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The Future of the Kosciusko Summit Area: A Report on a Proposed Primitive Area in the Kosciusko State Park Reprinted from The Australian Journal of Science, Vol. 23, No. 12, June, 1961, p. 391.

The Future of the Kosciusko Summit Area: A Report on a Proposed Primitive Area in the Kosciusko State Park

THE .AUSTRALIAN .AOADE:MY OF SOIENOE

I. INTRODUCTION 11. THE PRIMITIVE .AREA- GENERAL In 1958 a large group of scientists and CONSIDERATIONS naturalists in Canberra and Sydney prepared The Kosciusko State Park .Act of 1944, a submission to the Kosciusko State Park Section 5 (iii), states: Trust and to the Federal Government, The Trust may retain as a primitive _area favouring the establishment of a 'primitive such part of the Kosciusko State Park. (not exceeding one-tenth of th_e area of area' or natural reserve in the Kosciusko that Park) as it may think fit. State Park of . The State .A primitive area has been defined as an Park .Act of 1944-52 provides for the retention outstanding tract of land in a national park of such a 'primitive area' but to date no in which preservation of natural conditions action along these lines has been taken. The is the primary aim of management. submission was sent to the Prime Minister and to the Minister for National Develop­ The Kosciusko State Park is an enormous ment. It was, in some respects, critical of area of wild mountain country, mainly the Hydro-electric forested. .A century of grazing, recurrent .Authority, and the Minister for National fire, and essential engineering works have Development, in replying to the signatories, considerably changed its character, and _it virtually rejected the submission. would now be impossible to find an.r large tract in the Park which is in the virgin Subsequently, the Council of the .Australian state. Nevertheless, we very strongly support .Academy of Science, feeling that there was the view that there should be a 'primitiv.~ some misunderstanding between the Snowy area' set aside in the State Park, in whirih Mountains .Authority and the scientific group all further development should be at a mini­ interested in the primitive area, appointed a mum. We also recommend that this should Committee to examine the whole position. include the Kosciusko Summit .Area, in vieW The Committee visited the area and discussed of its unique scientific value. .A serious diffi­ the hydro-electric problems with senior culty arises, however, in that the Snowy officers of the .Authority and with many others Mountains Hydro•Electric .Authority has concerned. .A draft report was submitted to planned for engineering works in the Summit the .Authority and modified in the light of its .Area. 'rhere is a conflict of interests which suggestions. , The report has- been critically must be resolved. examined by appropriate Fellows of the The .Authority has stated: .Academy, · including two engineers. The Council of the .Academ'y _has approved the Where the interest ·is from the viewpoint of scenery, it cannot be agreed th,qt pro­ publication of this final report. posed works should be abandoned or· an'1J 392 THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE JUNE

