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Dear Colong Foundation supporter,
Colong
e-News No. 24
This
e-news is about submissions in support of nature conservation. I know
everyone is busy, (I blame mobile phones, computers and tablets for
that) and somehow with all that connection, finding time
to making submissions has fallen away. So could you please take a
moment to make submissions on the following proposals. Thank
you!
Keith
Muir, Colong Foundation for Wilderness.
Deadline
for submissions is Tuesday 31 May 2016 at 5pm.
Help
contain resort expansion in Kosciuszko National Park - make a
submission objecting to this management review.
This NPWS
submission webpage on this link requires you to fill in boxes
with your name and contact details, and then you must to answer the
questions set out below. Please cut and paste these pilot answers below to
answer the questions on the NPWS
webpage to make a submission, and don't forget to then press submit.
(You can also upload a file to the webpage with your submission in
it.)
What
are your concerns about changing management arrangements?
The NSW
Government must present alternatives to the proposed and unacceptable
resort expansion plans. I do not support the planned creation of urban
villages (towns) within Kosciuszko National Park. The review must provide
public sessions that allow adequate public participation on more options
for the future of this important national park.
To
be worth coming to, what do the resorts need?
The
current village-style resorts at Perisher Range and Charlotte Pass
were allowed in Kosciuszko National Park because of snow-based
recreation. The snow is now disappearing due to climate change. Urban
development should not take place inside Kosciuszko National Park, as is
the policy for all other national parks in NSW. The special exception granted
to these resorts ceases to be valid once the snow is gone.
Urban
centres, with facilities such as tennis courts and golf courses, are
inappropriate for a national park.
What
factors does Government need to consider when making the decision about new
management arrangements?
I do not
support the Vision Statement of NSW Government that seeks to create a
“world class tourism destination with year-round visitor activities” in the
alpine regions of Kosciuszko National Park. This vision, which includes
everything from apartment blocks to golf courses, is not appropriate for a
national park. It is not ecologically sustainable. The vision is outdated.
The park’s ecosystems are already threatened. These threats are being
increased due to climate change. Protection of nature must be a priority
for Kosciuszko National Park.
What
are the key characteristics that you would need to see for each option?
I
support the “status quo” for management of Perisher Range and Charlotte
Pass until the snow resorts cease to be viable. The resorts should then be
phased out.
The
Office of Environment and Heritage must remain responsible for leases and
municipal services as climate change accerates change. I do not support
head lease arrangements that delegate powers to a head lessee.
Market
interest should not be sought. I do not support government policy that
seeks “market appetite” in Kosciuszko National Park. I do not support
government seeking “attractive offers” for national park management. The
OEH must reconvene IPART in order to gain an independent analysis of the
Park’s economic future. This analysis must include a cost/ benefit analysis
of the ecological consequences of any proposed use of the resorts.
One
hundred thousand native animals will be killed each year if the Baird
government scraps our laws that prevent land-clearing.
Find out what is going
on - seminars on Biodiversity Law Reform
Stand up for nature -
sign the petition to stop Baird's war on trees!
The Environmental Defenders Office - Top 10 Concerns
Other Resources
Deadline
for lodging submissions is 5pm, Friday June 3, 2016
The NPWS
submission webpage for this national park development proposal is
simple. You can email to Commercial.Enquiries@environment.nsw.gov.au or
fill in your details and lodge a submission on this
webpage in just one comment box. You can also upload a
file with your submission in it.
Please
consider using the following guide to assist you in making a
submission -
The
master plan must be revised as it has no underlying philosophy to it, other
than to provide facilities to meet peak visitor demand.
The
carrying capacity of the site must limit the facilities provided. The
grassed areas are worn out, particularly around existing picnic facilities,
and this degradation extends to Providential Point. This degradation
suggests that the site has reached capacity and further development of the
site is inappropriate.
The
proposed northern loop track, with swing bridge over Wattamolla
Lagoon, will divert more visitors onto the beach and lagoon. This
will assist the proposed zip line operation in depositing many more people
onto the sand spit area but it is inappropriate because the beach is
already heavily used by picnickers.
Wattamolla
does not need additional attractions, particularly the zip line and
associated dramatic swing bridge. These attractions will encourage
more visitors to the overused sand spit area and causing further
degradation, as well as interfere with families who use the sand spit.
The
private camping accommodation (glamping) licence should be terminated and
the site given over to DYI campers. The currently proposed DYI campsite can
then remain as a picnic ground near the carpark and toilets, which is more
appropriate.
I
believe that the funds required to achieve this master plan are better
invested in repair of the Coast Track.
The
planning priority for the master plan should be the proposed on-line
booking facility to keep visitor use at Wattamolla to within the
carrying capacity of this site.
Deadline
for submissions closes 5pm, Friday 19 August 2016.
The NPWS
submission webpage for the draft feral horse management plan is
simple. You can email kosciuszko.wildhorseplan@environment.nsw.gov.au or
fill in your details and lodge a submission on this webpage in just
one comment box. You can also upload a file with your submission in it.
Please
consider using the following guide to assist you in making a
submission -
I
generally support of this plan to significantly reduce feral horses
numbers in Kosciuszko National Park, although I would prefer it if the plan
required the elimination of all feral horses from the park. The
feral horse is not threatened with extinction and does not need to be
saved. As an feral animal it does not belong in a national park.
There
are 900,000 feral horses in Australia. The fragile sub-alpine
wilderness areas of Kosciuszko National Park are not appropriate places to
graze feral horses or ride domesticated horses due to well-known
adverse and extensive environmental impacts caused.
I
welcome the integration of feral horse control techniques, as this is
the most effective way to control this pest. I am disappointed that
aerial shooting is not a part of the integrated program because it is the
most effective and humane technique to eliminate high densities of
feral horses from remote park areas.
I
believe that pest control should be left up to NPWS staff. Making the feral
horse plan contingent on the wishes of the horse lobby will result in
inefficient horse controls and will not achieve the necessary
population reductions. I support the adoption of the most humane,
strategic and effective control methods so that feral horse numbers can be
rapidly reduced in Kosciuszko National Park in accordance with the goals of
the draft plan. Without effective, humane and adequate control,
Kosciuszko National Park will become to contine to lose its heritage
values due to the impacts of feral horses on the natural environment.
The
target of at least 800 horses eliminated per year must be established to
reduce feral horse numbers and beat the horse menace.
Thank
you for the opportunity to comment on this draft horse management plan.
Stay tuned, the Working Group has secured a venue at Sydney
University and we are working towards an exciting event.
Keep up to date on our efforts, go to
our media releases
and news on
the Colong
home page.
Meetings:
of the Colong
Foundation will convene at 5.00pm on
Mondays June 6th, July11th, Aug. 8th
and Sept. 12th, 2016.
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