New book "Wildlife of Cooper's Paddock" Free Download!
On 19th December, 2011, Liverpool Council voted to approve the industrial development at Cooper’s Paddock. Many thanks to Councillors Harle, Hadid, Napoletano and McGoldrick who voted against it. Please remember these Councillors who heard and understood the community’s concerns, when you vote in the Council elections this September.
Thank you to all of the hundreds of wonderful people who have helped in the effort to Save Cooper’s Paddock.
Many thanks to Craig Kelly, Federal MP for Hughes, who shares the community’s vision of a green Cooper’s Paddock and has done his absolute best to make it happen. Thank you also to Melanie Gibbons, State MP for Menai, who knows that Cooper’s Paddock is treasured by this community and who tried to find a way to save it.
Many thanks to Cate Faehrmann, MLC, for her support from the very earliest days of the campaign, and to Signe Westerberg, Greens candidate for Liverpool.
Many thanks also to Alison Megarrity, former State MP for Menai, who has greatly helped with the campaign to Save Cooper’s Paddock.
A huge industrial estate is planned for some 30 hectares (75 acres) of old farmland opposite the Warwick Farm race course. It is located on the south side of Governor Macquarie Drive where it crosses the Georges River at William Long Bridge. This old farm is known as Cooper’s Paddock (some people know it as Riley’s).
White Bellied Sea Eagles are one of the magnificent species often seen at Cooper's Paddock. Photo courtesy Geoff Hutchinson.
Where is Cooper’s Paddock?
Even if they didn’t know its name, residents of the area are very familiar with Cooper’s Paddock. This is where we see open, parklike areas with graceful trees, surrounded by woodland. This is where the road is lined with tall gum trees and where, early in the morning, we see the racehorses. If you need a map, please visit our roadmap page.
Cooper’s Paddock is an oasis of undisturbed greenness and quiet, about 1km leisurely walk from Liverpool CBD. For a long time has been only used by horse trainers taking their mounts for quiet sand track work.
Old growth forest in proximity to the Georges River, Coopers Paddock, Warwick Farm.
Amazing Wildlife
The farm has not been worked in decades, and the woodlands have been left undisturbed. By virtue of being left alone, it has become a kind of accidental nature reserve. And as the wildlife habitat all around it has disappeared, Cooper’s Paddock has become more and more important.
The fauna survey done by the developers found no less than 9 threatened species, 4 locally significant species, 2 nationally significant migratory species and a total of 63 native species in the Paddock. Combinations of several official sources reveals a total of around 170 native species there!
Endangered Ecological Communities
Cooper’s Paddock contains large and important old growth forests which are Endangered Ecological Communities, and are protected under law. These are “River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains”, and the inner woodlands are verging on being “Cumberland Plain Woodland”. It has diverse foraging tree species within one of the largest remaining open forest patches in the locality.
These forests and woodlands provide habitat for wildlife, many species of which have not been seen in urban areas in decades. Cooper’s Paddock is home to thousands of birds, and some migratory species are found there. There are also a large number of micro-bat species living and breeding there, at least four of which are threatened species.
Australasian Darter with Chicks, Photo courtesy Geoff Hutchinson
The Birds of Cooper’s Paddock
Birds sighted in the area include sea eagles, owls, varied sittellas, black-chinned honeyeaters, lorikeets, falcons, kingfishers, whip birds, bell birds, sulphur crested cockatoos, corellas, rosellas, red rumped parrots, superb fairy-wrens, several species of cormorant, several species of moorhen, egrets, crows, magpie larks, ducks, white faced herons, finches in large flocks, currawongs and lorikeets. There are many others. To find the results of several surveys, please visit the page “The Birds of Cooper’s Paddock”.
Lorikeets, cockatoos and other birds can be seen from across the river, nesting undisturbed in hollow trees. It is most unusual to find so many bird species in an urban area. It’s one of the things we dearly love about Chipping Norton.
Rainbow Lorikeet at nest hollow in old growth forest at Coopers Paddock, Warwick Farm, NSW
Full Fauna studies have proved its importance
Cooper’s Paddock is ecologically irreplaceable, and it must be recognized as such. Since it is private property, its abundant wildlife has never been properly recorded in the past. Full day and night fauna studies have now been carried out for the proponents, and have proved beyond doubt what we have known all along to be true – that Cooper’s Paddock is ecologically irreplaceable.
