National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory Inc
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Volume 45 Number 4 December 2008 National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory Inc Namadgi Heritage Plans for Stockyard New Marine Park for listed Spur the coast NPA Bulletin Volume 45 number 4 December 2008 Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect association opinion or objectives. CONTENTS From the President ...................................................................2 The gentrification of national parks?...................................10 Christine Goonrey Andrew Cox National Heritage listing for Namadgi.....................................3 Book review: A Geological Guide to Canberra Region......11 New ACT government .............................................................3 and Namadgi National Park Martin Chalk NPA News: Tomorrow the world! ........................................................4 Book review: Ten Commitments: Reshaping the.................12 Kevin McCue Lucky Country’s Environment Work party round-up.........................................................4 Graeme Wicks Martin Chalk Gudgenby sleepover for Christmas parties .........................12 More works on Glenburn/Burbong sites...........................4 Touring the island that Flinders named ...............................13 Col McAlister Graeme Barrow Batemans—a new marine park on Canberra’s doorstep ..........5 The wealth of South Africa’s wildlife on view....................14 Max Lawrence Fiona MacDonald Brand Stockyard Spur gets crowded...................................................6 Quick snowmelt causes change of plans .............................15 Max Lawrence Brian Slee GBRG records 555 hours of bush care activity .......................7 PARKWATCH.......................................................................16 Hazel Rath Compiled by Hazel Rath Hunters and gatherers at the coast............................................8 NPA notices .........................................................................18 Adrienne Nicholson Meetings and speaker information ......................................19 The drowning of Lake Pedder..................................................9 Jean Currie NPA information and contacts.............................................19 From the President We were really thrilled when roots groups such as NPAC seem to be off the radar for this NPA ACT won the “Local federal government. Hero” award at the National parks and reserves appear to be very much the Conservation Council orphan child in government circles right now. Mr Garrett put a dinner in October. The further damper on my evening when he told me very firmly award recognised the hard that national parks have to allow more commercial work we have done over developments in order to pay their way. We seem to have the past year putting on moved a long way from the idea that national parks and nature our 2008 Symposium and reserves are part of our future generations’ heritage, deserving working on issues like of public funding in much the same way that schools and Orroral Ridge, and the universities are an investment in our future. Governments now Namadgi Management Plan as prefer to talk earnestly about converting public assets into well as our long record of private gain in order to create jobs and income streams in activism over the past 48 years working associated sectors like tourism. I went home from the for the conservation of our national park and nature reserves. Conservation dinner a little sadder and certainly more As well as the honour and the glory, we won $1500 of carbon confused about how our governments intend to protect our neutral printing from Mystique printers. What a wonderful biodiversity in the face of climate change. start to our publications program for our 50th anniversary! Being a well trained bureaucrat, I decided to look for the The guest speaker at the dinner was Peter Garrett, Minister policy principles which could have convinced a committed for the Environment and he spoke glowingly of the important conservationist like Peter Garrett that it was a good idea to put role played by community groups in fighting for the private developments into our national parks and nature conservation of our environment. He announced a new reserves. I think the logic goes like this: people pay taxes so roundtable, which he would convene in November, where he this money should only pay for human-centred priorities. will consult with environment groups on his portfolio’s From that point of view it does look like a waste of public priorities. I took the opportunity of asking if the National money to allocate scarce resources to protect bits of bush and Parks Australia Council, the peak body for our NPAs, would ocean that few people ever use. be invited to this roundtable, but Mr Garrett was very But let’s look at where the money actually goes here in the reluctant to commit to this. As he was president of the ACT. Australian Conservation Foundation over two substantial One of the biggest expenses is recurrent funding of salaries periods of time, it is understandable that he focuses on these large environmental lobby groups, but it is a shame that grass (continued next page) 2NPA BULLETIN − DECEMBER 2008 National Heritage listing for Namadgi On November 7 2008 the Australian Alps National Parks across investment in our National Heritage sites Commonwealth Government NSW, Victoria and the ACT and today’s is essential as they are important to our announced that the Australian listing adds to and strengthens the history, our future and to the local Alps National Parks, including protective measures available to this economy of many parts of Australia. Namadgi, would be included in the special place. “Our National Heritage listed places National Heritage List. The “Places on the National Heritage List contribute to national and local tourism following is an edited extract of are afforded protection under the with hundreds of thousands of people the Minister’s press release, which Australian Government’s Environment from across Australia and the world was entitled “Heritage Honour for Protection and Biodiversity Conserva- making the journey each year to see our Iconic Alps”. tion Act and we will continue to work precious landmarks and experience our together with NSW, Victoria and the unique landscapes. Minister for the Environment, Heritage ACT to ensure the protection and proper “We will continue to work together and the Arts, Peter Garrett said the management of the outstanding heritage with State and Territory Governments to Australian Alps National Parks was the values of the Australian Alps National ensure the protection and proper largest and most complex National Parks,” Minister Garrett said. management of the outstanding heritage Heritage assessment to date, Ministers responsible for the values of our National Heritage listed encompassing 1.6 million ha of national cooperative management and protection places. parks and reserves across 11 national of the Australian Alps National Parks “It is vital that we continue to parks and nature reserves in the ACT, across NSW, Victoria and the ACT identify and protect the places integral to NSW and Victoria. declared that National Heritage listing Australia’s national story, as they help us “Known as the High Country in would provide increased recognition for to remember and understand that we are Victoria, Snowy Mountains in New this special place. part of living history.” South Wales and the Brindabella Range “Namadgi National Park plays an There are currently 80 places in the in the Australian Capital Territory, the enormous role in the lives of Canberrans, National Heritage List, reflecting the listing of the Australian Alps National from the provision of Canberra’s water story of our development from our Parks recognises the outstanding natural, supply to a place of relaxation and original Indigenous inhabitants to Indigenous and historic values of this recreational activities such as present day, Australia’s spirit and iconic landscape,” Minister Garrett said. bushwalking and mountain bike riding,” ingenuity, and our unique living Minister Garrett said a cooperative ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said. landscapes such as Bondi Beach, process had been in place since 1986 to Mr Garrett said appreciation, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Kakadu collectively manage and protect the recognition and protection of our National Park and Port Arthur. New ACT Government At the election on October 18 the people management and stewardship), Minister Alastair Coe: Urban Services, Heritage. of the ACT elected our seventh for Arts and Heritage; The Greens opted not to take Legislative Assembly. The ALP, with Simon Corbell: Minister for ministerial appointments in the new seven members, remains in government, Environment, Climate Change and Government, and the party has allocated but only with the support of the Greens Water; internal responsibilities as follows: (four members). The Liberal Opposition Andrew Barr: Minister for Planning. Meredith Hunter: Parliamentary Convenor; has six members. The Liberal Shadow Ministers are: Shane Rattenbury: Speaker, Environ- The new Ministerial appointments of Zed Seselja: Leader of the Opposition, ment, Climate Change and Water; direct interest to NPA are: Environment and Climate Change, Caroline Le Couteur: Planning, Jon Stanhope: Chief Minister and Planning; Territory and Municipal Services, Arts Minister for Territory and Municipal Vicki Dunne: Nature Conservation and and Heritage. Services (which includes