Colong Foundation for Wilderness
Media Releases
Return to 2007 and 2008 Media Releases
Colong Foundation Media Releases (2004 archive)
Bob Carr’s green legacy turning brown – 4 Sept 2004
Environment Minister introduces Quoll and Dingo extinction program – 24 Aug 04
Horseriders seek access to degrade Kosciuszko – 17 Aug 04
Kosciuszko Feral Horse Mismanagement Divides Two Governments - 4 Aug 04
Resort expansion plans sprawl across Kosciuszko National Park - 16 Jul 04 'Stealth' film, don't ambush the Grose Wilderness, go shoot elsewhere - 25 Mar. 04
Govt seeks to avoid compensation while claiming cloud seeding experiment safe - 19 Mar 04
Endangered Species Sold Short on Cloud Seeding - 17 Mar 04
Stealth Movie Not Wilderness Friendly - 15 Mar 04 Shadow Environment Minister Visits Proposed Newnes Junction Sand Mine Site - 7 Mar 04
Cloud Seeding in Kosciuszko National Park is a greenhouse techno-fix that won't work - 25 Feb 04
New law to excise park roads will not make Kosciuszko National Park safer - 23 Feb 04
Bob
Carr’s green legacy turning brown For the first time since the Carr
Government was elected, the five peak NSW environment groups have come
together to attack the Government's natural environment policies. They
called on the Premier to urgently act to prevent his legacy becoming one
of rivers pumped dry, ancient woodlands and forests lost, Crown lands
flogged off and national parks mismanaged. "The peak groups' Environment
in Crisis statement highlights key issues that need swift action if
Bob Carr is to avoid being more remembered for the environment destroyed,
than the environment protected," the groups said. "Our patience for Government action on
these key issues has run out. It is time to alert the public to the
consequences of government failure." The eight key areas where action is
required are: "The Premier has an opportunity to
turn around what has been his worst environmental performance since he
came to power in 1995. The public want him to act and our natural heritage
depends on it," they said. To see the full statement and further
information go to – www.environmentincrisis.org.au For more information contact: Jeff Angel, Total Environment Centre
9299 5680 Environment
Minister introduces Quoll and Dingo extinction program
24
August 2004 The decision announced this morning by the
Minister for the Environment, Bob Debus, to reintroduce aerial baiting in
the northern end of Koscisuzko National Park will help make the Tiger
Quoll and Dingo become extinct. "We need carefully thought through
wild dog management that protects Dingoes and Tiger Quolls; not this knee
jerk extinction program," said Keith Muir director of the Colong
Foundation for Wilderness. "Throwing meat baits laced with 1080
poison out of helicopters kills Dingoes and threatened Tiger Quolls, as
well as wild dogs. Aerial baiting will also increase the dominance of wild
dog-fox-cat regime that is destroying our wildlife", said Mr Muir. "The baiting program is in direct
contradiction to the park's Draft Plan of Management currently on
exhibition. The Draft Plan requires National Parks and Wildlife to replace
the current wild dog-fox-cat regime with populations of dingoes and
quolls," he said. "Two reasons for the low populations
of Quolls in northern Kosciuszko are the recent fires and past pest
control efforts that have killed them off. If you want to make Dingoes and
Quolls become extinct in the region, then the Minister’s aerial baiting
program would be exactly the way to go about it", Mr Muir said. "When numbers of an endangered species
are unusually low in a national park surely it is more appropriate to
implement an urgent recovery plan than to serve up poison baits to the few
population remnants left", he said. "Aerial baiting is an expensive
one-off control and the results of aerial baiting are not measurable. Pest
controllers never know how many baits were taken and whether they were
taken by wild dogs," Mr Muir said. "Just to the north the Wild Dog
Control Programs in Brindabella and Wee Jasper Valleys are using on-ground
line baiting strategies to avoid poisoning Tiger Quolls. While this is
encouraging, the approach offers little hope for the plight of the Dingo.