A friend of ours is a track rider with a leading stable, and knows Cooper’s Paddock better than most. We have heard thrilling descriptions of the profusion of life to be found in the paddock during predawn training rides. At dawn the wetlands resound with the calls of frogs, and turtles can also be seen. Many threatened species of micro-bats breed and forage there, and the Cabramatta Creek flying fox colony feeds there at night. How amazing to find this profusion of wildlife 20 minutes stroll from the City of Liverpool!
Aerial view of Cooper's Paddock shows the river and the woodlands.
We have inherited a treasure
We should be proud that we have endangered ecological communities in Liverpool, and we should seek to preserve them and celebrate them, not seek to eradicate them! We must save this magnificent place for future generations, who will need quiet and the companionship of nature as our cities become noisier and more crowded.
As we seek to make our giant cities more livable, we will regret the loss of unique open spaces like this, and to the end of preserving some quality of environment for future generations, we should seek to preserve it. We have inherited a treasure, and we must not squander what nature has bequeathed us.
Humans need the companionship of nature
This is a magnificent space that combines the benefits of open parkland with the healing companionship of nature. It will allow residents to walk, cycle or ride mobility devices all the way from the CBD to Chipping Norton Lakes. Wonderful amenities like an elegant kiosk that serves terrific coffee can be placed in the open area, so that people can have breakfast and listen to the birds. The companionship of nature has a uniquely calming effect on the human psyche. Humans need greenness, quiet and nature in order to thrive, and this will set a new and better course for the new Regional City of Liverpool.
We Call on State of NSW to Acquire Cooper’s Paddock for the Community
We call on the State of NSW to zone Cooper’s Paddock Environmental E1, and to acquire this outstanding site for the community. The forest and woodland must be protected and slowly cleared of weeds and rehabilitated to natural condition, so as not to disturb the wildlife. The open areas will be the grand natural park or botanic gardens that Liverpool both needs and deserves.
We don’t need more industry here
We have been told that this development is intended to complement the Intermodals! If you ever had any doubt about it, this guarantees a 24-hour a day procession of heavily laden container trucks through Moorebank, Warwick Farm, Chipping Norton and Liverpool. We already have more than enough industry in Liverpool. A high percentage are vacant. We will have lost the green and rural environment and the peace and quiet so beloved by locals. What an asset this park would be to Liverpool instead of yet more filthy, noisy, polluting industry and heavy traffic.
Things you can do to help Save Cooper’s Paddock
You can do something to assist the effort to save Cooper’s Paddock. This rezoning is due for its public exhibition very soon. Please write to Council and your State MP, stating your objections to this industrial rezoning and development, and stating that you want Cooper’s Paddock acquired for the Community as a regional park. Please visit the “What you can do” page for addresses and more information.
Spread the word
Tell your family, friends, workmates and neighbours about this intended development. Talk about the park. Think of ways it can be used by the community. Like this website and share the link. Visit the Save Cooper’s Paddock facebook page and like it. Suggest it to all your friends. People power will be extremely important if we are to save Cooper’s Paddock, and your voice and your opinion matter very much.
C. Saxby, Chipping Norton
Good on you C Saxby! We all know there must be progress and industry provides jobs but once old forest remnants are lost they are lost for ever.
This particular section of forest also provides part of a valuable wild life corridor which Liverpool Council have stated they will maintain and grow. It connects with Cabramatta Creek, Hinchinbrook Creek and eventually to Western Sydney Regional Park. There are already large gaps in this corridor and losing Coopers Paddock would pose a serious threat to wildlife.
Thank you Ian! Yes indeed, and Cooper’s Paddock is not simply a narrow belt where a few things hide. It is a generous sized and largely undisturbed ecosystem, which is why so many birds and animals live, feed and breed there. It is an ecological powerhouse, and its loss would result in exponential loss of life.
There is breeding pair of Sea Eagles that reside in the Old Growth Forest, not to mention numerous other Australian Birds of Prey I have witnessed myself over the las.
