National Parks Association welcomes rethink on feral horse control in Kosciuszko National Park 

The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) welcomes the NSW Environment Minister’s announcement of a review of feral horse control techniques for Kosciuszko National Park. 

“It’s long past time that the National Parks and Wildlife Service were permitted to use aerial culling, the most effective technique for removing large vertebrate pests from environmentally sensitive landscapes” stated NPA President Dr Grahame Douglas.   

Forestry Corporation shows blatant disregard for integrity of Great Koala National Park


NPA NSW is concerned the NSW Government is turning a blind-eye to the public owned logging corporation’s persistent practice of taking advantage of loose forestry rules that are enabling it to industrially-log the best parts of the Great Koala National Park.

NPA takes court action against the Snowy 2.0 transmission connection  

The Land and Environment Court will hear the case by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) against the previous NSW Government’s decision to allow new overhead transmission lines through Kosciuszko National Park as part of the Snowy 2.0 project.  The case will be heard Thursday 3 August. 

Inquiry into undergrounding transmission welcomed but must include Snowy 2.0 

National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) has welcomed NSW Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe launching an inquiry into the feasibility of using underground transmission connections for renewable energy projects.

NPA CEO Gary Dunnett stated ‘Undergrounding transmission connections offer the best way of avoiding the devastating environmental damage that overhead lines cause to natural landscapes, including national parks.

‘The last major rollout of transmission works in NSW was more half a century ago, at a time when overhead transmission was the standard. Global best practice has moved to less environmentally damaging underground transmission options. NSW must shift to that best practice standard to avoid inflicting unnecessary damage to environmental and community assets.

‘NPA is calling on the committee to also review underground options for the Snowy 2.0 transmission connection through Kosciuszko National Park. The previous government’s decision to push forward with outdated, damaging overhead transmission through the national park was yet another assault on the irreplaceable alpine environment.’

NPA will continue to pursue all options to overturn the ill-advised overhead transmission lines through Kosciuszko, including our ongoing legal action’. Mr Dunnett concluded.

ENDS

Media Contacts:

NPA CEO, Gary Dunnett. NPA Executive Member, Ted Woodley (02) 9299 0000

Forestry Corporation targeting one of NSW’s most significant koala populations  

The National Parks Association (NPA) is calling on Agriculture Minister Tara Moriaty and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to intervene to save critically important koala habitats from a cynical attempt by Forestry Corporation to derail the creation of the Great Koala National Park.  

NPA President Dr Grahame Douglas states ‘Over the weekend Forestry Corporation added an additional 746 hectares of prime koala habitat in Pine Creek State Forest for clear felling’, this is on top of the 374 hectares already planned. They have also now given the green light to the immediate clear felling of compartment 14.

NSW must follow Victoria’s lead on ending native forestry logging by the end of the year

National Parks Association President Dr Grahame Douglas welcomed the Victorian Government’s decision to accelerate shutting down public native forestry by the end of 2023, drastically moving forward the original deadline of 2030.

‘It’s a relief to see a State Government acknowledging that we are running out of time to protect our last remaining forests and forest dependant fauna. Now’s the time for the NSW Government to follow suit and end the logging that is driving our forests and unique wildlife to extinction’ said Dr Douglas.