If Minister Debus does not encourage the development of on-park Dingo
management strategies that preserve the core of Kosciuszko, our biggest
national park, as part of their domain then the Dingo is done for",
he said. For more information
contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615 (ah) Horseriders
seek access to degrade Kosciuszko As the closing date for public submissions
on the draft plan for Kosciuszko National Park nears, environment groups
are concerned that the push for more horseriding in the park has ignored
many important facts. "Horse riders make up just 5 per cent
of the park’s users but they are one of the main causes of damage to the
park", said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for
Wilderness "Between October 2001 to April 2002
there were 1,140 commercial and private horse parties using the Northern
Plains of the park. These levels are high enough to cause unacceptable
damage to the natural environment. Horse camps, such as those around
Mackeys and Cooinbil huts have replaced native grasslands with exotic
weeds, such as oat grass and clover", said Mr Muir. "Pinch River horse camp, in the south
of the Park, is a total mess of weeds and camping filth. The camp assists
illegal access into the adjoining Pilot wilderness. Wilderness is
protected under the NSW Wilderness Act because it represents the state’s
last remaining most pristine environments. It should not be subjected to
the environmental degradation arising from horse riding," Mr Muir
said. "The damages associated with horse
riding are well known and include soil erosion, weed invasion through
manure and horse feed, damage to stream banks, pollution of waterways and
damage associated with temporary yards, including to snow gums. This has
been recognised, most recently, in the Independent Scientific Committee
report into the park’s values, released in May 2004." said Mr
Andrew Cox, executive officer of National Parks Association of NSW. "The National Parks and Wildlife
Service has a legal responsibility to ensure any recreation in a national
park occurs within strict environmental limits. Management of recreational
horseriding proposed in the draft plan fails to do this," said Mr
Cox. "We are also concerned over the recent
tourist promotional film including a shot of horseriding in Kosciuszko
National Park." "Tourism NSW is unwise to support the
promotion of damaging horseriding at Geehi Valley on the western side of
the park. It would be better and more effective for tourism promotion to
focus on walking, the most popular form of recreation in the park, Mr Cox
said. For more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or
9550 3615 (ah); Andrew
Cox (02) 9299 0000 (wk) or 0438 588 040 (mob) Two environment groups today condemned the
NSW Government for failing to control feral horses in Kosciuszko National
Park, that failure has led the ACT Government to construct a horse fence
on the NSW border in Namadgi National Park in order to exclude NSW feral
horses from entering the ACT. The fence cuts the Bimberi wilderness in
half, and flies in the face of cooperative management. "At a time when other countries are
removing fences between their borders to permit the migration of native
animals, the ACT Government is building a fence along its border cutting
the Bimberi Wilderness in two, " said Keith Muir director of the
Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "The ACT is being forced to build this
fence due to the failure of NSW to control its feral horse populations in
northern Kosciuszko National Park. This is a ludicrous example of how an
ineffective feral horse control program in one state is impacting on one
of Australia’s most precious and sensitive areas," Mr Muir said. "NSW National Parks and Wildlife have
been irresponsible in letting feral horse numbers increase in Kosciuszko.