I believe the Eagles are register with the National Parks & Wildlife. The Eagles can be seen often in the forest & along the riverbank. Why would anyone even consider destroying this area.
Yes Darren, I have seen the beautiful sea eagles myself many times. There is an incredible diversity of wildlife there, which needs to be recorded so we have the official proof of the preservation worthiness of Cooper’s Paddock.
We don’t want industrial development we have enough of industrial areas around the area I live in Chipping Norton it is a lovely place with park lands etc; the traffic will be absoluately terrible if this happens and it another State Government project we don’t want and Liverpool Council should be ashame of even suggesting it the industrial area why pull up land that is ok and for the horses etc; what are you people thinking of Liverpool council you want to spoil every park land ever other thing in the area.
The horses won’t have anywhere to graze etc; there is enough industrial factories around the area we don’t need anymore and how the hell you are going to development near the river what a stupid idea in what council is doing no
we don’t want it at but it doesn’t matter what we say as residents it just goes ahead anyway we have no say at all.
regards
Mrs C Yuile
Yes indeed Mrs Yuile, we don’t want any more industrial areas. We choose to live here precisely because it is not industrial. The proposed developments will certainly destroy the rural character of Warwick Farm and Chipping Norton, so beloved by residents. It will also destroy the value of real estate in the area.
This Natural habitat has to be saved.
there is no benefit for anyone in rezoning this land.
Council has to wake up and look after our the interests of all the community
not just pander to the needs of developers.
The current infrastructure in place at this part of Gov. Macquarie Dr can hardly handle the current traffic flow as is.
It would be a fatal mistake (albeit one that Liverpool council would readily make to grab that sweet, sweet ca$h) to build an industrial park at Cooper’s Paddock, because as we all know there will be no effort to upgrade infrastructure causing absolute chaos.
Cooper’s Paddock is a part of the history and heritage of Warwick Farm/Chipping Norton and should be left as is and made a part of the Chipping Norton Lakes Scheme with the allowance of horse riding so that stables in the area can continue to use it to exercise their horses as they do now.
Apologies to Robert and all readers! Sometimes it is necessary to edit a comment which contains material that may be considered defamatory. Save Cooper’s Paddock is learning how to moderate properly. Apologies for any incovenience or offence that may have been caused. Feelings do run very high about Cooper’s Paddock.
what a disgrace to have coopers paddock turn into a industrial site save coopers paddock
save coopers paddock
I am a resident near coopers paddock save coopers paddock
Save Coopers Paddock and lets look at sensible change and stop destroying land and everything that lives on the land. I have been concerned for many long years that growth seems to be the only way us humans can run an economy. Growth, growth and more growth, how can this way of life be sustained? The loss of habitat for our fauna and flora is as much a loss to us as the wild life itself. Governments at all levels need to rethink how they want this country and region to look into the future for our children and grandchildren. Some of our cities I think should be imploded and Liverpool City Centre in all honesty is one of those cities, its a shocker and yet governments and councils still insist in destroying what we have left.
Thanks and regards,
Mick Williams
Just because it’s green , doesn’t mean it’s a waste . A politician who doesn’t listen definitely has no place.
I certainly know that people want to hang on to land for parkland,bike tracks and to save the wild life BUT the other side of the bridge you have all that. I have walked though this particular area and find it to be pretty much just a bush. I believe they are proposing to leave quite a substantial piece of land as a corridor. I would imagine the people on the opposite side of the river would not even see the buildings. Progress is what Liverpool needs, we need to move forward and sometimes that means some sacrifices have to be made. I am passionate about Liverpool and hanging on to our history, Warwick Farm Racecourse is a huge part of that history. I do not live close by I am just interested in the future of the racecourse.
Thank you for your comment, Margaret. It is good to hear from people who support the development, too! In response to the points you have made, I would like to point out that the parks at Chipping Norton Lakes and along the rivers are all manicured parkland, which do not provide habitat for wildlife. That Cooper’s Paddock is bush is exactly the point – there is precious little bush left, especially in urban areas. Cooper’s Paddock has important endangered woodlands and extraordinary biodiversity, which needs to be preserved for future generations. There is a glut of industrial properties here. Many are vacant. Other implications of the development include day and night traffic, pollution, damage to the river and noise. Delighted to see the Racecourse to go on to bigger and better things, but not at the expense of the local environment. Liverpool has one of the fastest growing populations in NSW. We need this green space to ensure the well being of the city into the future. True progress means creating cities where people would choose to live.
