CURRENT INITIATIVES
​Mandalong. Where the Forest She-oaks grow.
Over the years the Mandalong Community Association has played a vital role in protecting our environment and maintaining our way of life.
Before the Mandalong mine commenced operations, the community successfully challenged the NSW State government in court over its lack of compliance with its own environmental planning policies. During the 2000’s the Association has championed the protection of our environment as Centennial Coal’s long wall mining activities have gone under us. During these difficult years the MCA assisted residents with their negotiations with Centennial Coal and has worked to maintain social cohesion and build social capital through community activities such as a book club, film nights, barbecues and Christmas parties.
Today Mandalong is facing its most significant threat to its future outlined in Lake Macquarie City Council’s Morisset Place Strategy which proposes the rezoning of the flood prone land in the mouth of the Mandalong valley for industrial use. The MCA has responded with our SAVE MANDALONG campaign utilising road-side signs, press releases, meetings with councillors, letterbox drops, public meetings and the publication of a booklet containing residents’ deep concerns for the future of the place they hold dear.
Now that the undermining of the valley is largely done, and Centennial is selling land that it acquired prior to undermining back into private ownership, the MCA's focus is shifting to the rebuilding the social capital in the local community. Undermining led to one third of the people in the valley moving out, and now new long-term owners are moving back in. With the RFS moving from its ancient shed at 612 Mandalong Road to its new premises near the freeway, the MCA hopes that it can use this site for a community hub, a neutral meeting place where we can meet, initiate community projects and play. Our plans include some play facilities for children and adults. We are in consultation with Lake Macquarie City Council to gain access to this site, watch this space for future developments.
Mandalong lies within the traditional lands of the Awabakal people and its name describes this place as “where the Forest She-Oaks grow”. These important trees provide the main food source for the threatened Glossy Black Cockatoo.
The Mandalong Forest She-Oak proposal is in its planning stage and aims to involve Mandalong residents in a significant conservation project that involves the planting of Forest She-Oaks on their properties to ensure the future survival of the Glossy Black Cockatoos in our valley.