The Kosciuszko Photo Gallery

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The following images describe the enduring values, current threats and the need for action 
to save Kosciuszko National Park.

To view any of these images, just click on the caption name or  
simply view the Kosciuszko Photo Galley.

Kosciuszko - affectionately known as "Kossie" to many Australians, is the largest national park in the state of New South Wales. It protects: Australia's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko; pure freshwater lakes; extensive systems of limestone caves; treeless alpine valleys; and eucalypt forests and woodlands that range from the tree line to almost sea level.

Alpine Meadow - The Kosciuszko alpine region represents one ten thousandth of the wide, brown, mostly flat Australian continent.

The Snowy River - The Snowy River, after a major campaign, is edging towards 10 per cent of its natural flows, proof that interstate co-operative Government action can help to restore environmental health.

Threats to Kosciuszko National Park - Kosciuszko is under threat from climate change, increased visitor use and commercial resort development. In May 2004, an Independent Scientific Committee, engaged by the NSW government, confirmed these threats. However, the government is failing to act on many of its findings and recommendations.

Park abuse at Rocky Plains horse camp - Horseriding should be excluded from limestone cave (karst) areas due to impacts on the caves through, for example, damage to vegetation, soil erosion, pollution of water and introduction of weeds. The NSW Government must stop this abuse.

Feral Horse Management - Shooting is the most effective and humane method of  reducing feral horse populations. It is supported by the Australian Veterinary Association, and should be applied across the whole park as part of an integrated pest species management plan. Aerial shooting is currently banned in NSW. This is a purely political decision. It is allowed in other Australian states and territories, including the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) which recognises the impacts feral horses are having on its sensitive national park environments and  water catchments.

4WD Vehicle Abuse - Due to the damage caused by vehicles that go off road, vehicle access should be confined to approved public roads suitable for all vehicles.

Perisher Range City - Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega are proposed to be amalgamated into one giant resort complex degrading over 1300 hectares of public national park land. It is just one of a series of huge private urban style developments set to degrade Australia's most delicate environments. 

Perisher Range Resort - Perisher Valley, Smiggins, Blue Cow and Guthega are sprawling into one complex with plans for 20,000 visitors mooted in the Alpine Resorts Plan.

Charlotte Pass expansion - In a cynical plan to allow developers to chase the snow as it recedes due to climate change, this tiny skiing area at the base of the Main Range is set for major expansion, including car access during winter. It is the site of one of the most viable populations of the endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum. This Possum will come under pressure from habitat clearance and predation by cats that loiter around resorts. There are only 500 of these Possums left in NSW.

Kossie for sale - In the biggest attack on the institution of national parks in NSW ever, the Alpine Resorts Plan flags seven new resorts for overnight accommodation and further sale of private chalets and apartments.

Bulldozing the national park - Resort expansion means clearing of this precious and fragile national park land for for buildings, winter facilities such as ski runs, and summer facilities. The ski industry is pushing for large dams for major increases in artificial snow making. 

More development equals more pollution - resort expansion, including actively encouraging and marketing their use all year round, will place enormous strains on fragile locations, including more sewage piped into the once pristine streams of the national park.

The Kosciuszko amusement park - Instead of restricting appropriate recreation to snow-based and nature-based activities, the Alpine Resorts Plan allows for golf courses, swimming pools, fun ride and entertainment complexes typically found in resorts on private land, and that have nothing to do with the national park and alpine environments.

Extreme sports are not appropriate - The proposed closure of downhill mountain bike riding in Thredbo is strongly supported. Other ski resorts pushing for extreme sports must be stopped.

More illegal activities - The provision of extreme sports has encouraged illegal activities in the adjoining wilderness areas as the focus is on thrill seeking, regardless of the damage caused. More resort development and provision of a broad range of sports will increase the damage.

The future for Kossie is green - The environment groups' policy of restricting development, phasing out overnight accommodation, cessation of damaging recreational use, elimination of feral horses and securing its precious wilderness will protect Kosciuszko for future generations.

Wilderness restoration - Kosciuszko National Park has 1300 kilometres of management roads and 800 kilometres of public roads. To improve the naturalness and ecological integrity of the national park, a program of removing unnecessary roads is needed (eg. Schlink Pass Road).

Stop the wilderness carve up - Important wild places have been targeted in the plan of management for commercial and horse riding development. These areas should be protected under the Wilderness Act, 1987. Powerlines separating wilderness areas should be removed or placed underground. 

The Proposed Australian Alps National Park - management of the alpine national parks in ACT, NSW and Victoria should be scientifically-based consistent to protect its internationally significant natural values that are capable of World Heritage listing.

What you can do to save Kossie - With your help, Kosciuszko can be managed to protect its delicate ecosystems, World Heritage values and precious wilderness. With your help, the park management can become more nature-focused and commercial exploitation can be stopped.

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