The NSW Government’s proposal to allow feral horse herds to roam across
the park under a policy of so-called 'acceptable levels of environmental
impact' has absolutely no scientific basis," said Mr Andrew Cox,
executive officer of the National Parks Association of NSW. "The fence will also act as a barrier
to the essential need for native fauna to move freely across the
landscape, particularly after fire. According to the ACT Government, two
sections of the fence have already been constructed at Murrays Gap and
Jacks Flat to fence out feral horses and more sections of fence are
planned," said Mr Cox. "We believe that the actions by the ACT
Government signal a breakdown in the Australian Alps Cooperative
Management Program established between NSW, ACT and Victoria to avoid
conflict in park management programs on issues like feral horses", Mr
Cox said. "We support ACT's goal to keep Namadgi
National Park feral horse free, but that requires cooperation from NSW
National Parks Service. NSW needs to put in place an effective and humane
horse eradication program, not force the ACT Government to build a horse
fence that harms and restricts native wildlife", he said. For
more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615
(ah); Andrew
Cox (02) 9299 0000 (wk) or 0438 588 040 (mob) Resort
expansion plans sprawl across Kosciuszko National Park The Colong Foundation for Wilderness today
accused the NSW Government of attempting to create four new resort nodes
in Koscisuzko National Park. The new resort expansion nodes are Bullock's
Flat, Sponars Chalet, Ski Rider and Mountain Retreat as listed in the
Alpine Resorts Plan. "In the biggest attack on the
institution of national parks in NSW ever, the exposure draft of the
Alpine Resorts Plan flags eight resorts for further overnight
accommodation, and two resorts would become large towns. The number of
year round resorts in the park also rises from one to eight. Planning
Minister Craig Knowles must reject this plan as a massive over development
of our largest national park," said Keith Muir director of the Colong
Foundation. "If you wanted a good example of why
you never allow town planners to take control national parks, then you
shouldn't go any further than the Alpine Resorts Plan. The Plan allows
major resort expansion at Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, the Perisher Range
(amalgamating the former Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and
Guthega now slated as one big resort) being transformed into a town
operating on a year round basis like Thredbo, as well as more
accommodation development at the so-called 'minor resorts' of Bullock's
Flat, Sponars Chalet, Ski Rider and Mountain Retreat", Mr Muir said. "At Mount Selwyn, as well as all the
other resorts above the snowline, there is provision for further ski slope
development. This means that more alpine vegetation, including Snow Gums
and granite boulder fields, would be bulldozed in the national park under
this Plan" he said. "As you would expect, the Department
of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources has developed lots of
detailed planning provisions for regulating resorts building, including,
believe it or not, multi-storey development of Sponars Chalet so as to
'achieve compatibility with the existing buildings', creating ribbon
development along the Kosciuszko Road. Yet the Department has virtually no
provisions for the regulation of clearing in the national park, simply
because town planners have no feel for national park management, said Mr
Muir. "The Department is treating Kosciuszko
National Park as if it were any other land. There should be no more
development in the park, its already over-developed and bulldozing Snow
Gums and the like in the national park should be out of the question. At
least the Department of Environment and Conservation, and not the Planning
Department, should be in control of clearing in the national park,"
he said. "In addition, the Department has
created confusion about the basic information. If you go to the
Departmental web site it says "The Alpine Resorts Plan is on
exhibition jointly with the Kosciuszko Plan of Management Review.
Submissions Close Tuesday 17 August 2004.” If you read the printed
matter on the Plan, the deadline is today. "The Colong Foundation has written to
Planning Minister, Craig Knowles, to confirm that the three month comment
on the exposure draft Alpine Resorts Plan will end on August 17 as
published on the website. The Minister should at least give the citizens
of NSW time to have a say, instead of closing off comment before anyone
has grasped the reality of these massive resort expansion plans, said Mr
Muir. For more information
contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615 (ah) Stealth
film, don't ambush the Grose Wilderness, go shoot elsewhere 25 March 2004 "The final scene shoot out for the
Stealth adventure film proposed in the Grose Wilderness of the Blue
Mountains World Heritage Area is an attack on wilderness and the
birthplace of the NSW nature conservation movement. Wilderness areas
should not to be treated like a plywood film sets to be knocked around,"
said Keith Muir director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "If approved, the proposed Stealth
adventure film shoot will set a precedent for commercial operations in
protected wilderness areas. The film will define what the Wilderness Act