Saving Coopers Paddock is a must. As you say, it is one of the few ‘bush’ areas left in and around Liverpool. I am however very sceptical that wallabies and wombats are in the area and caution that you be certain of facts when defending why it should be preserved.
Thanks for your support and your suggestion Glen. The reports of wombats and wallabies are from track riders who are in there before dawn every day. I understand that these reports are based on tracks observed in the freshly dragged sand each morning. A recent brief visit by an ecologist suggested that if there were wombats, there would be scats everywhere. So whatever creatures are leaving all the interesting tracks perhaps still remain to be identified after all. We are calling for full day and night fauna surveys, which will tell us more about the inhabitants of the Paddock.
I live in Warwick Farm and I protest the development of industrial for Coopers Paddock.
This is a homeland for large amount of birds, insects, lizards etc.
theres not many left in sydney area so why should humans destroy such a valuable treasure for money.
Greedy owners need to see what a heritage we have here and to keep it in tact.
Lets keep Coopers Paddock for all to enjoy especially the next generation who only see bird life in books (if their lucky).
I really feel the people commenting on this debate should click onto google and see for themselves just how much green bush land we do have around the erea. follow the waterways and look around you will be surprised. Wattle Grove is a stones trow away also (lots of bush land).The area is not being snuffled up by the council as people tend to think, it is to benifit the Warwick Farm race track. People do tend to get on board if they are told someone is being badly done by.
Thank you very much for your comment Margaret. The Council does its very best to ensure that there is a continuous riparian strip along all the waterways. This looks nice, but is almost always manicured parkland which does not provide habitat for wildlife. As habitat is destroyed, we are left first with common species, then feral species, then none at all. In Tokyo, the birds are long gone, but they play recordings of their voices on loudspeakers. We can’t let this happen in Liverpool. I don’t know anyone who would choose to bequeath to our children and grandchildren a lifeless world, where the only memories of wild birds and animals are photographs and recordings. We are approaching that point.
The future health of human society depends on a natural world that is healthy and supports a wide diversity of plant, animal and microbe species, along with the environments they need to live in. It also requires sufficient individuals in each species to ensure they can produce healthy young. The woodlands of Cooper’s Paddock are listed as endangered and critically endangered and are protected under both State and Federal law.
Wattle Grove is currently under threat from a monstrous 500-acre intermodals development. Unless that disastrous plan can be overturned, Wattle Grove will cease to be fit for either man or beast. It seems Liverpool is under attack from every direction.
I live in Chipping Norton. The traffic turning off the Hume Highway into Govenor Macquarie Drive is already a nightmare. Can you imagine the additional trucks trying to get into the already congested roads around Coopers Paddock.
The wildlife and birds that make their homes in Coopers Paddock must be protected. There are so few safe breeding areas left in the suburbs. Please don’t sell off Cooper’s Paddock for Industrial use, instead get the State Government to aquire it and make it a permanent wildlife sanctuary.
I simply couldn’t go away your site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide to your visitors? Is gonna be back often in order to check up on new posts
I have lived in Chipping Norton for over 30 years and remember when the Lord Louis Mountbattan Bridge was first opened (That’s the bridge before the William Long Bridge). The traffic was horrendous then, trying to cross prior to the roundabout at Epsom, Governor Macquarie Drive & Abbington was like watching paint dry. Give up, break into the traffic off Childs Road onto Governor Macquarie Drive and sit in traffic to do a right hand turn into Abbington. And that was back then. Peak hour traffic is just as bad today if not worse. Who in their right mind would consider building such a thing on a busy main road? Have any of the people proposing this plan ever visitied Governor Macquarie Drive in peak hour? I think not!! Even out of peak hour it’s still a busy thoroughafare. Who in their right mind would destroy a beautiful piece of ecologically important site such as Coopers Paddock? Not anyone local!! Perhaps they should take a look in their backyard and build it there.
