Minister for Environment Rob Stokes announced on Saturday that the State Government had secured a signed, compulsory acquisition agreement allowing The Drip and its surrounds to be put into the National Parks estate. 

The government has also negotiated for Moolarben Coal to undertake ongoing monitoring of the hydrology of The Drip following reservation. 

Moolarben Coal bought the perpetual leasehold of  land including The Drip for more than $1 million in 2006, paying  $2084 to convert the lease from crown land to freehold. 

“Today we are undoing the sale of The Drip that occurred when Labor was last in power, disgracefully selling this natural wonder for $2000 in a 2010 lease conversion sale that cost the coal company less than $3 a hectare,” Mr Stokes said.

“This area has high biodiversity values and a spectacular sandstone gorge along the upper Goulburn River. 

“The area also has cultural significance to the local Aboriginal community, offers strong tourism potential and has good connectivity into the existing [Goulburn River] park.

“The Drip should never have been sold off, but now the Baird Government has cleaned up the mess and the important environmental feature will be protected forever.” 

Mr Stokes said if there is a delay in transfer, the State Government will introduce legislation to ensure that the land reverts to public ownership and can be reserved as a National Park.

Mudgee District Environment Group (MDEG) chairwoman Bev Smiles said the group was excited by the announcement, which ends almost 10 years of a campaigning by neighbouring landowners and environment groups to return The Drip to public ownership. 

“We’re all happy and excited about the announcement and grateful for the work that [Member for Orange] Andrew Gee has done over the last four years,’ Ms Smiles said. 

“The good outcome is that will be a national park,’ she said.  ‘That is what we had hoped for. 

“The government has listened to the community.” 

Ms Smiles said the group was also pleased that Nationals leader Troy Grant and Nationals candidate for the Upper Hunter, Michael Johnsen, had supported the addition to a national park.

“It is quite an unusual stance for the Nationals to be taking,’ she said. 

Nature Conservation Council (NCC) CEO Kate Smolski said the decision was a victory for the powerful grassroots campaign run by MDEG and the Central West Environment Council. 

“They have overcome years of obstinate resistance from the coal industry and state governments who have refused to acknowledge and protect The Drip’s outstanding natural and cultural values,” she said. 

“This landmark continues to be threatened by Yancoal’s plans to expand the Moolarben Coal mine, which could drain aquifers that feed the weeping sandstone cliffs that inspired its name.

“The threat intensified last year when the government failed to excise The Drip from Yancoal’s exploration license when it was renewed in May for a further five years. However, we are now delighted the government has listened to the people and committed to protecting this place for future generations.”

A condition of the recent approval of a modification to Moolarben’s mining consent was that the issue of the tenure of The Drip must be resolved before further mining can begin.