loca.tion other than the most economical Ill. T'HE SUMMIT PRIMITIVE AREA OR ALPINE one adopted. Scenia value is largely a RESERVE matter of personal opinion, ana in a number oj countries hydro-electric works There are four regions within the Kosciusko of the type associated with the Snowy National Park which could be set aside as Mountains scheme are considered to add primitive areas. These are (1) The Pilot to the natural attractions. region, (2) Mt. Jagungal and its environs, We agree with these vi-ews as far as the (3) a northerly region around Cooleman Kosciusko Park as a whole is concerned. Plain and ( 4) the Summit area of Kosciusko. The Snowy Mountains Authority has provided All these areas have many valuable features fine access roads, and has made it possible and properly form part of a national park. for thousands of tourists to visit the area. The first three lack the magnificent scenery Probably the majority of these peopl·e would of the Summit area and, what is much more agrel'l that wei'l;desi'gned 'power stations, , important, they do not carry truly alpine even pylops, add to the interest of heavily . vegetation. They are also devoid of the forested mountain scenes. Certainly thou­ glacial character of the Summit; they are sands of people have visited and will continue much less valuable to the scientist. On other to visit the area in order to inspect and to grounds- thos•e of isolation and distance take a pride in the engineering achiev•ements from engineering operations-it would be of the Snowy .Mountains Authority. It is tempting and easy to ·select one of them as also obvious that •skiing.· is an increasingly the major . primitive reserve. But· we are popular sport in , and .that there unanimous in considering any one of them are legitimate demands for further develop­ as greatly inferior . to the area described ment of skiing activities in the Park. below and in the Appendix. As this area is But any national park, in addition to less than on•e half of . the specified one tenth catering for the tourist and certain types of of the Kosciusko Park which could, by recreational sport, must also comprise areas Act, be reserved as a primitive area, it would in which conservation is the prime object. be proper to consider either the Mt. Jagungal This is piuticularly important in Australia, .region or the Cooleman Plain as a second a continent whose endemic flora and fauna primitive area, supplementing but not attract world-wide attention. All local and replacing .the Summit area. wisiting biologists ar·e impressed by the fact There is then ilo difficulty whatever in 'that, after only a short period of settlement, selecting the most important area within the very few virgin areas of native vegetation Park for reservation as a primitive or wilder­ survive in Australia. Native plants, birds ness ar•ea. This must include the Summit and animals are rapidly disappearing from area of Kosciusko, · aptly described by the the scene, even in districts in which there is Park Superintendent as 'the heart of the no settlement as yet. A number of primitive Park'. The minimum area which, in our areas will be essential if we wish to preserve opinion, should be reserved is that outlined for posterity charact-eristic examples of the in Figure 1. Australian biota still existing in their natural The following ar•e the major reasons for environment, so that they can be studied by selecting it: the scientist and, at the same time, provide a. It is the only extensive alpine area a living museum for the naturalist and lay­ in the whole mainland continent of :man. Such primitive areas must be large Australia, and no area in the whole •enough to ensure that hydrological features, continent more truly· merits reserva­ tion. soil, and local climate are undisturbed by b. It includes, within a few miles of man's activities; large enough also to ensure traverse,· the highest inomi.tains in the that the ecological balance of the plant and continent, ·with • ail unmatched' altitu­ dinal sequence from 1,500 to 7,300 feet. animal communities is maintained.. It follows. that grazing, forestry, roadmaking and all c..Within it are well-defined moraines, engineering activities are out of place in a cirques, polished . pavements, glacial varves, and a sedes . of glacial lakes, JJrimitive area. unique i!i' the Australian maini'artd. 1961 ____T.:....:H.:..::E'-'_'-'-AU=-:S::.:.T_:_:_RA:.::L::.:.I:.::ANc:....::J=.O=-:UR_:_:_N.::.:A:_::Lc__cD::.:.F----"-'SC:_:_IE=-=N~C:_::E______393

MAP MAP OF "KOSCIUSKO SUMMIT REGION SHOWING PROPOSED PRIMITIVE AREA

Scale of Miles

I

Main ROads Access Roads Access Tracks Boundary of Proposed Pnm1tive Area

NMP/61/204 Drawn by O•v•s•on ol National MiiDPinS, Department ol NatiOnal Development, Canberra, A,C,T. 1961

Figure 1 3_9_4______T'-'-H'--E-'Ac:cU=-cS_c_TR=A.c.-:.LIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE JUNE

