One of Western Sydney’s most important wildlife refuges is facing destruction, with the NSW Government backing a proposal that would see the Riverstone Wetlands bulldozed and replaced with industrial development.

Despite covering just ten hectares, the Riverstone Wetlands play a critical role in supporting biodiversity across Sydney and beyond. During peak seasons, the site supports vast numbers of birds, with more than 190 international migratory shorebirds and up to 400 nomadic Australian waterfowl recorded crowding into the wetlands when conditions are right.

The wetlands are also home to one of Sydney’s last remaining populations of the critically endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog, and serve as a vital refuge during flood events, when many other wetland systems are submerged.

Situated within the Marsden Park North Precinct, the wetlands are now earmarked for rezoning to General Industrial, following NSW Planning’s approval of a request from developer Leamac. Conservationists argue the decision ignores both scientific evidence and Australia’s international environmental obligations.

Eleven species of migratory shorebirds that rely on the Riverstone Wetlands are protected under international treaties, yet campaigners say these obligations are being disregarded.

Long-time Western Sydney conservationist Wayne Olling, who has spent more than 25 years involved in environmental advocacy, said the loss would be catastrophic.

“Here in Western Sydney we have a unique wetland environment providing a strategic international role in sustaining migratory shorebirds. When other wetlands fail, Riverstone Wetlands supplies,” Mr Olling said.

“These wetlands must be preserved or any government rhetoric on environmental sensitivity is a lie.”

Sue Martin from the Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network said the wetlands’ flood-free status made them irreplaceable.

“Wetland environments are now rare in the Hawkesbury region where once they were plentiful,” Ms Martin said.

“Relying on constructed wetlands to fill those gaps raises a bigger question – why did we destroy the natural sites in the first place? And why destroy the uniqueness of the flood-free Riverstone Wetlands when it cannot be replicated within the floodplain?”

Ecologist and conservationist Dr Jacinta Green warned the proposal would erase decades of environmental heritage.

“Destroying this unique wetland will destroy decades of heritage and conservation across greater Western Sydney,” she said.

Environmental groups are urging residents to speak up, warning that once lost, the Riverstone Wetlands cannot be recreated.

As Western Sydney continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, campaigners say the fight to save the Riverstone Wetlands represents a broader question: what kind of future do we want for our region – one built entirely of concrete, or one that still makes room for nature?