Eveon
As a fellow Chiiping Norton resident and a frequent user of Governor Macqaurie Drive, I heartily support your stand. I will be writing to both state and local authorities to lead my weight to having this proposal denied and the site of Coopers Paddock acquired for the community instead. With the threat to the ecology, the extra burden placed on local raods and infrastructure, resultant pollution and adverse impact on real estate values, I cannot even believe that the council would consider the proposal. Let’s hope the power of the people will win in the end.
Thank you very much Mike! Yes indeed, let’s hope that the voice of the community will be heard. In the Cooper’s Paddock decision will be proof positive of what kind of future our civic leaders are setting a course for. The community is clear about what it wants. We only get one shot at this. If this is a bad decision, there will be no going back. That’s why it has to be the right decision.
I also live in Chipping norton and I’m utterly disgusted with this proposal.
I sincerely hope the authorities come to their senses.
SAVE COOPERS PADDOCK
This is so wrong for Liverpool council to even contemplate an industrial area for Coopers Paddock. It’s another money grabbing exercise by a Labor Council. Stuff our wildlife, natural habitat and beloved local landmark. Council, you should hang your head in shame. What authority does a Council have to simply rezone private and public recreation land to industrial? As for traffic, it is hard enough now to get onto Governor Macquarie Drive and Newbridge Road. That’s right, shove the industrial approval through with gridlocks and pollution and “think” about the infrastructure later. I will fight to have this proposal knocked on the head.
I would like to voice my strongest objection to the industrial rezoning of Coppers Paddock, Warwick Farm.
I have witnessed the destruction of ecosystems, the suffering of people and the community, and the change in many areas of Sydney including decrease in property market value due to the construction of Industrial and commercial areas.
This Industrial rezoning must not go ahead; Coppers Paddock must be saved!
If a development must be put forward it must be a proposal that includes benefits of the people of the community and the local wildlife.
This proposal could work within Liverpool Council’s community plan and could be worked with the Community and Recreation Panel.
I have noted the Liverpool Council Community and Recreation Panel objectives:
Provide community input into Council decision-making in relation to social and recreation matters;
Increase the range of community services and facilities available to the community;
Improve the quality of existing community services and facilities; and
Assist the community as whole and disadvantaged communities in particular, to achieve a better quality of life.
A better quality of life does not include Industrial developments, in fact it has been scientifically documented that people benefit and are happier when they have the natural environment surrounding them, we have an innate tendency to surround ourselves with nature and wildlife why do people pay higher prices to live near the water or parklands and visit nature parks and zoo’s? It is because we feel better when we are around nature.
I love living in Chipping Norton (just off Governor Macquarie Drive) simply because of the river and parklands, that’s why I moved there from the city twenty years ago. Every morning I start my day with walking along Governor Macquarie Drive and it brings me joy in seeing the birds and parklands.
The environment and people suffer greatly through redevelopments in many areas; this suffering includes increasing noise and waste pollution, traffic congestions, native habitats destroyed, the decrease in the property market, the change of the area and in general comfortable peaceful living.
Do the costs outweigh the benefits?
The benefits for keeping Copper’s Paddock and turning it into a nature reserve include:
Community Well-being (if a nature park reserve was developed within Coopers paddock, it could provide additional places for families to picnic, exercise, bike ride, read a book under a tree, bird watch, enjoy just being within nature)
Protect the endangered ecological communities “It has diverse foraging tree species within one of the largest remaining open forest patches in the locality”.
The birds of Coopers Paddock “Sometimes birds visit the backyards of people who live nearby, affording a delightful experience”. Cooper’s Paddock provides suitable habitat for 21 threatened species previously recorded within 10km”
Fauna studies have proved its value “We have heard thrilling descriptions of the profusion of life to be found in the paddock during predawn training rides. At dawn the wetlands resound with the calls of frogs, and turtles can also be seen. Many threatened species of micro-bats breed and forage there, and the Cabramatta Creek flying fox colony feeds there at night. How amazing to find this profusion of wildlife 20 minutes stroll from the City of Liverpool!”
Our future relies on nature “We must save this magnificent place for future generations, who will need quiet and the companionship of nature as our cities become noisier and more crowded”.