d. It contains the best d•evelopment of b. That every possible effort should be alpine flora of the mainland, including made to prevent further disturbance in two plant communities (fjaeldmark) this area, and that in particular not represented elsewhere, and several (i) grazing should be completely and species not found elsewhere in the permanently >excluded from it; Continent. (See Appendix.) (ii) no further tourist roads should e. It is watered by permanent alpine be constructed in this small area; streams, some containing the original (iii) no permanent ski lodges or ski fauna and flora as yet unaltered by lifts should be allowed within its the introduction of trout or by stream boundaries; diversion. (There are excellent plans for Apart from these features of scientific the further development of ski centres and ski lifts in a large interest, the scenery in the area is area east of this reserve, e.g., at unequalled. At present the only engine>et·ing Thredbo, The Perisher, Smiggins' work within the area is the old access road Hole and at Guthega.) to the summit of Kosciusko, and its asso­ (iv) an extension of hydro-electric works into this area would ciated gravel pits. seriously threaten its integrity. The area is not in a primitive state, and It will be shown that the planned engi­ part of it has been seriously damaged by fire neering developments near the Summit would and erosion connected with early sheep cost between £12 and £15 million; that they grazing. However, it is for the most part would add only about 5 per oont. to the showing recovery since the exclusion of total energy production of the Snowy Moun­ grazing animals. It is not practicable to' tains Scheme and would contribute very little recommend that the whol>e area should revert to irrigation. to a completely primitive state. The road We believe that in view of erosion hazards to the Summit and the walking track would and of the requirements of the National always be retained. Park, any constructional work at elevations The importance of this Summit area as exceeding 6,000 feet could be justified only if a catchment is shown by the fact that some it could be proved to lead to a significant and half of it was taken out of grazing 15 economic increase in the irrigation potential 'I y·ears ago. Its reservation as a primitive of the Snowy Mountains Catchment. area would minimize erosion in the most IV. THE THREAT TO THE PROPOSED ALPINE vulnerable area of the whole Park. RESERVE In comparison with many alpine reserves In selecting the alpine res•erve we have been this one is very small. It comprises only fully aware that the Snowy Mountains some 70 square miles and is dangerously Authority has long established plans to small as a primitiv>e area. The Snowy Moun­ extend into this area, and that it is unique tains Authority informs us that the main both scientifically and hydrologically. The ' I I I Snowy-Murray scheme requires the construc­ Authority has offered serious and sustained tion of the Geehi close to the junction objections to the suggestions that no further of the and Windy Creek. hydrological developments should take place Developments here must seriously affect areas above 6,000 feet. The remainder of this which could quite properly have been included report puts the case for and against such in an alpine reserve, but we have regretfully development in an area of outstanding scien· felt it impossible to support contentions that tific importance. these engineering operations should be aban­ doned in favour of the preservation of a 1. The Kosciusko Project (Table I) larger primitive atea. The Snowy Mountains Authority plans to construct, in about ten years' time, a high We conclude, therefore: level , with an earth dam, at a. That the area outlined in Fig. 1 is I Spencer's Creek. A small power station I' the minimum which can be considered as a worthwhile alpine reserve or primitive would be built below the dam. Forty-five per area, within the Kosciusko State Park. . cent. of the water of the reservoir would be

