Shanes Park, New South Wales

Shanes Park Sydney, New South Wales
Shanes Park
Coordinates	33°42′40″S 150°46′20″E / 33.71111°S 150.77222°E / -33.71111; 150.77222Coordinates: 33°42′40″S 150°46′20″E / 33.71111°S 150.77222°E / -33.71111; 150.77222
Population	407 (2016 census)[1]
Location	50 km (31 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Blacktown
State electorate(s)	Londonderry
Federal division(s)	Chifley
Suburbs around Shanes Park: Llandilo Melonba Marsden Park Llandilo Shanes Park Marsden Park Ropes Crossing Jordan Springs Willmot Shalvey

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.

History[]

In 1960, the eastern portion of Shanes Park was purchased by the commonwealth government to house an air navigational facility. Substantial heritage from this facility remains to this day.^[2] 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 'Shanes Park' now comprises one of the largest remaining woodlands in the Cumberland Plain (western Sydney).

Shanes Park woodland[]

The Shanes 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.^[3] The site is particularly renowned for its woodland bird fauna, including the speckled warbler. The site is not open to public access.

On the 26th of September 2021, it was announced that the 500 hectare site at Shanes Park between Penrith and Windsor will be become a new National Park.^[4]

The prior owners, Air Services Australia (a Federal government entity), had considered the site surplus to their needs, and had propose to hand over ownership as a public reserve to the New South Wales government. The Deed of Agreement for transfer required the NSW government to gazette the land as regional park. This requirement had caused conflict with some community organisations.^[5] 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.

References[]