The NSW National Parks Association and the Nature Conservation Council have launched a campaign to stop a massive intensification of commercial development within Kosciuszko National Park.
The NSW Government is proposing to increase the cap on resort beds by more than 40% (up from 10,915 to 15,360), build new and expanded carparks, allow helicopter flights onto the ski fields, and open walking tracks to four-wheel drive vehicles.
“These reckless proposals overturn more than 40 years of careful planning and management of the park,” NSW National Parks Association Executive Officer Gary Dunnett said.
“These plans treat the park as a commodity and get the balance between nature protection and recreation completely wrong.”
Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said: “These changes will turn Kosciuszko National Park into a development site and cash cow for tourism operators. Frankly, it’s obscene.
“Kosciusko is one of the oldest national parks in the state, created in 1967 by a Coalition government that recognised the need to protect its fragile ecosystems for future generations.
“We call on today’s Coalition government to honour its own legacy by maintaining the highest level of protection for Kosciuszko National Park and keep the cap on development.”
The proposed changes are outlined in the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct Masterplan and proposed amendments to the Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management.
Key changes include:
- Increasing overnight accommodation in the park from 10,000 to 14,000 beds.
- Allowing helicopters flights into the ski fields.
- Expanding carparks and building new ones.
- Allowing vehicles onto iconic walking tracks.
- Artificially heating the waters at Yarrangobilly thermal pools.
Development of the park will be coordinated by Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s Department of Regional NSW.
“The Snowy Mountains Masterplan hands control over the future of Kosciuszko National Park to the Deputy Premier,” Mr Dunnett said.
“The masterplan puts Kosciuszko National Park up for sale. It treats our precious national parks as nothing more than a private lot ready for development.
“Only a few weeks ago, the Premier was saying that national parks contribute more than $18 billion annually to the NSW economy through visitation and jobs.
“Why would you risk compromising that contribution through excessive development?
“The Snowy is already under siege from bushfires, a feral horse plague and habitat destruction for the Snowy 2 hydro project.
“Kosciuszko needs protection and recovery, not reckless development.”
BACKGROUND
- Government web pages on the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct Masterplan and the proposed amendments to the Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management.
- NSW National Parks Association campaign page.
TIMELINE
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2021 |
June 28 – Public Exhibition of Draft Amendment to the Plan of Management: Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct |
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July 13 – Webinar presentation on National Parks Association on Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct. |
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August 23 – Exhibition period closes. |
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2022 |
Q1 – Master Plan finalised |