcome to Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc!

Suggested Future Uses for Woronora Hall – Submission for SSC

Letter Opposing Mine Extension

St George and Sutherland Shire Leader - letter

Letter Opposing Mine Extension

Woronora River Life Saving Hall

PDF Viewer

Protect Woronora Dam and Heritage site - SAY NO!

Uncle Max's naming request

Help oppose another extension of the peabody minE!

Message from Sutherland Shire Environmental Centre

Life Saving Hall Speech

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

Woronora Valley Residents Association Inc.

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