NSW WILDERNESS RED INDEX
Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd
(September 1999)
2/332 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 ph 02 9261 2400; fax 02 9261 2144
email keith@colongwilderness.org.au web site colongwilderness.org.au
| NAME: | Mutawintji (Mootwingee) |
| NOMINATED BY: | Not nominated. |
| LOCATION: | Approximately 130 km north east of Broken Hill. |
| SIZE: | 56,000 ha |
| TENURE: | Mutawintji National Park 56,000 ha |
Wilderness Declared:
Mutawintji National Park (6/3/92);
| Size: | 47,600 ha |
| Percentage of entire area: | unknown. |
Wilderness Not Declared:
| Size: | unknown. |
| Percentage of entire area: | unknown. |
DESCRIPTION:
The southern part of Mutawintji Wilderness lies across a series of north-west to south-east ridges formed from gently folded, dipping sandstones and conglomerates, interspersed with shale layers. Northwards, the landform gradually changes to the open rolling stony downs associated with Mt Wright Creek. Further to the north-east the country rises again to form the tableland of the Amphitheatre Creek area, a block of resistant sandstone and part of the rugged Coturaundee Ranges.
The nature of the sedimentary rocks, their jointing patterns and strike and dip slopes have produced landforms with cavernous shelters, gorges, bouldery scree slopes and outwash plains. The surface plates of the sandstone are fragile and break away easily, exposing the very soft sandstones underneath.
An area around Mt Wright has been proposed by the Geological Society of Australia as a Category III Geological Area, of interest to the general public, as well as to students and geological groups. It is considered to be of palaeontological significance, being one of the few recognised Cambrian fossil localities in New South Wales.
The vegetation of the area is typical of the arid zone of New South Wales. Seven major plant associations occur in the area: River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) woodland on riverine plains and in sediment filled gorges; Red Box (E. intertexta) woodland on hillslopes; Coolabah (E. microtheca), of which only a few trees remain; Belah (Casuarina cristata)/Rosewood (Heterodendrum oleifolium)/White Cyprus Pine (Callitris glaucophylla) woodland which is usually heavily modified by grazing; Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodland; Chenopod (saltbush/blue bush) shrub units; and Stipa nifida grasslands, a disclimax community on areas that were once mulga woodland.
There are at least 30 species of threatened flora in the Western Division of New South Wales. One, Euphorbia sarcostemmoides, of special value in the study of biogeography, has been recorded in New South Wales only within Mutawintji National Park. An outlier of the Triodia irritans var. laxispicata and Pterostylis orchids also occurs in the park.
The Mutawintji area supports a wide range of native animals representative of arid environments. Eleven native mammal species, five species of frog, 138 bird species, 38 reptiles and 347 species of insects have been recorded in the area. Rare and endangered fauna include: the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus); Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos); and Pink Cockatoo (Cacatua leadbeateri).
The Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) is listed in the Threaten Species Conservation Act, 1995 and is in imminent danger of extinction. The total population of this species in the Mutawintji area has been estimated to be no more than 250.
LAND USE HISTORY:
| Aboriginal | Approximately 300 archaeological sites have been recorded in the area. These include: Aboriginal art sites, both painted and engraved; camp sites consisting of hearths and artefact scatters, scarred trees, stone arrangements; and quarries. |
| 1991 | May: Tim Moore, Minister for the Environment, introduces a National Parks and Wildlife (Aboriginal Ownership) Bill. The provisions of the bill include the Mutawintji National Park which is proposed to be leased back for 99 years, with options to renewal, and no limitations on renewal. The Bill was redrafted in 1992 with a term of 30 years proposed. It also allowed hunting and gathering in the national park. The Government, however, did not proceed with the bill. |
| 1996 | 20 November: A further National Parks and
Wildlife (Aboriginal Ownership) Bill is introduced into Parliament by Pam Allan,
Minister for the Environment. The legislation aims to enable Aboriginal ownership of
national parks, including Mutawintji National Park, which are leased back to the National
Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for no more than 30 years. Further renewal of the lease
requires the consent of the Government and the Aboriginal Land Council concerned. 5 December: The legislation passes through all stages and the Act amends the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. |
| 1998 | May: The Malimup Communiqué on wilderness (a
product of a meeting in Malimup W.A. between the Australian Heritage Commission’s
Indigenous Reference Group and selected non-government environment groups), attempts to
redefine wilderness to allow for development. The Communiqué recommends that
"rightful indigenous communities" be permitted: vehicle access; hunting of