means by protection of the unmodified state of nature," Mr Muir said. "The Stealth film proposal will also
be a test case for the new Regulatory Division of the Department of
Environment and Conservation. Controversial proposals in national parks
are no longer considered by Parks and Wildlife Service, and it will be
interesting to see which way the new Regulatory Division jumps regarding
this filming proposal. "When the Wilderness Act was
proclaimed in 1987 nobody ever imagined that a major commercial operation,
such as a shoot for large a Hollywood-style adventure movie, would ever be
proposed in a wilderness area. "The Carr Government risks rolling
back wilderness protection in this state if this filming proposal is
approved," Mr Muir said. Mr Muir said that "Commercial filming
should not be granted concessions way beyond the strict controls everyone
else complies with when visiting these areas. The proposed film and
extensive equipment, staff and crew, electric generators and decking would
be out of proportion with the strict limits on visitors to wilderness
areas." "If approved it may be much harder to
hold onto wilderness protection when future proposals come forward. The
proponents of the Stealth film should find a less sensitive and
controversial site than the Grose Wilderness. When the environmental
consultant for Stealth approached me last year regarding this proposal, I
offered to find alternative sites for them. The offer stands," said
Mr Muir. For
more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615
(ah) Conservationists
call for Federal Environmental Impact Assessment on cloud seeding proposal Conservationists have
asked the Federal Minister for the Environment, Senator Dr David Kemp, to
call in the proposed Snowy Hydro cloud seeding experiment and ensure that
it is subjected to environmental impact assessment. Unless Dr Kemp acts
there will be no due process for environmental assessment. The experiment
is being fast tracked through the NSW parliament, with the subjugation of
six environmental laws, and will take place in Kosciuszko National Park,
in one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the nation ñ the
Main Range. "Senator Kemp should
use his powers under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act) to require Snowy Hydro Ltd to prepare an
environmental impact statement," said Keith Muir director of the
Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "The Commonwealth is
part owner of Snowy Hydro and has a responsibility to protect nationally
endangered species and RAMSAR wetlands. Both are threatened by this
proposal. There is a real risk that precipitation from cloud seeding at
the lower altitudes could fall as rain, reducing rather than enhancing
snow cover. "Snow cover provides
temperature stability to snow dependent species and loss of cover would
lead to drastic and lethal temperature variations for nationally
endangered species such as the Mountain Pygmy Possum. The Southern
Corroboree Frog, listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, may also be
affected, as reduced snow cover would allow Sphagnum moss to grow more
prolifically and cover the pools needed by the frog; as well as exposing
tadpoles to sub-zero temperatures," Mr Muir said. "The trial
could also lead to wide ranging impacts on the aquatic systems of the
Park, including Blue Lake and its environs, listed under the RAMSAR
Convention as a wetland of international significance. The aerial release
of silver will result in its accumulation in the environment. Silver,
which can be incorporated into, or absorbed onto, aquatic plants and
animals is one of the most toxic metals to freshwater aquatic
micro-organisms, the most sensitive being phtyoplankton and the embryos
and larvae of animals, including tadpoles. "Snowy Hydro has
drafted legislation that has been accepted in a modified form by the Carr
Government and, if passed, would prevent the operation of mandatory
environmental impact assessment and review processes, including species
impact statements. Snowy Hydro is unlikely to seek advice or make a
referral under the EPBC Act. "There is a
likelihood that nationally endangered species could be at risk from this
experiment, and Minister Kemp is obliged to apply the precautionary
principle when applying the EPBC Act, so we consider that the Snowy
Precipitation Enhancement Trial should be called in by the Minister and
Snowy Hydro obliged to prepare a Federal environmental impact
assessment." For
more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615
(ah) The Snowy Mountains Cloud Seeding Bill,
currently being considered by NSW Parliament, will allow cloud seeding in
Kosciuszko National Park at times when 'increased precipitation is likely
to fall as snow.' The NSW Government, however, has no great confidence in
this experiment because the Bill seeks to prevent compensation claims for
damages. "It is hypocritical for the NSW
Government to protect itself from possible risks of damage claims if the
experiment goes wrong, while not fully protecting this sensitive national
park from environmental impacts," said Keith Muir director of the
Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "The NSW Government ignores overseas
experience where the Montana Legislature passed a law requiring an
environmental study and a $10 million bond before any cloud seeding could
take place. There is also a real risk that the precipitation could fall as
rain, not snow, washing away the snow, and jeopardising snow-based
