by artusan » Mon 16 Aug, 2021 5:50 pm
First posting. I hope this reaches the right people. As everyone is aware, NSW Government is proposing changes to KNP Plan of Management that will enable huge development in the park - and outside, but nearby. The areas affected are the Snow fields and Yarrrangobilly and Currango. Transfer of planning decisions from NPWS to Regional Planning (a dept controlled by Minister Barilaro) will mean every national park in NSW is at risk of resort style development with little chance of objection.
I am a member of National Parks Association. My submission is in the main enclosed here and anyone wishing to use it as a guide to issues is welcome to do so. I encourage everyone to write a submission (links to documents are in other posts).
YOU HAVE ONLY UNTIL 23 AUGUST 2021 TO SUBMIT. PLEASE DO!
Here goes:
SUMMARY:
1. I OBJECT TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO KNP POM RESULTING IN INCREASED ACCOMODATION, FACILITIES, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS INSIDE KNP.
2. THE TRANSFER OF DECISION MAKING FROM NPWS TO DEPT. OF PLANNING (OR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT) INSIDE “DISTURBED AREAS” OF THE PARK IS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR KNP AND ALL OTHER NATIONAL PARKS IN NSW WHICH WILL COME UNDER COMMERIAL DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES IRRESPECTIVE OF POM OBLIGATIONS (ENVIROMENTAL, HISTORICAL, CULTURAL). THIS IS THE LEGISLATED WEDGE TO STOP NPWS FROM DETERMINING RESORT DEVELOPMENT AT ANY NATIONAL PARK.
3. THIS WILL INCREASE ENVIROMENTAL STRESS ON THE ALPINE REGIONS IN KNP, A UNIQUE AREA OF THIS FLAT CONTINENT, THE DRIEST CONTINENT AND THE MOST ENVIROMENTALLY DAMAGED LAND BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE – STATED AS ONE REASON FOR CHANGES TO POM OF KNP – IS TO REDUCE STRESSES ON KNP - NOT THE REVERSE.
1. NO INCREASE IN ACCOMMODATION INSIDE THE PARK.
2. PARKING AREAS SHOULD NOT BE INCREASED.
3. NO HELICOPTER TRANSPORT AND OVERFLIGHT ALLOWED IN THE PARK.
4. YARRANGOBILY ISSUES ARE DEALT SEPARATELY.
5. PRIVATE BUSINESS EXPANSION SHOULD BE MINIMIZED IN THE PARK – OUTSIDE CURRENT PERMITS.
6. LEGISLATION PROTECTING WILD HORSES IN KNP SHOULD BE REVOKED AND ALL HORSES REMOVED. (THIS ISSUE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO MANAGING KNP).
7. MAJOR EFFORTS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN TO REMOVE OTHER FERAL ANIMALS FROM THE KNP.
8. THERE IS A WORLD-WIDE TREND TO LIMIT VISITATION IN NATIONAL PARKS BY A SYSTEM OF BOOKINGS, ETC. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THAT OPTION, NOT ALLOW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. (TASMANIA IS ALREADY LIMITING VISITORS TO SOME AREAS, E.G. THREE CAPES AND OVERLAND TRACKS, AND CLOSING OTHERS).
It cannot be ignored that this plan is promoted by Deputy Premier, Mr Barilaro. The Minister is known for:
1. Promoting the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018 to keeps feral horses (now in excess of 14,000) in KNP to do as much damage as they want. (Picture below).
2. Advocating for logging to resume in National Parks (especially after the recent fires 2019-20).
3. The Minister described Koalas as “tree rats” and advocates for removal of all restrictions on native vegetation removal (especially the Mid North Coast for property development).
4. Minister Barilaro represents the Monaro region and has a conflict of interest in using his position as minister to affect state wide issues.
ALPINE AREAS:
1. The declaration of KNP in 1967 accepted the existence of snow activities in the park and allowed this kind of development. As a winter sport it affects only a small part of the park around resorts and most is pristine – i.e. ski and back to resort at night. However, the proposed changes will introduce human activity year round to large areas of the park (the track to Mt. Kosciuszko in November 2019 was choked with people, there were hundreds of walkers. NPWS will have exact figures. (I walked from Charlottes Pass and even that was busy). The difference in people’s traffic over the last 30 or so years is staggering, too many.
2. The threats to the KNP currently are:
a. It is impossible to read KNP POM without being aware of park wide issues:
b. Snowy Hydro 2.0 which will cause significant damage to some 10 sq. km. plus the high tension lines cutting a path through the mountains (same as Long Plain to Brindabella. all vegetation removed below).
c. Feral horses protected by an Act of Parliament who cause untold damage to the Alpine ecology. The picture below is on Long Plain Road.
d. Increased visitation year round by a huge increase in accommodation inside the park (suggested 40% increase from 10,000 to 14,000 beds inside the Alpine Zone and many more at Jindabyne).
e. Allowing of private operators to run vehicle tours as proposed on currently locked, service roads.
f. Climate change reducing precipitation and consequently snow cover and flows in the Murrumbidgee, Bimberi and other rivers there. The Alpine area is critical to the economy and climate of Eastern Australia – it is not only a tourist destination.
g. Fire hazard as per fires in 2009 and 2019 changing the ecology of the high county.
h. It is obvious that only advice that corresponds with Government wishes is included in the proposal. Environmental considerations and objections are regarded as nuisances in a usually fait-accompli plan – by definition. A history of ignoring objections, with disastrous consequences are everywhere to see. NPWS is now focused on “customer experience” and “revenue streams” to be self-sufficient.
