Residents of the Blue Mountains, the City within a World Heritage Area, are privileged to live in an area with many natural values.

Natural Heritage

Across the Blue Mountains there is a wide variety of unique and endangered ecological communities; a diversity that is one of the reasons for the World Heritage listing.

Read more about World Heritage Area values.

Health, Recreation and Education and Aesthetic Values

The benefits of bushland include:

• a high aesthetic value, surrounding urban precincts;
• noise reduction;
• improved air quality;
• recreational and educational opportunities;
• tourist attraction, leading to economic benefits;
• enhancement of community amenity;
• preservation of ecological communities.

Protection of Natural Systems

Bushland in its natural state reduces soil erosion and land degradation.

It protects the water quality in creeks and rivers and in Sydney’s water catchment; acting as a natural filter for environmental and biological cycles.

Bushland provides a buffer between the urban areas of the City and the Blue Mountains National Park, helping to protect the integrity of the ecosystems of the National Park and the World Heritage Area.

Habitat

Bushland provides:

• habitat for indigenous plant and animal species
• habitat for rare and endangered flora and fauna
• wildlife corridors and vegetation links with the National Park and the World Heritage Area, allowing native plants and animals to interface with urban areas.

Conservation and Protection

Bushland conserves and protects the biodiversity of the unique plants and animals of the Blue Mountains, ensuring the survival of the existing diversity of animal and plant species.