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.   

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 The previous government’s decision to push forward with outdated, damaging overhead transmission through the national park was yet another assault on the irreplaceable alpine environment.’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

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.