I J., 1961 THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SGIENGE 395 diverted to it by a short tunnel from the succeed without construction of the Coota­ upper reaches of the . Another patamba aqueduct'. It has also been stated 25 per cent. could be obtained by further that the elimination of this aqueduct and its diversion of water from several of the associated tunnel to the Snowy River 'would streams within the Alpine Reserve - streams have a most adverse effect on the over-all which at present flow into the . economy of the Kosciusko project'. Present plans show that a covered aqu-educt In 1955 the Authority's official descriptive would be required, picking up the water of booklet stated 'Because of the very great the Cootapatamba Creek to the west of Mt. power potential of water at this altitude Kosciusko and discharging this into a tunnel (Kosciusko Reservoir), many miles of race­ through the mountain to the Snowy River lines can be justified economically, to collect itself. mountain streams from the surrounding areas The Authority has stated that the plans and lead them into the reservoir'. However, for the reservoir could not be proceeded with in the 'Notes on the Authority's views on unless the Snowy River diversion tunnel the primitive area Submission' (1958) it was were built, but that 'investigations would stated 'Earlier proposals for_ an extensive have to be much further advanced before it series of aqueducts . . . are not likely to could be stated whether the project could be implemented'. These aqueducts (additional to those named in Table I) are not marked TABLE I. on the recent maps provided by the Authority, A Summary of Some Aspects of the Projects Affecting the Proposed Primitive Area but we are informed that no finality has been reached regarding any portion of the (c) Kosciusko Project Geehi Kosciusko Project and a more definite state­ Project. ment than that quoted above from the (a) Authority's notes cannot be made. There still Kosciusko (b) Reservoir Coota- Lady remains the possibility that, for instance, the Project and all patamba N orthcote's and associated Creek Canyon water draining from the glacial Club Lake Location works Aqueduct Aqueduct including (b), and Tunnel to Geehi would be tapped. Power Station to Snowy Reservoir and Snowy River The Authority's reasons in support of this River Tunnel project are as follows: to Reservoir (i) Snow-melt water from th-ese high Date of con­ 197o­ 1970­ -1963-67 altitudes is capable of providing a struction considerable quantity of electrical L.T.A. yield, - 40 78 power (Table I) as the water could cusecs. pass through all power stations I associated with the Snowy-Murray Average annual 160 X 10' kWh I 110 X 10' 125 X 106 energy prodn. kWh kWh Diversion. Est. capital cost £10-£12,000,0001 £2,110,000 £2,550,000 (ii) The water would be fully regulated and 'in this way additional water Capitalised value - £7,390,000 £8,340,000 will be provided for irrigation'. Percentage total 3% 2% 2% (iii) The Guthega project, already con­ capitalised value of SMA structed, relies on the ultimate scheme and of construction of Kosciusko Reservoir total annual to make firm its existing capacity energy pro­ duction and to enable another power unit I to be added -provision for this unit has already been made in the Notes. size of the tunnel and power station (1) The Cootapatamba Aqueduct would provide some 25% of building. the water available for the Kosciusko power station ; the Snowy River diversion would provide a further 45% _of this water. (!l) The Ko.~ciusko Reservoir and Power (2) The Lady Northcote's Canyon Aqueduct would provide some 6% of the water passing through the two major power Station stations, Murray 1 and Murray 2; these together provide about one-third of the capacity of the SMA Scheme. These works ar:e outside the proposed (3) The figures under (a) are only approximate, as no decisions primitive area, but lie astride the main access have yet been reached as to the type of dam, capacity of power station, etc. road to that area, i.e., the main road to the (4) This table has been prepared from information supplied by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority. Summit. The aspect in this region is not 396 THE AUSTRALIAN JO.URNAL OF SCIENCE JUNE particularly scenic, and the natural vegeta­ roads, turning · points, .camp sites, etc., could tion has been seriously damaged by fire and be adequately treated to prevent further interfered with by skiing developments. A erosion, still less to retain the natural fea' reservoir here could actually add to th•e scenic tures. Erosion caused at this height by value as does the Rocky Valley Reservoir in grazing is extremely serious on the nearby Victoria. However, this Reservoir would Carruthers Peak and it has gone so far that partly submerge the David Moraine and the economic reclamation seems to be out of the Trapyard Creek varves. Furthermore, if an question. All reclamation work would cer­ earth dam is to be constructed. and soil tainly. require the use of plants not native found from neighbouring borrow pits in the to the area. Other disadvantages associated valley, then any actual scenic attractions with this aqueduct are that it requires the provided by the reservoir itself could be, to construction of a tunnel from its northern a l.arge extent, nullified by the scars caused end through the mountains to the Snowy River, by borrow pits. The experience of the supplementing the tunnel from the Snowy Authority at the Eucumbene borrow pits at a River to the Kosciusko Reservoir. Each much lower altitude, coupled with our know­ tunnel would have a diversion dam or weir ledge of the climate and vegetation near and probably a . perma,nent access road. Con­ Charlotte's Pass, suggest that the rehabilita­ struction of these .tunnels and the spoil heaps tion of the extensive damaged areas around derived from them must inevitably mar the the new dam would be extremely slow and app•earance of the highest part of the difficult, and very much more •expensive than National Park and still further reduce: the at (elevation 4,000 feet) primitive area. Finally, the Snowy River where, in 1955-59, some £75,000 was spent on itself would be diverted, and a considerable the early stages of the reclamation of. borrow length of the river bed would be largely pits. Foundation conditions at the site make d•eprived of water. a concrete dam impracticable. The Authority We should regard the construction of this hopes to locate borrow areas for an earth aqueduct and its associated tunnels as dam within the site but we have no assur­ seriously affecting the integrity of the primi­ ance that this will be possible. tive reserve, and we repeat what was said in While, therefore, there is no stron·g objec­ the Academy's report on grazing, page 29: tion to the Kosciusko reservoir and power We recommend, in the interests of erosion station in themselves, we consider that their control and national park values, that at ele1;ations above 6,000 feet any construc­ construction would be detrimental to the tional work. should only be undertaken Primitive area, because they would apparently if it can be proved that it is essential require the construction of the Cootapatamba to an efficient irrigation scheme. Aqueduct and Tunnel System. We point out that the Kosciusko project as a whole will add ·only about 3 per cent. of · (b) OootapatambajSnowy River Aqueduct the total annual power production of the This covered aqueduct would require the whole . We do: not initial bulldozing of a road or roads at the consider that the regulation of the alpine very high elevation of more than 6,000 feet. streams additional to that already provided, The finished aqueduct would not . be visible will add significantly to the irrigation poten­ from the high mountain range. If it could tial. be put in without any disturbance of the vegetation it would not be regard'ed as inter­ 2. The Geehi Project ~Lady Northcote's fering with the scientific aspect of the primi­ Oanyon Aqueduct (Table i) tive area, any more than does the present The Geehi project, which involves the con­ road to the Summit. However, it is well struction of a dam on the. Geehi River, must known that soil conservation at this altitude be regarded as 'an integral part of the main is extremely difficult, .and we are not con­ Snowy-Murray development'; As a part of vinced that this aqueduct could be constructed this project the Authority proposes to con­ economically in such a way that the approach struct, within the proposed Alpine Reserve, .1961 THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF. SCIENCE 397