Chipping Norton and Moorebank are heavily Industrialised as it is, also with Liverpool being a city with more housing redevelopments and facilities, we need to have as much green places as possible to stretch our legs, walk, run, enjoy the grass. Sydney is turning into an environmental graveyard, the reason I live in Chipping Norton is because of the birds, the parklands and the ecological and psychological benefits including walking my dog and enjoying meeting people in the park along the way. I work in the city and when I get home I love a walk in the park, it cures me from the stress I feel everyday.
I personally would be extremely devastated if this industrial development went ahead, you are not only taking away the native birds and animal’s homes, and you are changing my home and disturbing my well being. I personally am stressed about this and this is not in my best interests.
.
Hear Hear Debbie! Well said!
I have lived in Liverpool now since 2002 after moving here from Northern NSW and this is the first time I have heard of Cooper’s Paddock at Warick Farm. It is a discrace that I would learn about Cooper’s Paddock under these circumstances. Australia is little by little losing our identity because of greed and short sighted authorities (Goliaths). Cooper’s Paddock MUST be kept and I pray that comon sense will prevail and the Goliaths that want to turn Cooper’s Paddock into an Industial (transport and distribution) development will STOP their mindless plans and build their vision in a more appropriate location like away from the public.
The health of both human beings and wildlife have managed this far without ‘Industial (transport and distribution) development.’ Therefore plans to build an Industial (transport and distribution) development on something that has been natural for all these years bringing all life forms happiness and good health… it just blows my mind! How can anyone in authority care so less to take away the homes of the wildlife of Cooper’s Paddock and at the same time take away the happiness of those of us who live here?
Richard King
(Former AIN)
Current Full Time Carer: Moorebank, 2170
Thank you for your comment Richard. I agree entirely.
This is a rare opportunity to save a beautiful area for nature and the enjoyment of urban residents who have less and less places to enjoy viewing flora and fauna in their natural habitat.
This beautiful area should be saved for posterity.
Enough is enough. This road was never made to take the volume of traffic it is experiencing. When the bridge was originally planned the community of Chipping Norton ( I have lived here since 1976) told the then council that the roads would become clogged and the air quality would deteriorate. This is happening now. Can’t get out of the peninsula either direction without experiencing long delays. They wouldn’t listen then and are obviously not going to listen now, the might dollar speaks louder than the ratepayers voice.
We are already in the pollution belt, causing an increase in asthma, behaviour problems and many other health problems. Add to that the planned Intermodal and we might as well dig our own graves now. Perhaps we could have a cemetery in Coopers Paddock.
I could not agree more with the comments of Mick Williams:Save Coopers Paddock and lets look at sensible change and stop destroying land and everything that lives on the land. I have been concerned for many long years that growth seems to be the only way us humans can run an economy. Growth, growth and more growth, how can this way of life be sustained? The loss of habitat for our fauna and flora is as much a loss to us as the wild life itself. Governments at all levels need to rethink how they want this country and region to look into the future for our children and grandchildren. Some of our cities I think should be imploded and Liverpool City Centre in all honesty is one of those cities, its a shocker and yet governments and councils still insist in destroying what we have left.
Please
Heather Stolle
I do agree that the Cooper’s Paddock would be a Lot better for the General Communities as a whole to be kept as a Parkland for Wildlife & Personal use (eg: horse riding & bike tracks for Families)
there is Plenty of Industrial area along the M7 & M5 where there is little Residential Influences to continue Industrial Developements
However the proposed Masters Superstore is On the Hume Highway where there is already noise & traffic flow with No Major Residential Influence I do not disagree that this area could be used as Industrial
If we keep the Cooper’s Paddock as Parkland I feel this is a better solution for the use of the River the polution will be minimal & the Wildlilfe will benefit greatly
Lets Keep Some Nature as Nature intended for Humans & Wildlife
PLEASE
To hell with the council! They’ve obviously lost it. Cooper’s Paddock is a priceless treasure. How could anyone even think about eradicating it? Save Cooper’s Paddock and let future generations find peace there.
Keep the nature
YES Y U NO LISTEN PPL! LEAVE PQADDOCK ALONE.
Yes listen to shadow dragon he is right. Y you no leave paddock ALONE!
Y U No Listen Council Leave the paddock alone!
Nice work Lorian! U put the Counil in their place!