recreation as well as the lives of endangered species. "There will be many people in the Park
region asking serious questions about what this trial will mean for them
and their livelihood, including those in rainshadow areas," said Mr
Muir. "The Snowy Mountains Cloud Seeding Bill proposes that 'cloud
seeding operations may be carried out despite any other Act or law.' All
environmental protection and pollution control laws, and rights to
damages, if the operation causes a loss of income, are swept aside. "The legislation will only allow
suspension of the experiment when there is or is likely to be a
significant environmental impact and by then it will be too late. The
Alpine area of Kosciuszko National Park is one of the most environmentally
sensitive areas in the nation and it is unwise to be conducting risky
experiments is such areas," Mr Muir said. "The cloud seeding can't make snow out
of a clear, blue sky when or its too warm for clouds to form snow
particles. Snowy Hydro will find droughts and hot weather are beyond
control. "The Government must be suffering from
political hyperthermia if it thinks this sort of heavy handed legislation
is an answer to climate change," said Mr Muir. For
more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615
(ah) The crisis over the Carr
Government's handling of a cloud seeding proposal in Kosciuszko National
Park deepened today with revelations that endangered species could be
placed at risk, despite claims by the NSW Minister for Agriculture that it
would not negatively affect the environment. "A confidential
briefing note by Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC)
regarding the proposed cloud seeding experiment in the Snowy Mountains
confirms that endangered species could be placed at risk from rain washing
away snow cover in lower alpine areas," said Andrew Cox, Executive
Officer, National Parks Association of NSW. "This new
information from DEC confirms our worst fears about cloud seeding. Snow
dependent animals like the nationally endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum
could freeze to death when rain produced by cloud seeding washes away the
insulating winter blanket of snow. Without the snow cover the poor possum
will be exposed to freezing temperatures," said Mr Cox. The department briefing
states, "It is unlikely that increased falls will favour snow
dependent species because the major pressure on such species is at lower,
marginal, snow areas. Precipitation at the lower altitudes may possibly
fall as rain thereby potentially reducing rather than enhancing any
natural snow cover." "The departmental
advice also reports the views of the American Meteorological Society that
down wind precipitation changes can occur with cloud seeding, confirming
the fears of local farmers about potential loss of rainfall," said
Fiona McCrossin, Assistant Director, Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "Playing around with
climate risks environmental harm and DEC warns that the mitigation of
climate change due to this proposed cloud seeding experiment is
doubtful." "The DEC advice
contradicts a statement on 25 February by NSW Minister for Agriculture,
Ian Macdonald, that states, 'Cloud seeding could help off-set an
environmental tragedy in the making, without negatively affecting the
environment.'" A more certain strategy
exists to help the survival of snow dependent species, like the endangered
Mountain Pygmy Possum. DEC's website states the main threat to the Possum
in NSW is 'loss and fragmentation of habitat, mostly associated with the
ski resort industry', ie. activities like winter snow grooming, road and
building construction. "We must reduce the impacts of the ski resorts
by stopping any further expansion and reducing the ecological footprint of
each resort," said Ms McCrossin. The Carr Government now
has one course of action: Stop the dubious and potentially harmful cloud
seeding experiment and get serious about protecting Kosciuszko's unique
natural values. Ski report operators, irrigators and electricity providers
are not the first priority. Ask for 5 page Kosciuszko Cloud Seeding
Briefing Paper 15 March 2004 AFG Talons Pty Ltd, operating out of Fox
Studios, proposes to film scenes for the adventure movie Stealth
near Mount Hay in the Grose Wilderness. "The filming appears not to comply
with environmental laws and Department of Environment and Conservation
(DEC) should not approve the proposal," said Keith Muir director of
the Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "To comply with the Wilderness
Act, the film proposal must protect the unmodified state of the area and
its plant and animal communities." "Several impacts from the filming are
likely to damage the wilderness, such as the exclusive use of the Mt Hay
area by up to 75 people, laying down several large decks, helicopter
overflights, and unintentional crushing of rock formations and plant
seedlings. Forty-one threatened animal species and 35 threatened plant
species could be affected by the proposal." "Further, the Blue Mountains National
Park plan of management prohibits structures and vehicles in wilderness
areas. The proposed use of 120 square metres of temporary decks and a
helicopter appear to be prohibited." "I understand that Simon Smith of the
Regulatory Division of the new Department will be deciding whether the
proposal goes ahead and not Dr Tony Fleming of the Parks Service Division.
