| New Southern National Parks a Reality | |
The National Parks Association of NSW welcomes legislation passed through NSW Parliament today creating 70 new national parks and nature reserves and other additions totalling 282,000 ha in southern NSW.
Mr Andrew Cox, NPA Executive Officer said, "This delivers the NSW Government’s April decision and concludes the Southern Region comprehensive regional assessments of its forest areas."
"This is the most significant improvement to the protection of the region’s biodiversity since the establishment of Kosciuszko National Park in 1967."
"From 1 January 2001, when the new parks and reserves come into existence, there will be a continuous system of national parks from the Victorian border to the Southern Highlands."
"This will be a massive boost to the growing tourism industry reliant on the beauty and protection of the south coast forest areas and clean rivers, lakes, oceans and beaches," said Mr Cox.
"It will also safeguard large proportions of the region’s biodiversity through a protected area system. Noteworthy is increased protection of the upper Shoalhaven catchment and the south-west slopes."
"The NPA was disappointed that the size of the new reserves has been whittled away by about 3,500 ha since the Government’s decision in April. This is primarily the result of pressure from the timber industry to provide more areas for logging. The timber industry is also seeking a fund to buy private land for logging, allowing them to increase logging levels."
Mr Cox said, "We asked the Government to create all the areas originally approved by Cabinet in April, to protect coastal Crown lands left out of the parks and to improve administrative aspects of the legislation that created the new parks. Government refused to tangibly address any of our concerns."
"Omitted from the new parks are Swan, Meroo and Durras lakes, Wairo Beach near Lake Tabourie, Cadmirrah high dunes and Crown land behind Bendalong."
"We are still hopeful that these areas can be reserved as national park, and call on the Government to expedite this."
"We also await the completion of wilderness assessments and declarations, begun for some areas in 1991 and still being finalised," concluded Mr Cox.
Contact: Andrew Cox 9299 0000 or 0438 588 040