Otford - Environment

Otford's location in a valley has protected it from major development. Most of the residences within the village have been built on the hillsides. Through the centre of the village runs the Hacking River which flows into the Royal National Park to the north.

Otford's close proximity to the Royal National Park, an environmental sensitive and protected area, means that any further development must be carefully planned to ensure the survival of local native flora, fauna and native wildlife corridors.

Otford's surrounding area is home to many unique species of flora and fauna. The valley's surrounding hills are part of a subtropical and warm temperate rainforest made up of tall eucalypt trees. Other flora species found include "stands of cabbage tree palms, coachwood and sassafras as well as wonga-wonga vines, wombat berry, settler's flax and shiny fan ferns". (Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 2004). After a history of logging in the area, many of the trees are finally regenerating.

Native fauna in the area include many birds such as "wedge-tailed eagles, black shouldered kites, white-napped honeyeaters, crimson rosellas, pee-wees, red wattle- birds, sulpher-crested cockatoos and bronze wings". (Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 2004) Mammals that live in Otford and the surrounding Royal National Park include bush rats, black rats, a range of gliders, bandicoots, ringtail possums. The area also is home to a number of reptiles and frogs. Introduced species of red fox, rabbits and Rusa deer also live in the area. (Sydney Morning Herald, 2004. National Parks, 2006)

Future development of the Helensburgh and Otford area has been an important issue since the 1970's. In 1985 the State Government requested Wollongong City Council undertake a Local Environment Study to investigate urban expansion and its effect on the local environment. Also in 1985 there was a draft plan for the development of 2,200 lots in the Camp Creek and Gills Creek area and a 40 hectare site for commercial development on the town's outskirts. Council rejected the development plan after five years of debating because it could not guarantee that the Royal National Park and the Hacking river catchment area would not be polluted. (Illawarra Mercury 20 April, 1991).

Some of the problems associated with further development of the Otford area are:

Water supply from the Woronora Dam
Waste disposal
Bushfire hazards
Introduction of exotic plants and domestic animals and the spread of diseases that may affect native animals and plants
Contamination of Hacking River which flows through the National Park due to sewerage waste, urban runoff, erosion from construction sites and also the scenic value of certain areas around the area.
Spread of feral animals into National Park because of its proximity. (Helensburgh Local Environmental Study Progress Report, 1986; The Helensburgh Plan: Draft, 1989; Future Development of Helensburgh, 1984)