Population 400 (2011 census) Shanes Park Marsden Park Lga City of Blacktown | State electorate(s) Londonderry Federal division Division of Chifley | |
 | ||
Location 50 km (31 mi) west of Sydney CBD | ||
Shanes Park is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Shanes Park is located 50 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.
Contents
Map of Shanes Park NSW 2747, Australia
History
In 1960, the eastern portion of Shane's Park was purchased by the commonwealth government to house an air navigational facility. Substantial heritage from this facility remains to this day. As this required very little space, most areas of the site were retained as intact bushland, while other areas regenerated naturally. The 560 site known as 'Shane's Park' now comprises one of the largest remaining woodlands in the Cumberland Plain (western Sydney).
Shane's Park woodland
The Shane's Park woodland is possibly the most intact remnant of the vegetation which once covered western Sydney, and contains a wide range of vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered flora, fauna and ecological communities. The site is particularly renowned for its woodland bird fauna, including the speckled warbler. The site is not open to public access.
The present owners, Air Services Australia (a Federal government entity), consider the site surplus to their needs, and propose to hand over ownership as a public reserve to the New South Wales government. The Deed of Agreement for transfer requires the NSW government to gazette the land as regional park. This requirement has caused conflict with some community organisations. The National Parks & Wildlife Act (s. 30 H) outlines the purpose of a regional park as being for recreation only, and does not expect management for wildlife conservation.
If the deed is signed, it is likely that the site will be amalgamated into the adjoining (in-development) Wianamatta Regional Park. Opponents to regional park gazettal for Shane's Park have also opposed the plans for Wianamatta Regional Park, which provide for commercial recreational opportunities and the fencing and culling of native fauna populations for public safety.