·a long covered aqueduct. This would pass panied by a series of extensive rocky screes along the N-W escarpment from the Lady running sharply downhill towards the Geehi. Northcote Canyon. It would pick up the These scars would be perman•ent. water of creeks running to the Geehi River (and to the Murray River) and discharge CONCLUSION We believe that a sufficient case has been it upstream into the G•eehi Pond. The aque­ made to indicate that the proposed high level ,duct would provide only 6 per cent. of the works, and especially the Cootapatamba aque­ water of this reservoir but is nevertheless duct, the Snowy Tunnel (and, therefore, the regarded by the Authority as essential to the Kosciuslro Reservoir) should be examined Geehi project. It is. estimated to provide 2 again in all their aspects before the decision per cent. of the total power production of the to construct is made. W•e recognize the ,Snowy Mountains Schenie (Table I). Here strength of the case for development; this again, it is suggested .that the further regu­ article has been written to show that there lation of this water would add to irrigation is also a strong case-we think a stronger potential. We regard it, however, as primarily a -in favour of reserving the whole Summit means 0f. slightly increasing power production. ar•ea as a primitive alpine reserve, a key It is proposed to begin work on this aque­ feature of the Kosciusko National Park. We duct in 1963, it is envisaged that it would appreciate that the Commissioners, as their 'be necessary to drive a bench along the plans go forward, will do all in their power 'contours at a height of 3,600-4,100 feet, this to preserve the essential character of this Jo. be wid•e enough to carry the machine for area. They have · shown that it is possible bringing in the pipes, digging the trench and to protect their lower works from erosion laying the pipes. It is, therefore, equivalent and they believe that their methods would to putting a road along the face of the steep also succeed at the higher elevations. Sir slopes running up to the main summits of William Hudson has offered to allow scien­ the rang•e. Such an aqueduct, if very care­ tists outside the Authority to advise on fully constructed, would not interfere to any the best methods of minimizing damage to great· extent with the natural vegetation, i.e., the Summit vegetation and soils. We hope could not be regarded as detrimental .to the that it will not become necessary to attempt purely scientific asp•ects of the proposed primi­ to take advantage of this offer. Quite apart tive area. The aqueduct would run in from the extreme hazard of soil . erosion at forested country on an aspect where the heights above 6,000 feet, we believe that the recovery of the vegetation would not be too necessarily extensive ·operations by economic difficult. Objections to this scheme are, there­ methods must inevitably create there a 'Land­ fore, scenic. The view of this slope, e.g., scape of Power' (as at Guthega). Such land­ from Olsen's Lookout, is undoubtedly the scape has some scenic but little ecological grandest in the whole of Australia, and many interest. The only hope of rehabilitating the people would wish to see it pres•erved in its damaged areas would lie in the introduction primitive state. Even with the most expensive of exotic plant species in the only truly alpine methods of construction the aqueduct would reserve in the whole of mainland Australia. inevitably be clearly visible from below. The ground is extremely steep and in parts rocky, APPENDIX I and a good deal of blasting would be necessary. Scientific Aspects of the Proposed Kosaiusko Primitive Area The Authority assures us that the design and construction of the aqueduct· would he A. COSTIN* planned to cause the minimum possible dis­ turbance. But, judging from road construction A. Vegetation in the similarly steep region of T1 and T2 The most outstanding feature of the vege­ Power Stations, there would be a good deal tation of the proposed Kosciusko Primitive Area is the occurrence, within a distance ·of of overcasting, and also considerable danger a few miles, of a wide altitudinal sequ•ence of landslips. It seems probable, therefore, of plant commimities between 1,500 and 7,300 that the line of the aqueduct would b.e accom­ *Division of Plant Industvy, ·c.S.I.R.O. 398 THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE JUNE feet. These include savannah woodland, dry forming moss Sphagnum cristatum with or sclerophyll forest, two wet sclerophyll forest without shrubs, and a fen community of communities, subalpine woodland, and alpine Oarex gaudichaudiana. These communities are herbfield. of considerable historical value, in so far as The savannah woodland communities are the underlying peat preserves identifiable found mainly along the River Murray and its remains of past floras of the area, and is tributary creeks. Eucalyptus steHulata and itself capable of being dated. Recent deter­ E. camp•hora are the chief components, as at minations of a sequence of peats, giving ages Tom Groggin. .of 8,500, 4,500 and 2,500 years, indicate the Lower, drier slopes in the T'om Groggin scientific value of these materials. area