DEC should not be taking risks with the protection of wilderness areas by
regulating these areas as if they were like the coal mines, steel mills or
sewage treatment plants that the Environment Protection Agency are used to
controlling," Mr Muir said. "Last year Premier Carr circulated a
memo asking all government agencies to be 'film friendly'". "'Film friendly' should require that
the filming respect wilderness and other environmental laws be limited to
eight persons and also advance nature conservation and wilderness
concepts. Running over a wilderness and blasting away with weapons as
proposed for the Stealth shoot out finale may promote the abuse of parks.
The Premier's memo should not be a signal for DEC to be less risk averse
with wilderness and approve things it should not otherwise approve,"
said Mr Muir. "This large-scale commercial filming
proposal is not suited to a wilderness location and many alternative sites
are available. It is inappropriate and unnecessarily to film in
environmentally sensitive sites, such as montane heath lands and hanging
swamps to produce an adventure film, like Stealth. The Blue Mountains
provides almost endless opportunities for filming highly dramatic scenery
outside national parks and wilderness areas," Mr Muir said.* For more
information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615 (ah) *AFG Talons has applied to the Department
of Environment and Conservation for a permit, which, if issued, will set a
bad precedent for commercial use of wilderness areas. If approved, any
other proposed activity in a wilderness that involves up to 120 square
metres of decking, substantial electric power generation, major lighting,
a motorised flying fox, helicopter support and up to 75 people could be
approved in a wilderness area. Shadow
Environment Minister Visits Proposed Newnes Junction Sand Mine Site Blue
Mountains Conservation Society Colong Foundation for Wilderness 7 March
2004 The NSW Shadow
Environment Minister, Michael Richardson, enjoyed a picnic lunch with the
Blue Mountains Conservation Society and the Colong Foundation for
Wilderness at the proposed Newnes Junction quarry site, overlooking the
Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. "I am grateful to
the Blue Mountains Conservation Society for showing me around the proposed
sand quarry and kaolin mine site," Mr Michael Richardson said.
"We ate lunch against the backdrop of the Wollangambe wilderness,
adjacent to the quarry site, with its pristine forest and superb sandstone
pagodas - truly an unforgettable experience." "We are pleased
that the Coalition continues to show its opposition to the proposed 27
million tonne sand mine at Newnes Junction that threatens to degrade the
adjoining World Heritage Area," said Keith Muir director of the
Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "The proposed mine
site supports a diverse eucalypt woodland of Sydney Peppermint, Silvertop
Ash and Scribbly Gums fringed by pagodas and distinctive Newnes Plateau
shrub swamps was the ideal place to discuss conservation issues with Mr
Richardson," Mr Muir said. "The Blue
Mountains Conservation Society was able to explain its concerns regarding
planning and development issues, and the importance of bushland
conservation in the Mountains," said Mr Kevin Bell, President of the
Blue Mountains Conservation Society. "If the proposed
sand mine is approved, then what can't be developed adjoining the World
Heritage Area? The proposal should be rejected and the site added to the
Blue Mountains National Park to protect the Wollangambe Wilderness,"
said Mr Bell. For more information contact:
Keith
Muir (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615 (ah); Cloud
Seeding just an ad hoc response to global climate change rather than an
effective plan for Kosciuszko National Park 26
February 2004 With climatic change an increasing reality,
the Carr government has proposed cloud seeding as a response to one of the
first obvious consequences of this global crisis, citing "concerns
about a shorter snow season" as one its primary concerns. The Colong
Foundation today urges the government to develop long term climate change
policies for Kosciuszko National Park and the state, and not to rely on ad
hoc policy on the run to appease the ski industry. "While it is crucial that the Carr
government threw its support behind the Kyoto Protocol on Greenhouse gas
emissions, something the Howard federal government has failed to do, it
must go further and take a lead in developing sustainable policies to
address this crisis. Placing numerous cloud seeding burners on remote
pristine park areas will require special legislation to legitimise abuse
of the state's only alpine region, itself an international biosphere
reserve," said Fiona McCrossin, assistant director, Colong Foundation
for Wilderness. "In the case of Kosciuszko, the
government has produced a behind the scenes deal designed to extend a ski
season which is recognised internationally as a tragic, and inevitable,
loss due to global warming," continued Ms McCrossin. "Internationally, scientists,
including those of our own CSIRO, predict a continued rise in the snow
line due to climate change. In Switzerland, when the snow reliability
rises to 1,800m, only 44% of skiing regions will be designated as snow
reliable. In Australia it is predicted that by 2030, Charlotte's Pass,
also at 1,800 m, will be the only viable ski resort. In Canada, the
average ski season will reduce by 7-32% in the 2050s and 11-57% in the
2050s.*In addition, a peer reviewed report by an Independent Scientific
Committee (ISC), set up by the Carr government, made clear statements
about pressures on Kosciuszko's alpine areas, including those due to ski
resort development. It has made a series of recommendations. These need to
be actively pursued by government," said Ms McCrossin. "The ski industry, unhappy with the
ISC recommendations, have called them biased and pulled out of all
community participation processes, relying instead on behind closed door
deals." "Australia's tiny alpine areas are
priceless. The Foundation has always had grave concerns over the scale and
impacts of the ski resorts. Despite the inevitable lack of snow, they
continue in their relentless push for growth. They epitomise the
alienation of public national park lands for private and commercial
purposes." concluded Ms McCrossin * (Rolf Burrki et al.,Climate Change ñ
Impacts on the Tourism Industry in Mo8unatin Areas; 1st International
Conference on Climate Change and Tourism, Djerba, 9-11 April 2003) For more information contact: Keith Muir (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550
3615 (ah) Cloud
Seeding in Kosciuszko National Park is a greenhouse techno-fix that won't
work 25
February 2004 "The announcement
by the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon Ian Macdonald regarding cloud
seeding experimentation reveals that increased resource development, not
nature conservation, is the Government's management priority in our
largest national park," said Keith Muir director of the Colong
Foundation for Wilderness. "A similar cloud
seeding research project was proposed in 1993 but was rejected following
strong objections by the National Parks and Wildlife Service that claimed
the proposal was incompatible with the parkís plan of management",
said Mr Muir. "Kosciusko
National Park already suffers from a vast number of structures that are
incompatible with the protection of natural values. Cloud seeding, which
will manipulate the Parks climate, requires the installation of many giant
propane cylinders and burners in remote areas," Mr Muir said. "These structures
will not only detract from the enjoyment of park users but are likely to
increase the rain shadow over Monaro Tableland, a fear which local
graziers have already expressed. The experiment seeks a techno-fix for
climate change that will bring a host of environmental problems," he
said. "In addition to cloud seeding, the Government last week
introduced into Parliament legislation that will hand over two key roads
in Kosciuszko National Park to the Roads and Traffic Authority. This
transfer will enhance vehicle access and encourage ski resort development,"
he said. "These two
decisions signal that protection of national parks and wilderness are not
a priority for Government's management of this park. While Jagungal
wilderness is not proposed to be used in the climate change experiment, no
doubt other wilderness areas will be affected as the proposal covers a
very large area of the park," Mr Muir said. "Enough money and
time has been wasted on cloud seeding experiments over the years with no
conclusive results. The Foundation urges the Government to reject both the
cloud seeding and road transfer proposals as being detrimental to the
park," said Mr Muir. For
more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615
(ah) New
law to excise park roads will not make Kosciuszko National Park safer 23
February 2004 Road stability and
safety will not be improved by giving the Roads and Traffic Authority
ownership of the Alpine Way and Mount Kosciuszko Road in Kosciuszko
National Park. "If passed through
the Upper House of Parliament this week, the legislation removing roads
from Kosciuszko National Park will lead to undesirable park development in
