Snowy 2.0 cutting corners, failing to comply with environmental approval conditions

The National Parks Association today released a report exposing Snowy Hydro’s lack of compliance with the environmental Conditions of Approval for the Snowy 2.0 project, located within Kosciuszko National Park.

‘Our investigations show that Snowy Hydro and its contractors are not complying with the ‘strict’ environmental Conditions of Approval imposed by the Federal and NSW Governments’ stated Gary Dunnett, CEO of NPA.

Call for audit of environmental impacts of Snowy 2.0 on Kosciuszko National Park 

In response to revelations about the environmental damage inflicted by Snowy Hydro’s bogged tunnel boring machine (see https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-13/snowy-2.0-tunnel-boring-machine-grinds-to-halt-and/101968974 ), the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) is calling on the NSW Government to launch an urgent review of the potential breaches of the Snowy 2.0 project’s Conditions of Environmental Approval.  

Film Review: Where the Water Starts

Luisa Bertoggi and Helen Wilson, Illawarra Branch

Illawarra Branch hosted the premiere theatrical screening of this important documentary about Australia’s high country. It gives a First Nations perspective on the Alps as ‘where the water starts’ and features Richard Swain, Indigenous ambassador for the Invasive Species Council. The enthusiastic audience asked Richard, Alison and the filmmakers a lot of questions and agreed the film needs to be seen by all Australians. Caring for the high country is crucial for addressing climate change and for managing our river systems. It’s no place for feral horses.

Geoff Hope Memorial Walk to Dunns’ Flat

Sam Garrett-Jones, Convenor, NPA Field Activities Committee

At the end of April NPA NSW members joined a memorial walk for the late Emeritus Professor Geoff Hope (Australian National University) to Dunn’s Flat, Kosciuszko NP. The walk organisers were Di Thompson and Linda Groom of NPA ACT and Reclaim Kosci.

Conservation update 

Gary Dunnett, Chief Executive Officer

The final months 2021 were anything but easy for parks and nature in NSW.  Far from a graceful glide into Christmas, NPA spent the summer busily contesting misplaced proposals to ‘develop’ parks and ill-considered changes to national park laws and policies. 

My introduction describes our spirited response to the National Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill (2021), introduced into the NSW Parliament by a departing Environment Minister.  Other highlights of NPA’s conservation activities over this period include: