Volume 36 number 2 June 1999 NATIONAL PARKS A Conservation and the ACT Budget Annual General Meeting Another walk in the wilderness NPA BULLETIN Volume 36 number 2 June 1999 CONTENTS From the President 3 Another walk in the wilderness 12 Syd Comfort Clive Hurlstone Annual General Meeting 3 Parkwatch 14 The Environment Advisory Committee 4 Len Haskew Eleanor Stodart Activities of the Environment Sub-committee 15 Campgrounds in Namadgi National Park 5 Timothy Walsh Timothy Walsh Joe Turner 1901-1999 5 Reg Alder Book reviews 16 Progress at Gudgenby 6 Photos and text by Eleanor Stodart South West Wilderness 18 En guard on Sentry Box Hill 8 Judith Webster Martin Chalk Calendar 19 Work parties for Tennent Homestead 9 A crowded Cascade hut 10 General meetings 19 Graham Scully The Field Naturalists Association of Canberra 19 Light will make the green go 11 Anniversary edition of the NPA Bulletin 19 Graeme Wicks National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated The NPA (ACT) office is located in Maclaurin Cres, Chifley, Inaugurated 1960 next to the preschool and is staffed by Dianne Hastie. Office hours are: 9am to 1pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays Aims and objectives of the Association • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the Telephone/Fax: (02) 6282 5813 protection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and Email: [email protected] cultural heritage in the Australian Capital Territory and Address: PO Box 1940, Woden ACT 2606 elsewhere, and the reservation of specific areas. Membership • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation New members are welcome and should enquire through the areas. NPA office. • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) field outings, meetings or any other means. Household members $30 Single members $25 • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar Corporate members $20 Bulletin only $20 interests and objectives. Concession $15 • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the For new subscriptions joining between: planning of landuse to achieve conservation. 1 January and 31 March - half specified rate 1 April and 30 June - annual subscription Office-bearers, committee and convenors NPA Bulletin President Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592Qi); Contributions of articles, line drawings and photographs 040 788 3422(w) mcluding colour prints are welcome and should be lodged with Immediate the office or Syd Comfort (02) 6286 2578. Past President Eleanor Stodart 6281 5004Oi) Deadline for September issue: 1 August 1999. Secretary Max Lawrence 6288 137000 Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Treasurer Mike Smith 6286 2984Gi) association opinion or objectives. This bulletin was produced by the NPA Bulletin Working Group Committee members with assistance from Green Words & Images. Funds provided Yvonne Bartos 6231 56990i) by the ACT Government under the ACT Environment Grants Len Haskew 6281 4268Qi); fax 6281 4257Qi) Program assisted in the production of this issue. David Pfanner 6247 7572Qi) Printed by Copy-Qik Printers, Canberra, ACT on Timothy Walsh 6285 11120i) recycled paper. ISSN 0727-8837 Convenors Cover: Max Lawrence's Sunday group on the Pilot. "Another walk Environment Sub-committee Neville Esau 6286 4176(h) in the Wilderness" on page 12 tells the story. L to R, Front: Wayne Outings Sub-committee Max Lawrence 6288 1370G0 Veide, Max Lawrence, Brian Slee; Back: Mike and Annette Smith, Helen Bulletin Working Group Syd Comfort 6286 2578(h) Stevens, Peter Tedder. Photo Max Lawrence From the President Conservation and the $200 000 for Tidbinbilla wildlife could be a focus for development has ACT Budget enclosures, $125 000 for improved not been publicly canvassed. The access to nature reserves, $100 000 homestead's location close to the What better way to spend a wet for Boboyan landscape restoration Gudgenby River presents significant Saturday afternoon than reading (our special project) and $225 000 problems for the disposal of sewage the ACT Budget Papers, fortified, of for Gudgenby visitor facilities. The and "grey" water. The NPA has course, by plenty of tea and cake! Environment Grants Program will taken up with Environment ACT the The papers are very interesting with distribute around $420 000 and issue of a lack of consultation on this much information on conservation Heritage Grants $230 000. development and our concerns with and environmental activities. In A new source of revenue for the specific aspects of the proposal. Budget Paper No.3 there are 18 ACT Government is a water pages on the environment and the abstraction charge of 10c per No Ruff without Puff activities of Environment ACT. Of kilolitre (around $30 per household) The objectives of the National Parks the 58 topics appearing, 40 of them which will raise $1.7m in 1999-2000 Association are set out on the are of interest to the NPA. Here are and $6.7m in subsequent years. some gleanings. contents page of this Bulletin. To The proposal to spend $225 000 on fulfil these objectives it is necessary The Commonwealth Grants overnight visitor facilities based in for members to participate in the Commission determined that, in and around Gudgenby Homestead is activities of the association such as 1997-98, the ACT Government an interesting one. The upgrade of the Management Committee, the spent $3.2 million above the the access road will cost $35 000 and Environment and Outings Sub­ national average on national parks $190 000 will be spent on committees, the Bulletin,Working and wildlife. For the year 1999- infrastructure improvements in and Groups and other groups. 