one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the State," said
Mr Keith Muir, Director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "The Colong
Foundation calls on the Government to ensure that the affected roads in
the park are subject to the park plan of management and that the Minister
for the Environment must agree before any road development can take place
in the park," said Mr Muir. "The road excision scheme will do
more to enhance business interests and real estate values in Thredbo and
Perisher than to protect park visitors," Mr Muir said. "The RTA is a
notorious developer. It will assist the ski resort industryís push for
faster roads through the national park. This may mean more profits for
resort owners but there will be more serious vehicle accidents with
wildlife and feral horses associated with increased traffic speeds,"
he said. "Dependence on
private vehicles to access the ski resorts will also increase with faster
roads, but further car access is detrimental to the preservation of the
natural environment." "There is every
reason to improve public transport by rail and bus to the park. Most
drivers have no experience of icy conditions and driving to the snowfields
makes park visitors more dangerous to themselves than if they were
encouraged to use public transport," Mr Muir said. "About $60 million
has been spent improving the Alpine Way, the road that was associated with
Thredbo tragedy. The Kosciuszko Road is not like the Alpine Way, and even
if the road surface collapsed, it could not fall into a ski resort. What
could be done to protect ski resort visitors from the risk of road
collapse already has been done, and the road transfer exercise is more
about future park management and enhancing future ski resort profits, than
current threats," said Mr Muir. Environment
group urges Carr Government to stand firm in face of Australia Day horse
rider threats 23
January 2004 The Colong Foundation
for Wilderness today urged the Carr government to stand firm on its
commitment to a transparent review of the Kosciuszko Plan of Management in
the face of threats of horseriders staging protests in the Park on
Australia Day and later a possible march on Macquarie Street. "The management
review of the state's largest national park is in it's second year and
will be released for public comment in the next few months. The ski
industry has already walked out of the process and the Foundation is
concerned that decisions relating to recreational use may already be
reversed, due to political expediency rather than following independent
scientific advice", said Fiona McCrossin, Assistant Director of the
Colong Foundation for Wilderness. "The review of the
Plan of Management for Kosciuszko National Park should not be about
disputes over the rights of access. It must ensure that the Park is able
to complete its primary function, the protection of some of the last
remnants of Australia's bush." said McCrossin. "Most of our
national parks were set aside after hard won battles between groups of
Australians who wanted an area of bush and its wildlife protected and
those who wanted to continue to exploit it; for timber, minerals, grazing,
even brumby running." "Cries from access
groups that their rights are being denied ignores the big picture.
National parks make up only 7% of NSW. This means that 93% of NSW is open
to access and use, not bound by the conservation and protection laws that
govern wilderness and national parks." "High impact
recreation can take place out of national parks. Groups have the right to
use millions of hectares of State Forests and to pay for the use of
private land." "The Colong
Foundation hopes that on this Australia Day, our government stands firm on
the principles and laws of national park and wilderness management,
principles that go far beyond the exaggerated threat of a thousand horses
being ridden down Macquarie Street," concluded Ms McCrossin. For
more information contact: Keith Muir, (02) 9261 2400 (wk) or 9550 3615
(ah)
4 September 2004
Andrew Cox, National Parks Association of NSW 0438 588 040
Francesca Andreoni, The Wilderness Society 0419 266950
Clare Hammill, Nature Conservation Council of NSW 9279 2633
Keith Muir, Colong Foundation for Wilderness 9261 2400
17
August 2004
Kosciuszko Feral
Horse Mismanagement Divides Two Governments
4
August 2004
16
July 2004
22 March 2004
Government seeks
to avoid compensation while claiming cloud seeding experiment safe
19 March 2004
Endangered
Species Sold Short on Cloud Seeding
Too many risks and no public process
Colong Foundation for Wilderness
National Parks Association of NSW17 March 2004
For more
information contact: Fiona
McCrossin ph 9261 2400 (w);
9568 1309 (h)