wildlife with firearms; the gathering of plant materials; and built accommodation in
previously protected wilderness areas, in consultation with park management agencies. At
the conclusion of this meeting the Colong Foundation submits that "the use of
firearms and erection of accommodation contradict the definition of wilderness and are not
seen as compatible with such areas." The Foundation also considers that the use of
vehicles would set a precedent, or otherwise increase vehicle use, that would be
incompatible with wilderness values. 4 September: A lease back agreement is signed off by the traditional owners and the Minister of the Environment. Mootwingee National Park is renamed Mutawintji and together with its wilderness and the Cortarundee Nature Reserve, is officially placed under traditional ownership granted under the provisions of the National Parks and Wildlife (Aboriginal Ownership) Act 1996. |
HISTORY OF CONSERVATION MEASURES:
| 1927 | 468 ha Reserve for the Preservation of Caves, Native Fauna and Flora and Aboriginal Carvings and Drawings established in the area at the investigation of the Broken Hill Field Naturalists Club. |
| 1967 | Mootwingee Historic Site, covering the reserve and having been proclaimed in 1927, is gazetted under National Parks and Wildlife Act 1967. |
| 1979 | Coturaundee Nature Reserve of 6,688 ha is established to the north-east of Mootwingee National Park, primarily for the conservation and protection of the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. |
| 1982 | 68,912 ha Mootwingee National Park is established. |
| 1986 | Wilderness Working Group, appointed by Minister for Planning and Environment release their Report, naming Mootwingee as one of thirty-six identified wilderness areas in NSW. |
| 1989 | National Parks and Wildlife Service adopts Mootwingee National Park Plan of Management, including a 56,000 ha wilderness zone. |
| 1992 | 6 March: 47,600 ha of Mootwingee National Park declared as wilderness under Section 8 (1A) of Wilderness Act 1987. |
| 1998 | A lease back agreement is signed off by the traditional owners and the Minister of the Environment retains the declared wilderness area. The Minister agrees not to declare any further wilderness additions without the consent of both the Land Council and the Board of Management established by the Clause 10 of the lease. |
THREATS:
| Feral animals | Despite an ongoing control program implemented in 1978, feral goats are present in high densities. There is evidence that these goats compete with Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies for shelter, seriously affecting wallaby numbers. Predation by foxes has dramatically reduced the number of young wallabies. A fox control program using buried biscuits, laced with 1080 poison, has increased the wallaby population 400 per cent since 1995. Such programs are in marked contrast to aerial baiting of foxes, that kill dingos and native fauna such as Quolls. Rabbits, cats and pigs are also found in the park, and stock straying into the park cause problems. Goats, that can be slaughtered for profit, should be controlled to keep numbers as low as possible, as to do otherwise is to manage the National Park as a goat farm. |
Recommendations: All introduced fauna should be controlled, and where possible eliminated. A regular program to control goats in particular, but also rabbits, cats and foxes, should be undertaken. Stock straying into the wilderness area should be treated as feral animals or impounded and sold. The management committee for Mutawintji National Park should ensure that feral animal management is aimed at eradication of goats, as opposed to maintaining goat numbers under economic considerations.
| Dams and tanks | Artificial watering points and tank sites contribute to overgrazing by native and feral animals by providing permanent water in a fragile arid landscape. |
Recommendations: Those dams and watering points not required for fire management should be removed. The remaining watering points should be effectively fenced to prevent access by feral and native animals.
| National Parks and Wildlife (Aboriginal Ownership) Act 1996 | Hunting of wildlife, built accommodation and motorised access to sites conflict with wilderness management. Such use leads to development of roads, dams, buildings, commercial vehicle based tourism and potentially loss of native wildlife by the introduction of dogs and cats in Aboriginal living areas. |
Recommendations: Reconciliation with Aboriginal people must include management of wilderness which protects nature free from development, commercial exploitation and modern technology.
CONTACT ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
The Colong Foundation for Wilderness
2/332 Pitt Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Contact: Keith Muir (Director) Ph 02 9261 2400
FAX: 02 9261 2144
email keith@colongwilderness.org.auNature Conservation Council of NSW
Board of Management Representative
Lot 3 Nullo Mountains
Via Rylstone NSW 2849
Contact: Haydn Washington Ph: 02 6379 6257
FAX: 02 6379 6224
email chboil@winsoft.net.au
RELEVANT COLONG BULLETIN ARTICLES:
Colong Bulletin, 137, March 1993, "Aboriginal Ownership of National Parks", p3.
Colong Bulletin 169, July 1998, "Indigenous Wilderness" p10-12.
Colong Bulletin 175, July 1999, "Preserving wilderness for all Australians."