2000, a total of $22 million is around the homestead. At the budgeted for expenditure on budget briefing which I attended, it Making the association's voice 1 environment and heritage, made up was stated that the Gudgenby heard (Ruff .), putting forward our of $5.2m on environmental development is part of the ACT views and research to the ACT management and regulation, $15m Campground Strategy. The 1997 Government and its agencies, on nature conservation and land Campground Strategy Discussion producing the Bulletin, leading management and $1.8m on Paper (to which the NPA responded walks and running the association heritage.Included in this is an positively) makes no mention of require some effort by members additional $100 000 for the year Gudgenby Homestead, only of a (Puff!). For the future of the 2000 State of the Environment future possible low impact campsite association, please give Report. at a place to be identified within the consideration to becoming involved former Boboyan Pine Plantation. at the working end of the NPA. New capital works of $1.5m The idea that Gudgenby Homestead include $300 000 for weed control, Clive Hurlstone Annual General Meeting 8.00pm Past President (ex-officio), and up to Come along, have your say, get Thursday 19 August 1999 eight other members. involved, and help us make a real Forestry House, Yarralumla Whilst a number of the existing difference in advancing the things office bearers and committee that really matter to us. Business at the AGM includes the members have indicated they will be We would be pleased to discuss President's report on progress available for re-election if required, this with you, and to arrange a during the financial year just there is an urgent need for new people nomination if you are a volunteer. concluding, and election of a new to become involved, not only in the Please phone Clive (6288 7592), committee to steer us through the elected committee, but also in the sub­ Max (6288 1370), or Dianne at the coming financial year. In addition, committees which directly address NPA office (6282 5813) for more there will be the usual monthly the real issues of concern to NPA information. business, including a presentation Membership of committees is both Our guest speakers at the AGM by invited quest speakers. stimulating and rewarding, and will be John Harris, Reg Alder and All office bearer and committee offers you the opportunity to make Fiona MacDonald Brand, who will positions are up for filling at the a significant and personal entertain us with their recent AGM: President, Vice President, contribution to conservation and the experiences on Lord Howe Island. Treasurer, Secretary, Immediate national parks movement. The Environment Advisory Committee For some years in the ACT, the The committee has 11 members as property management Minister responsible for the appointed by the Minister on the agreements for rural leases, the environment has had the advice of a basis of their expertise, and is location of the Very Fast Train and committee of experts from outside supported by five sub-committees its possible effect on grasslands, and the relevant government which report through their chairs. the Aboriginal claim on Namadgi department. At the time of the These sub-committees are: and other parts of the ACT. previous Labor Government, this Other committees advising the • Environment Regulation and took the form of the Environment Minister on particular nature and Review Sub-committee, chaired and Conservation Consultative conservation issues are: the Flora by Mr Alan Bradbury Committee, or E triple C, chaired by and Fauna Committee (reported on Professor Peter Cullen. NPA was • Sustainable Energy and by Debbie Worner and Bill Logan at represented by Anne Taylor. Fiona Environment Protection Sub­ our general meeting of 21 March MacDonald Brand was also a committee, chaired by Professor 1996, see Bulletin, June 1996) and committee member. Ben Selinger (recently formed) the Kangaroo Advisory Committee. During the first term of Kate • Landcare Sub-committee, chaired Both report directly to the Minister. Carnell's Liberal Government the by Ms Val Wiseman The Fauna and Flora Committee committee's term of appointment • Nature Conservation and evaluates whether species, expired.