Wild horses at Long Plain Road. There were hundreds of them.
YARRANGOBILLY:
The swimming pool at Yarrangobily is a pleasure and a place of beauty and wonder. I visited it many times – swimming and walking the River Walk, visiting the caves, etc.
Any changes proposed should protect the natural beauty of the site and its unique geology. The site needs upgrading to facilities, but minimal commercialization.
NPWS brief to maximize revenue is fundamentally wrong. The organization is there to protect and guide not to make money. The constant erosion of funds for NPWS should be reversed.
NPWS site office needs upgrading, it is small, dated and waiting times are long due to queuing. Turning it into a coffee shop is questionable commercially. Staff needs proper on site accommodation (One told me they drive over 50km home, each way).
I commend page 16 of report regarding Natural, Cultural and Heritage Values. They should be enhanced.
The question is: Who is going to run the site? A private company for profit? profit sharing with NPWS? What are going to be entry fees to visit the caves or use the thermal pool, privatization of this facility will drive out budget travelers (the documents mention Glamping and High Value tourism far too much- no need for a translation). Fees currently (end 2019) are reasonable. The development of some 15 houses and staff accommodation is a huge budget in an area that burnt just two years ago and is extremely fire prone and effectively closed nearly six months a year.
The proposed Visitors Centre (page 27) pictures are from places with ample space (Warrumbungle and Echo Point), Yarrangobilly should retain its Caves House style and compact location. The rest of the proposal with “cute” terms such as “eco pods”, etc. with pictures of awful structures borrowed from tourist brochures should be rejected. The entirety of the consultant’s report shows poor understanding and appreciation of what people enjoy in nature. There is little discussion of the caves experience – it is all about making money from wealthy middle class, cashed up tourists.
The problem with all these plans is they turn everything into theme parks. Nature takes second place to “Customer Experience” and “Entertainment value”.
THERMAL POOL AT YARRANGOBILLY:
1. The proposal for Yarrangobilly Thermal Pool is to bring bulldozers down the road and destroy the most beautiful valley and natural pool in NSW and then to create a theme park of gas heated cubicles and “recreate” the natural state of the river with artificial logs. THEY MUST BE KIDDING.
2. The problem with consultants is they try to justify their fees by coming up with theme parks. This is a prime example.
3. THE IDEA OF “ONSEN” HEATED WATER STRUCTURES IS SO CRAZY IT IS DESPICABLE!!!! BELOW IS A PICTURE OF THE RIVER FROM THE EDGE OF THE POOL AREA, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO PUT DISGUSTING STRUCTURES THERE???? SO THE PRIVATE OPERATOR WILL RENT THEM BY THE HOUR. WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA???!!! WHY NOT INSTALL PLAYGROUND TOYS WITH COIN TIMERS. I HOPE THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN NPWS WITH RESPECT FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE AREA WHO WILL LAUGH THIS OFF. THAT CONSULTANCY SHOULD BE BARRED FROM FURTHER WORK WITH NPWS.
The picture below is taken from under the Children’s Pool, it is the Yarrangobilly River. The River Walk starts at right. What a magnificent place!!!
4. I AM OPPOSED TO THE ROAD UPGRADED FOR BUSES, IT IS A SLOG DOWN AND UP THE HILL, BUT THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE – ITS INCREDIBLE NATURAL SETTING AS YOU DESCEND TO THE THERMAL POOL – A MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. A BUS WILL CREATE NOISE, POLLUTION, THE TURNING CIRCLE DESTROYING THE CONNECTION FROM POOL TO RIVER. I APPRECIATE THAT IT WILL DENY DISABLED PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO VISIT (as is the current situation, also in the caves). AND OF COURSE THE FEES WILL BE OUT OF REACH FOR MANY. The whole project smells of money making opportunities for a commercial operator to take over the pool.
5. The pool should be left as is. Not lowered spa style. Here is a picture of the pool’s water: It needs some updating – that is all. It also does not need any fencing, children there are supervised at all time – or should be.
Here are two pictures of the pool at end of 2019: Perfectly good, why would you bulldoze this?
And here NPWS own promotional picture promoting the pool, why would you destroy this?
6. There are reasonable facilities such as change rooms and seats. They can be updated. There is plenty of shade and space. I cannot remember more than 20 or so people there.
7. The service road is currently suitable for NPWS 4 wheel drive vehicles. To make the road suitable for passenger vehicle will mean extensive earthworks that will destroy the hillside. The 180 degrees turn half way the hill is unsuitable for large vehicles, any works will damage the hill side and will involve removal of multiple trees. And then the turning circle at the bottom will deface the entire connection of the pool to the river.
YARRANGOBILY THERMAL POOL SHOULD BE CLEANED UP AND UPDATED, BUT OTHERWISE LEFT ALONE. THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE REJECTED OUTRIGHT BY NPWS AS CRASS COMMERCIALISATION – NOT IMPROVED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
CURRANGO:
I have been to Currango once. It is remote, accessible only in summer (Long Plain Road is closed in June to October and so is Currango). It is rich in history and is a heritage site. Just leave it alone. Don’t develop. No more modern buildings. Just maintain and protect what is there – that is NPWS job, it is a legislated requirement for NPWS to protect historical sites.
The proposal examines lease of property to private enterprise. I hope NPWS have enough experience not to do that.
The proposal finds it amazing that people like the basic conditions. Yes, they do. Many people do. We don’t all spend our days in coffee shops.
Note: I did not include images here of wild horses, Yarrangobilly pool and river. Those are mine, there are many other.