support dry sclerophyll forest. The Heath vegetation is represented by two dominants are mainly Eucalyptus ·aives, E. main communities. PodocarpUs alpinus, Oxy­ rubida, and E. maculosa, often with extensive lobium eHipticum and related shrubs occur communities of Banksia marginata. in rocky alpine situations such as glacial In more favourable sites, and extending up moraine. An undescribed species of Epacris to about 3,500 feet, wet sclerophyll forests of (affin. E. serpyllifolia) and Kunzea m.ueHeri E. '!JiminaUs, E. radiata, E. bicostata and E. characterize poorly aerated but not neces­ tastigata are strongly develolJ'ed. These often sarily wet soils, often associated with sod carry a luxuriant undergrowth of Bedtordia tussock grasslands of snow grass. saUcina, and tree-ferns, as in the Geehi area. Thus, as with the 1,500-7,300 ft. sequence­ The occurrence of E. tastigata is of special of vegetation from Geehi to Kosciusko, it is interest. This species has a predominantly the occurrence together of a large number of coastal distribution, and the Geehi commu­ plant communities (eleven) which gives the nities are thought to be relic in character. alpine tract much of its scientific importance. The 3,500-5,000 ft. belt supports another in addition to features such as the two wet sclerophyll forest community, in which fjaeldmark communities which are themselves the main dominants are E. delegatensis, E. unique. dalrympleana and E. paucifl,ora. This grades into subalpine woodland, characterized by the Species Oonfined to or Oentred on the snow gum, E. niphophila, which extends from Kosciuslco Area about 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Antennaria uniceps F. Muell. The alpine tract above the tree-line provides Brachycome stolonitera G. L. Davis the best example of high mountain vegetation Danthonia trigida J. Vickery in Australia, including some communities *Dioschiadium ranunculaceum Domin. which are found nowhere else. *KeUeria tasmanica Domke There are three main alpine herbfield com­ Ranunculus anemoneus F. Muell. munities: the extensive tall alpine herbfields Ranunculus dissectitoUus F. Muell. ex of Poa caespitosa, Oelmisia longifolia and Benth. other brilliant alpine herbs; the chomophyte Ranunculus mueHeri Benth. var. brevi­ vegetation of Brachycome nivalis, Danthonia caulis B. G. Briggs alpicola and various ferns, on cliff faces and Ranunculus niphophilus B. G. Briggs other steep rocky places; and the short alpine Seseli algens F. Muell. herbfields below snow patches, characterized Veronica densitolia F. Muell. Plantago mueHeri, Montia australasica by and * Also in Tasmania. Oaztha introloba. These communities are enriched with species of Euphrasia, Oraspedia, Ranunculus, AciphyUa, etc., and the grass Unaescribed Forms Danthonia trigida, some of which are either Oardamine sp. (Blue Lake area) relatively t:'lcommon or absent in other high Oraspedia unifl,ora Forst f. dwarf swamp mountain areas. form The alpine tract of the Kosciusko Plateau Oraspedia unifiora Forst. f. Lake Albinia also contains two fjaeldmark communities form which are unique. One, in upper snow patch Epilobium glabeHum Forst. f. dwarf form situations, characterized by Ooprosma pumila Euphrasia glacialis Wettst. snowpatch form and Oolobanthus benthamianus, provides a Luzula campestris D. C. dwarf fjaeldmark strong phytogeographic and ecological link form with the subantarctic islands and South Myosotis australis R. Br. Ethridge Range America. The other community, in wind­ form swept peaks and cols, characterised by Montia australasica Pax. and K. Hoffm. Epacris petrophila and Veronica densitoUa, is J:)ink form. the only Australian example of a specialized type of high latitude vegetation found under B. :Geology exposed near-glacial conditions. The glacial features of the Kosciusko Wet situation in the alpine tract support. Summit Area have already been mentioned; two bog communities, conta;ining the..peat- they are unique on the mainland~ · · 1961 THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 399 c. Fauna the North Ramshead, Ramshead, and the The animal life of the area has not yet at Groggin Gap (Dead Horse been intensively studied, but there is little Gap); the Alpine Way, via Tom Groggin, doubt that the fauna includ-es rare species to the Swampy Plains River at the junction found in few other places, if at all. of the Geehi River and Geehi Creek; the Gee.hi River 13 miles upstream to Middle APPENDIX li Creek; Middle Creek to the north-ern end of Tate West Ridge; Tate West Ridge to Mt. B01mdaries of Proposed Kosciusko Primitive Tate, and Tate East Ridge; T'ate East Ridge Area to the Snowy River at the entrance of (See Fig. 1) Pounds Creek. The Snowy River, between Pounds Creek Note: If the Middle Creek-Geehi River and Twynam Creek; Twynam Cre•ek to the junction comes within the scope of the pro­ northern end of Guthrie Range; Guthrie Range posed Windy Creek works, the proposed and its continuation through Charlotte's boundary in this area (now at 13 river miles) Pass to Mt. Stilwell; Mt. Stilwell to the could be brought back a mile or so (to 11 Ramshead Range; the Ramshead Range to or 12 miles).

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