Olivia fights for Ferngully
THE lush northern NSW rainforest, that inspired Olivia Newton-John’s friend and neighbour Australian author Diana Young to write last year’s animated box-office hit, FernGully, is facing destruction.
Now the famous and powerful, such as Olivia, Paul Hogan’s business partner John Cornell, and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, are rallying to save it. Under a current dam proposal Rouse County Council (which presides over the Byron Shire} is planning to submerge the entire Federal Valley 10km west of Byron Bay, including the FernGully rainforest area. Just 0.4 per cent of the area’s original rainforest remains. “How sad and ironic that this beautiful place, where the dream of FernGully was created, Is now in danger,” says Olivia. “What do we tell our children when they ask why? I’m concerned not just because it’s my friend’s property - it’s everyone’s problem and a symptom of what is happening all over the world.”
The critical acclaim for FernGully the Last Rainforest, and the film’s box office success stems from its powerful environmental message. In the Twentieth Century-Fox movie Crysta the mischievous teenage fairy, rallies the rainforest creatures against the evil Hexxus and humans who are destroying their world. Rouse County Council has appointed a dam jury, comprising 10 State and local political bodies, which has until early next year to examine the proposal. The council’s chief engineer Greg Finlayson says that despite being “one of Australia’s highest rainfall regions,” fresh water supply in the areas is approaching “critical level”.
Opponents of the proposal appear to have a strong case. The site would affect about 39 residential properties and 35 species of endangered birds and animals. Also of concern are 30 contaminated sites in the catchment area which have shown traces of arsenic and DTT from 12 cattle dips and two banana plantations. Rouse County Council’s published 1989 cost estimate for construction of the proposed dam was $60 million. FernGully’s supporters say the final cost would be more than double that figure because of skyrocketing land values.
Environmentalists are deeply concerned that the only alternatives being considered under a commissioned $500,000 impact study are more environmentally unfriendly dams. “I understand the need for dams, but we must look at the big picture” says Olivia. “We’re killing the environment and now the environment is killing us. We have the technology to lessen the demand on dam water every rooftop across Australia could be utilised as a tank water catchment Desalination has enormous potential. We must consider the future before its too late.”
Sitting with Olivia on the veranda of her northern NSW home are Diana Young, Olivia’s vivacious eight-year-old beautiful, daughter Chloe and her school friend Emily who shyly confesses that FernGully The Last Rainforest is her favourite ever movie. The sweeping view from the veranda takes in a spectacular valley where cattle graze on the green hills, and fruit trees and flourishing crops are patchworked around lush pockets of rainforest.
“The problem with human beings is that we don’t think long-term. The native American Indians and Aborigines always thought of the generations ahead. Western civilisation doesn’t, and there’s something wrong with that. We’re very selfish,” Olivia says sadly. “I ask the men pushing for this dam, What are you going to tell your grandchildren about what you did here? When there’s no forest left, how are you going to justify a dam which will probably be useless two generations later? We’ve got to stop.”
Olivia’s commitment to saving our planet was recognised when she was appointed the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment. And at the world premiere of FernGully: The Last Rainforest, held at the UN Headquarters in New York early last year, Olivia presented Diana Young with the One Earth Award for outstanding contribution to the environment. Diana’s award is proudly displayed in her Coorabell home, which takes in 45 hectares of picturesque rainforest and cattle-grazing land, including a large parcel recently acquired from a famous Byron Bay resident, John Cornell. John is opposed to the proposal to destroy the place which contains some of his fondest memories. “I used to canoe up-river from the swimming hole and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen,” he says. Olivia adds, “Everything on this planet is put here for a reason. The world is like a giant puzzle. God, or the higher power, whatever you want to call it, created everything to fit together. Today there are calls to kill sharks. Recently it was discovered that shark cartilage can be used to reduce cancerous tumours. We’re killing off the rainforest before anyone has found cures for cancer and AIDS. We’re throwing away a part of the puzzle.”
“Sometimes I think it’s easier for me because I’m a privileged person. I’m blessed to be able to live in a beautiful place and I have all the things I need. Because of that, I’m able to step back and devote time to trying to make others aware of what’s going on.” The environmental concerns shared by Olivia and her husband, actor Matt Lattanzi, have been inherited by their high-spirited daughter. “They can’t do these terrible things,” Chloe protests. “If they flood FernGully, then there will be nowhere for the animals to live. I’ve seen FernGully four times. The only part I hated was when Hexxus ruined it. The forest was so beautiful and then he set fire to it. I loved it when all the flowers grew back and they saved the forest. This time they’re going to need help … lots and lots and lots of it.”
Olivia has co-authored the children’s book, A Pig Tale, due for Australian release later this year. “The money from this book is going to the foundation we’ve formed to research the link between childhood cancer and the environment,” she says. Olivia also plans to present a nature program, with strong ecological themes, to be produced for television. “This will be something special. It’s going to be a show with no violence, no sensationalism. It’s about the plants, the animals and us,” she says.
Diana is eager to hear from anyone concerned about saving FernGully. You can write to Diana c/- FernGully, via Byron Bay, NSW 2481.