NPA Bulletin Volume 48 number 2 June 2011 Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect association opinion or objectives. CONTENTS Yarrangobilly Caves, Kosciuszko National Park..................13 Kevin McCue From the president....................................................................2 Rod Griffiths Mt Scabby: report on a packwalk .........................................14 An outdoor recreation strategy for the ACT ............................3 Trevor Lewis Rod Griffiths Book review: High Places ....................................................15 Launch of the Namadgi book...................................................4 Rod Griffiths Sabine Friedrich pictures Three days in the Snowy (Rainy) Mountains .......................16 Progress report on improving the federal EPBC Act ...............6 Philip Gatenby Christine Goonrey Gossan Hill: report on a bushwalk........................................17 NPA's Environment Sub-committee rides again ......................6 Brian Slee Rod Griffiths Big Bugtown Hill: bushwalk report......................................18 ‘New’ woolshed is a welcome sight at Mulligans Flat.............7 Brian Slee Graeme Barrow Book reviews — wildflowers and animals ...........................19 Book review: NPA book Namadgi . .........................................8 Fiona MacDonald Brand Matthew Higgins PARKWATCH ...................................................................20-21 Bush gardening.........................................................................9 Selected by Hazel Rath Kevin McCue NPA notices ..........................................................................22 News from Macquarie Island..................................................10 Meeting and speaker information .........................................23 Michael Comfort NPA information and contacts ..............................................23 A plague on the Earth?............................................................12 New Namadgi map ................................................................12 From the president Being the President of the NPA ACT can provide some very will continue to play an special moments, and the launch of the NPA ACT’s newest important part in shaping the publication, Namadgi — a National Park for the National NPA ACT’s responses to Capital, was one of those. Launched by the ACT Minister for environmental issues. The sub- the Environment, Mr Simon Corbell, at the Namadgi Visitor committee is open to all Centre, it was an occasion that honoured the talents of the NPA ACT members so please NPA ACT’s members, so many of whom had a hand in the consider whether this is an area production of the book. that you may be interested in helping with. A separate article on the Namadgi — what a book! sub-committee appears in this issue of the Bulletin. The challenges facing conservation areas in Australia remain When I received my first copy my jaw literally dropped as I ever present. Over the past couple of months the NPA ACT has took in the glorious photography, words and maps that make had letters to the editor published in the Canberra Times on the up this celebration of Namadgi National Park. Since then, I resources available to Parks, Conservation and Land for the have had the pleasure of watching similar reactions in others as management of the ACT’s conservation reserves and on the they get their first glimpse of the book. pressures for opening up conservation reserves to hunters in The hospitality of the staff of the Namadgi Visitor Centre NSW. The NPA ACT was also one of the speakers at the ensured that the venue for the launch was all that we could Conservation Council’s March forum on recreation in reserves. have wanted, with the Park itself providing a superb backdrop. All these matters reflect the pressures facing society and I was particularly pleased to welcome to the launch, as a link land managers. Already with the proposed developments in the to the future, Mark, Chelsea and Hayden, representatives from Molonglo area of Canberra, the emphasis for the provision of the ACT’s newest school, aptly named the Namadgi School. recreational opportunities for the new residents seems to fall Thanks to all involved, especially Christine Goonrey and upon the reserves and open spaces of the river corridor. The Sonja Lenz, for achieving such a high-quality publication. It NPA ACT would argue that this is a failure in the recreational captures the spirit of Namadgi and makes its wild and beautiful planning of these suburbs. The reserves and wild places of the places accessible to all. Molonglo Valley are not play areas and need to be respected for their natural values. This situation again harks back to the need Environment Sub-committee re-formed for an ACT wide outdoor recreation strategy to guide develop- Conservation has always been one of the key roles of the ment and new recreational opportunities in the ACT. NPA ACT and the reconvened Environment Sub-committee (continued next page) 2 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2011 An outdoor recreation strategy for the ACT The residents of Canberra are proud of Provision of outdoor recreation door activities outside of conservation their Bush Capital. Very few capital activities needs planning reserves abound. These include the old cities would have the ease of access to pine forestry estates, eucalypt conservation reserves that is available in The NPA ACT believes that a crucial plantations, non-conservation reserves, Canberra. Canberra Nature Park’s many planning document missing in the ACT the new arboretum and greenfield sites. and varied reserves share long is an outdoor recreation plan. Such a Another example is the relatively recent boundaries with Canberra’s urban areas. document would: creation of enclosed off-leash dog areas, Other areas, such as the Jerrabomberra • identify current and developing trends which are a positive step towards Wetlands, the Murrumbidgee River in outdoor recreation activities in the reducing pressure on the conservation Corridor and the Molonglo River ACT reserves from the various impacts of dog Corridor, have conservation reserves that • assess how these trends are being walking. are just a short drive from parts of catered for at present It will also be important for an out- Canberra. • identify the gaps in current facilities door recreation plan to consider regional needed to support the recreational opportunities and the mechanisms to Recreation in conservation activities utilise these. reserves • identify mechanisms to fill these gaps. Getting developers and users on Canberra’s residents are being urged to Where recreational trends involve the ‘be active’ and many have responded to use of the ACT’s conservation reserves, board this call by participating in a wide the outdoor recreation plan would also: The role of developers in providing a variety of recreational activities. Often • assess the risk of recreational activities range of recreational opportunities in these activities involve some use of the compromising the environmental their projects will be a key consideration ACT’s conservation reserves and, values of the reserves; and of the plan. The current planning of the because of the increase in cheap, • where there is a significant potential new suburbs in the Molonglo appears to mechanised recreation vehicles such as for a recreational activity to reduce concentrate outdoor recreation on the mountain bikes, trail bikes and four- environmental and conservation values, Molonglo River corridor. However, this wheel drives, recreation is no longer just to identify mechanisms to reduce the space will also play an important role in the traditional walk through the bush for impact. the provision of wildlife corridors. More a large number of outdoor enthusiasts. Looking beyond conservation emphasis will be needed in the provision Organised events such as ‘boot camp’ reserves of recreational infrastructure within the training and large-scale competitions in urban boundaries. our reserves are also putting the bush Certainly, the concept of an overall A primary consideration in the plan itself at risk. recreational strategy is not new to the will be how to ensure the buy-in of ACT, but the focus to date has been on The NPA ACT strongly supports low- recreational users, especially those an overall recreation strategy for conser- impact recreational activities within the involved in high-impact activities. Both vation reserves. The NPA ACT believes ACT’s conservation reserves. communication and education will be that an ACT-wide plan is required, taking important considerations and will be Associating with nature is a great into account the land in and out of vital to the successful implementation of way to build up an appreciation of the reserves. In developing this, it will be the plan. values of the natural environment. How- important to recognise the work already Recreation benefits society and needs ever, the Association regularly receives embodied in reserve plans of man- to be supported. The challenge will be to evidence of inappropriate activities in, or agement and specific activity recreation develop an outdoor recreation plan that overuse of, the ACT’s conservation plans, and link these with opportunities safeguards the environmental values of reserves. These reduce the conservation to meet high-impact recreational activity the ACT’s precious conservation values that the reserves were established requirements outside of conservation reserves. The NPA ACT looks forward