The artist-inspired book holds photos, drawings, notes, comments and articles all surrounding The Drip – a “visually dramatic” sandstone cliff and gorge that drips clear spring water from a perched aquifer through a porous rock wall, located about 40 minutes north of Mudgee.

The book was inspired by a recent meeting between the Environment Group and members of the Illawarra branch of the National Parks Association of NSW.

Mudgee District Environment Group and Save The Drip member Phyllis Setchell said the scrapbook, compiled by local artist and fellow campaigner Veronica Burns, was seen as a contribution by the community and numerous visitors to send their message – The Drip must be protected within the Goulburn River National Park.

“Apart from the numerous submissions we’ve tried pleas, letters, petitions, social functions, you name it. It has all been about the Save The Drip campaign,” Ms Setchell said.

She said the Save The Drip campaign had actually been running for some 60 years, with calls for it to be included in the National Park then.

The groups have had vital support from NSW Member for Orange, Andrew Gee, and said his contribution had been “tremendous ad encouraging”.

Among comments featured in the scrapbook are those of Mudgee Local Aboriginal Lands Council officer, David Maynard, who says The Drip has “highly cultural significance to the area.”

“The Mudgee LALC and its members support full protection of this cultural icon and [it] must not be interfered [with] by any mining activities,” he said.

“This special place should be handed to the National Parks and Wildlife Service where a joint agreement can be made to protect the heritage of the Wiradjuri people and its country.”

At The Drip site there is an Aboriginal-inspired mural by Brett Whiteley.

Currently the state government, Moolarben Coal and local stakeholders are discussing plans for The Drip area in a bid to have it protected from mining.