A2.6 Resident Ray Clulow Letter to Council

 

Archive Document Title:	KATOOMBA FALLS CREEK VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY
Archive Document Type:	Letter to Blue Mountains Council
Archive Document Date:	31-March-1994
Archive Topic Category:	The Friends Objectives
Archive Digital Document Format:	Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
Number of Pages:	3
Author:	Ray Clulow (one of the original members of The Friends)

Abstract:

This document (a submission to Council) refers to that by an early member of The Friends (Valley resident Ray Clulow) of his supportive view reinforcing the objectives of The Friends.

His submission letter forms part of his considered input to Blue Mountains Council about the relatively recent Draft Report and Management Plan (of June 1993) of The Valley by heritage consulting firm F.&J. Bell & Associates, as had been previously commissioned by The Friends.

See below a copy of the front cover of the report of the Draft Report and Management Plan. It is 87 pages in length.

 

 

So, this herein submitted document in reply by Ray comprises three pages.

Page 1:  Councils’ acknowledgement letter dated 24th August 1994 of receipt of Ray Clulow’s submission.

Pages 2 and 3:  Ray’s submission letter lodged 31st March 1994, with the second page being an addendum.

Ray’s submission letter to Council for the time (1994) was handwritten.  However, it is rather difficult to read, having now been scanned and a copy of likely a copy by Council of the original.

So, to assist with the readbility of text of Ray’s handwritten letter, for readers/researchers we have elected to reproduce verbatim that two page hand written letter of Ray’s below in typed text.

…

Mr David Lewis,

 

We [word not clear]…be The Friends of Katoomba Falls Creek Valley.  The Friends of this Valley have worked hard to prepare a study of this Natural Heritage.

 

Much work is still before us. We must maintain the Official Boundaries of this Natural Heritage and beautify the whole Valley from Bathurst Road down to the Katoomba Falls. It is not just a grand tourist attraction – it is a fire protection. It already is recognised asa a great insurance against bushfires roaring in from The West. It is a near perfect precedent of my elongated farm idea. (1/4 mile wide by 2 to 3 miles long growing vegetables or running sheep, cattle, horses, etc.) Every bush town in N.S.W. must have established elongated bands situated on the western side running North to South with a 2 in [inch] water  p[ipe down the centre of this elongated farm. It this way we are Country Planning the protection of our Valuable Real Estate, and at the same time adding real value to our vegetable and stock animal farming etc. Please study.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Ray Clulow.

(C00463)  “Lodged 31-3-1994 (An official addendum). After going through and studying the Katoomba Falls Creek Valley Environmental Plan Draft Report one very important feature has been over-looked.  It is a most thorough Report and a deep study.  It augers well for the future.

The hidden value of the Valley is its fire protection to the whole of Katoomba Street from the Railway to Echo Point!  And when I say “Katoomba Street” I mean more than just millions of dollars of Real Estate – but billions almost! 

 

The good thing about the study show clearly the tourist attraction it holds in the long term.  But the “Bush-fire hell” we experienced in January 1994 leads me to point out the Precedent of this God given protection and Fire Insurance  potential that it really is. I remain Yours Sincerely, Ray Clulow.

 

P.S.  May this hidden feature become a valuable precedent for making other  towns in the State with elogated farm like fire protection. (1/4 mile wide by 2 or 3 miles elongated) stretching north to south and situated on the western side of the town in question in how Katoomba is with the Katoomba Falls Creek Valley.

 

Ray Clulow.“

[Archivist Note to readers:   The views above by Ray for The Valley were likely not shared by The Friends group, which favoured restoring The Valley’s natural state rather than converting into a farm and bushfire break.]

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Archive Document: