An endangered woodland area in Central Gardens, Merrylands will be seen by a greater number of people now that Holroyd City Council with the support of the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust (UPRCT) has installed a new viewing platform.

The platform, which was launched last week by Holroyd Mayor Clr John Brodie and Chairman of UPRCT, Bob Junor, overlooks a remnant section of the Cumberland Plain Woodland, an ecological community of high preservation value. The 1.5-hectare woodland contains over 120 native plant species and is a refuge for birds, bats, reptiles and other invertebrates. Cumberland Plain Woodland once covered 30% of the Sydney basin. Today areas like this are few and far between with only 8% remaining.

Clr John Brodie, Holroyd Mayor said " The Central Gardens Woodland is of high scientific and conservation value with less than 1% of the original extent of the Cumberland Plain Woodland remaining in the Holroyd area. It provides habitat for a range of flora and fauna, many of which are becoming increasingly rare. The protection and restoration of small bushland remnant like this is critical to the continued existence and recovery of the Cumberland Plain Woodland in western Sydney.

Bob Junor, Chairman of the UPRCT commented, "The Trust is happy to be involved in a project that aims to provide the tools to educate the community about this special stand of woodland. As part of the Trust's Green Corridors program we are working with councils to improve the quality of what remaining bushland we have and to educate the community. Holroyd should certainly be commended for what they have achieved".

The viewing platform, complete with interpretative signage is near the Yarrabee Picnic Ground in Central Gardens. A brochure with information about the Cumberland Plains bushland at Central Gardens is available from Holroyd Council's web site www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au