Media Releases – Page 3 – National Parks Association of NSW

Celebrating Kosciusko’s 80th anniversary

Posted by NPA NSWon April 22, 2024April 22, 2024in Media ReleasesLeave a comment

An enthusiastic group gathered at Thredbo on 19th April 2024 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Kosciusko State Park, now known as Kosciuszko National Park. The celebration, hosted by the National Parks Association, was attended by the Polish ambassador, current and former National Parks staff, representatives of the Polish-Australian community, conservation and bushwalking groups, the Public Service Association and other supporters of Kosciuszko National Park.

‘It was a privilege to mark this milestone in Kosciuszko’s history, especially in the company of so many people with such deep connections to the park’ stated NPA NSW President Dr Grahame Douglas.

‘Kosciuszko National Park is truly is an Australian icon, a majestic alpine landscape, the largest conservation reserve in NSW, the source of the mighty Murray, Murrumbidgee and Snowy Rivers and the irreplaceable home of so many unique species.

‘In celebrating the 80th anniversary of the park’s declaration we pay homage to the First Nation custodians who cared for the Australian Alps over millennia. We also thank all those who have advocated for the protection of the high country and especially the rangers and other staff whose work has sustained that legacy’.

Kosciuszko Heritage Incorporated spokesperson Urszula Lang stated ‘Kosciuszko Heritage Incorporated and the Polish Community are honoured to be part of KNP’s 80th birthday celebrations as stakeholders passionate about the Park’s history and future. Polish explorer Sir Paul Edmund Strzelecki, when he climbed Australia’s highest mainland peak in 1840, gave it the name of Kosciuszko, after General Tadeusz Kosciuszko. Kosciuszko was a champion of equal rights, freedom and liberty. Like Australia’s First Nations, Poles through history have fought hard to have country acknowledged when Poland was invaded and partitioned. For these reasons, our connection to Mt Kosciuszko and Kosciuszko National Park, and the values associated with the name of Kosciuszko and its history, are very strong indeed.’

Former Kosciuszko regional manager Dave Darlington said ,‘this is an important opportunity to get many of the former park employees together to share their memories about the challenges they faced managing this very complex national park since the 1960’s through to more recent times’

ENDS

Media contacts:

NPA NSW: 02 9229 0000

Spokespersons are available from NPA NSW, Kosciuszko Heritage Inc and two of the 80 year olds who were special guests at the celebration.

Snowy Hydro must do better in Kosciuszko National Park

Posted by NPA NSWon April 15, 2024April 15, 2024in Media Releases, Snowy 2.0Leave a comment

The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) is calling on the NSW Government to apply increased penalties to Snowy Hydro Limited and its contractors for repeated pollution incidents in Kosciuszko National Park.

Snowy 2.0 vandalism of Kosciuszko National Park continues

Posted by NPA NSWon February 1, 2024February 1, 2024in Media Releases, Snowy 2.0Leave a comment

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has again issued a $15,000 fine to Snowy Hydro Limited contractor WeBuild S.P.A, this time in relation to construction works near the Wallaces Creek Bridge at Lobs Hole. At the same time, Snowy Hydro has been issued a $300,000 enforceable undertaking for creating a surface depression in Kosciuszko National Park while tunnelling.

Displaced koala found adjacent to a clearfell logging operation in the proposed Great Koala National Park

Posted by NPA NSWon December 7, 2023December 7, 2023in Media ReleasesLeave a comment

The National Parks Association NSW (NPA) has obtained video of a likely displaced koala barely 40m from the edge of a clearfelled logging coupe in Pine Creek State Forest within the proposed Great Koala National Park (GKNP).

“The coupe contained a mapped Koala Hub that was home to at least one koala and likely more. This Koala Hub was treated as plantation by Forestry Corporation but in reality it was a regenerating Flooded Gum and mixed species forest of very high value to koalas,” stated NPA President, Dr Grahame Douglas.

Another environmental failure by Snowy 2.0

Posted by NPA NSWon December 5, 2023December 5, 2023in Media Releases, Snowy 2.0Leave a comment

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued yet another direction (https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/news/media-releases/2023/epamedia231204-snowy-hydro-issued-with-clean-up-notice-for-contaminated-soil ) to Snowy Hydro to stop polluting Kosciuszko National Park.

The latest EPA Clean Up Notice relates to Snowy Hydro’s mismanagement of spoil from blasting and tunnelling in the national park. It follows six environmental breaches over the last year, including a $15,000 fine to project contractor WeBuild for allowing 9000 litres of polluted water into the Yarrangobilly River.

National Parks Association NSW supports ‘Yes’ at the Voice Referendum

Posted by NPA NSWon September 26, 2023September 26, 2023in Media ReleasesLeave a comment

The State Council of the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) has endorsed the ‘Yes’ campaign for The Voice referendum on 14th October 2023.

State Council is the governing body of NPA and is composed of delegates from geographically based branches across NSW and from specialist committees. It expressed support for The Voice at its first meeting (Saturday 16th September 2023) since the date for the referendum was announced

There was unanimous support for the ‘Yes’ campaign from delegates.

‘NPA Branches and members have over many years worked closely with traditional owners and Indigenous Australian organisations dedicated to caring for country. These groups have strived with us to preserve natural areas and to ensure that they are managed in the best way possible’, said Dr Grahame Douglas, NPA president

‘Support for the referendum question is important because it recognises and respects the continuing culture of Indigenous Australians. It also provides a way for the knowledge gained over tens of thousands of years to be shared and integrated with western knowledge and scientific inquiry.’

‘The knowledge of Indigenous Australians about the ecology of Australia and the care and management of Country is central to preserving our much-loved landscapes. The Voice provides a way of ensuring that the people who hold that knowledge can prosper and contribute beyond what they have already generously given to solving the critical environmental problems that Australia faces’, concluded Dr Douglas.

ENDS

Media Contact: NPA CEO, Gary Dunnett. NPA President, Dr Grahame Douglas 02 9299 0000 